Train future mountain commandos experts in Greenland

What is the High Mountain Military School?

In the Arctic, every movement, decision, and tactical action is influenced by the cold, isolation, and rough terrain. To prepare for this, the High Mountain Military School (EMHM), a center of expertise for the armed forces, provides winter training in France for specialized military personnel and has been conducting expert training sessions in the Arctic for over 10 years with the support of defense attaches and partner forces to face the most demanding operational conditions.

In the Arctic, two weeks to confirm operational skills

Once again this year, the EMHM, along with its training experts from the mountain formations division and high mountain military group, conducted training for future experts and mountain commandos. Through 2 synthesis raids starting from Danish army outposts, around fifteen future experts in mountain and extreme cold environments, along with a dozen mountain commandos, applied the operational skills acquired in France over the previous weeks in a challenging Arctic region. For over two weeks, these future experts and commandos carried out tasks such as snowmobile navigation, skiing while pulling pulks, setting up bivouacs in extreme conditions, and implementing risk management strategies related to the extreme temperatures, snowy terrain, glaciers, and ice of the Arctic.

Reconnaissance mission for the Air and Space Force

For the second consecutive year, as part of Arctic experiments, an A400M aircraft from the Air and Space Force set up three detachments with technical equipment, skis, snowmobiles, logistical autonomy, on makeshift snow tracks in temperatures ranging from -30 to -40 degrees Celsius. This 2026 edition was unique as it involved cooperation with the Danish army in one of the raids and a joint reconnaissance mission to identify a suitable location for the first landing of an A400M on ice, conducted jointly with Danish specialists and a mixed detachment from the 25th Air-EMHM Engineer Regiment. The success of the 2026 edition showcases the consolidation of the French inter-service capabilities in the Arctic, increasing interoperability with partner forces in the Arctic, and demonstrating the ability to support engagements in these environments by non-specialized units.