Preparing Individuals for Combat Operations Through High-Altitude Training

Abstract

Since 2001, the United States has been fighting the Taliban and Al Qaeda and other violent extremists and insurgent forces in the mountains of Afghanistan. Much of these forces remain strong due in large part to a greater ability to fight at high altitudes. Altitudes in many of the Afghan regions continue to negatively impact US soldier and equipment performance. Preparing for combat operations through training at high altitudes would better prepare the US military for Afghan operations, as well as crisis response and conflicts in other high-altitude regions of the world. Furthermore, history has shown that forces trained for combat at high altitudes displayed superior performance in all theaters of war. This study examines the positive effects of training for combat operations at high altitude and how this type of training will better prepare the US military for all types of combat operations. Recommendations are offered for how the US military can modify training methodologies and troop garrison locations to best prepare US forces for operations anywhere in the world.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 21, 2016
Accession Number
AD1176217

Entities

People

  • Matthew Pascarella

Organizations

  • Marine Corps University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Altitude
  • Combat Operations
  • Delta Force
  • Department Of Defense
  • Deployment
  • Environment
  • High Altitude
  • High Mountains
  • Lessons Learned
  • Load Monitoring
  • Marine Corps
  • Military Training
  • Motor Skills
  • Mountain Warfare
  • Mountains
  • New York
  • Special Forces
  • Training
  • United States
  • Universities
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Aerospace Test and Evaluation
  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • Military and Counterinsurgency Studies.