When did 10th Mountain stop making mountain training a requirement to join the division and why isn’t BMMC at least a requirement anymore?

I know full well that airborne units are probably the only conventional units that need a pre-requisite of Basic Airborne School, but if mountain school is not as valuable as you say, then what are your thoughts on removing their mountain designation?

Ok let's start with this...I'm assuming no one that's commented has been at Fort Drum, at least recently. I'm also going to assume your unaware that the Army finalized the BMMC rams head (although redesigning it) as an official badge for wear (proving that it's indeed a very valuable and recognized school. Im also going to assume that your unaware that in every BMMC class there is designated 15 slots for 10th Mountain division Soldiers, proving that it is definitely valued here at the 10th Mountain. My last assumption is that your unaware of the Mountain training group that is stood up here that offers numerous alpine and winter weather training that we are baselining our ncos and leaders with.

Removing the "Mountain tab" is a bit far fetched. It's having pride in the heritage of a unit that was founded my Olympic skiers and mountaineers as a specialized unit to fight in the mountains of Italy. And have proven time and time again in combat to be able to operate in mountainous terrain and any other "operational environment" called upon. We don't train for the easy stuff, we are prepared for the harshest environment possible (mountainous terrain in the winter).

Come on up to fort drum...may change your opinion.

Adirondacks are next door. My guess is that Mount Marcy in the Winter would be pretty good training for Mountain Warfare.

Its too bad 4ID isn't at Ft. Drum and 10th Mountain at Ft. Carson.

So with what both of you said, would it be prudent for the Sec. of Army or Army CoS to relocate and switch garrison for both units?

Jake Lang - It would only be prudent if the lack of mountains somehow affected mission readiness. So far, I've never seen anyhting to suggest it has...

I have heard that they are one of the most deployed units in the US Army’s conventional forces, yes, but that shouldn’t brush aside the need for basic mountain warfare training for a unit designated as such. Why doesn’t Active Duty have their own version of BMMC or why doesn’t Army CoS make a call to open up more slots for Active Duty?

Jake Lang - You get some basic mountaineering in Ranger School and you used to get some basic stuff in some of the Arctic Warfare School. NCO's and Company Grade Officers in the 10th tend to be Tabbed.

Yes sir, but what about the junior enlisted, that means they would have no proper training for mountain warfare, is leadership truly the only ones that need that training?

Jake Lang A good, knowledgeable NCO can easily make up for the lack of knowledge of 5 junior enlisted. I don't have to know a thing about engine repair if I have a knowledgeable mechanic telling which bolt to remove, when. (And I proved that doing maintenance on my HMMWVs.). Likewise, junior enlisted taking direction from knowledgeable NCOs can operate in just about any environment.