Fourth-year cadets from the Royal Military Academy (ARM) in Meknes took part in a mountain warfare training course in the High Atlas resort of Oukaïmeden from April 2 to 9. According to the latest issue of the Royal Armed Forces magazine, the exercise is intended to prepare cadets to command infantry platoons capable of operating in a variety of environments, far from classrooms and conventional training grounds.
The training enabled the cadets to apply the theoretical knowledge acquired during their studies in a hostile and demanding environment. The course aims to build both physical endurance and mental toughness, two qualities considered essential for future platoon commanders.
The exercises were designed to test their ability to remain operational despite fatigue, difficult weather conditions, and rugged terrain. From the first day to the last, discipline, resilience, and adaptability remained at the core of the program.
Climbing, rappelling and glacier exercises
Throughout the course, the cadets rotated through a series of technical workshops, each focused on a specific skill. Rock-climbing sessions challenged participants to develop confidence, agility, and movement techniques on steep terrain. Rappelling drills allowed them to develop the safety reflexes required in vertical environments, while zip-line exercises sharpened their ability to negotiate natural obstacles quickly.
Winter conditions also provided an ideal setting for snowshoe marches and roped glacier crossings. These activities required considerable physical endurance, strict teamwork, and close coordination among members of the same group. The cadets also trained in fixed-rope ascents and tackled a “via ferrata” course, two disciplines that tested both their commitment and technical discipline.
The training ended with a comprehensive mountain exercise carried out on a closed circuit, bringing together all the skills acquired during the week. It served to assess how well the cadets had mastered the techniques taught and their ability to operate effectively and independently in mountainous terrain.
Led by the 1st Atlas Hunters Battalion
The course was supervised by instructors from the High Mountain Training Annex of the 1st Atlas Hunters Battalion, the Royal Armed Forces’ specialist unit for mountain operations. Throughout the program, the instructors closely monitored the cadets, drawing on their extensive technical expertise and operational experience.
Members of the 1st Atlas Hunters Battalion deployed in the Toubkal region.
Their role combined technical instruction with hands-on guidance, ensuring that the cadets gradually acquired the skills required for mountain units. Through their expertise in alpine operations, the instructors passed on their knowledge with pragmatism, precision, and a strong sense of leadership while maintaining strict safety standards and high levels of operational discipline.
