Mountain troop are trained in all aspects of arctic and mountain warfare. They utilise specialist equipment and training to become fully versed in surviving and fighting in extremes of cold and at high altitude.
Mountain Troop often train alongside the Royal Marine Commandos and were likely to have seen action in the mountains of Afghanistan. They train mostly in Norway and Scotland. The Special Air Service instructors learn their craft at the Mountain and Winter Warfare School in Bavaria where they learn "all aspects of arctic and mountain warfare: rock training, ice climbing, skiing, mountain warfare operations, high altitude medicine and mountain rescue." (A-Z of the S.A.S. p.123) The course is very extensive lasting 32weeks buts concentrates mainly on living and surviving in these hazardous conditions. The instructors, and many Special Air Service troops, will also have completed the Royal Marines mountain leader course which concentrates more on combat skills at high altitude and in the arctic.
The Special Air Service learnt a hard lesson when operating in these conditions during the Falklands. "D Squadron's Mountain Troop encountered typically severe weather conditions when they were landed on Fortuna Glacier on 21st April 1982 during the Falklands War. They were buffeted by 80km/hr winds which stung the eyes of the men not wearing goggles, and also choked the mechanisms of their general purpose machineguns (GPMG's). They had to be extracted the next day by helicopter, as hurricane force 11 winds threatened them with hypothermia and frostbite." (Fighting Skills of the S.A.S. p.142) The RAF lost 2 helicopters on the recovery mission and it was only down to the bravery of the third helicopter pilot that the men made it off of the island.