Afghanistan, has reduced individual training time for all service members, including mountain training, Pierce said.

Pierce provided DefenseWatch feedback about the MMWTC courses from Marine alums in Afghanistan.  They reported that the mountain combat skill most in demand in Afghanistan was proper execution of dismounted patrols in mountainous country to tactically out-maneuver the lightly loaded enemy.

In Afghanistan, American troops' biggest challenge is to increase their agility in the mountains as an integrated armed force.  US forces tend to carry daunting loads of body armor, gear, weaponry and equipment into mountain campaigns that other mountain units from countries such as Britain, Italy and Germany do not. Pierce said mountain fighting demands high levels of physical fitness as well as acclimatization to mountain conditions if troops are to operate effectively in mountain battle zones.  Experts agree that even those skilled in soldiering can cave in under poor conditioning and or improper acclimatization, Pierce said.

Accurate adjustment and control of supporting fire during mountain battles are other mountain combat skill demanding constant refinement and practice, Pierce reported.

"We can't underestimate the importance of having a sustainable group of trained mountain capable forces.  From an historical perspective, the most effective troops, such as Army Rangers, Special Forces and the Marines have engaged in mountain training," Pierce explained.