The École de haute montagne was created in Chamonix in 1932, becoming the world's first specialist training school for mountain troop leaders. The aims of the school were to teach mountain instructors, and to test and development of technical equipment and armaments. In August 1939 the majority of École de haute montagne's cadres joined the 199th Battalion Chasseurs de haute montagne, whose role was to defend France's alpine borders. The school's mission changed in 1945 to train mountain and ski specialists for the entire Army. In 1947 the French Military Ski Team was formed, under the Commissariat for Military Sports, it was supported and managed by the EHM. In 1948 the Chamonix Mountain Relief Society, the doctors of the School participated with the rescue team to provide emergency relief and aid in the Mont Blanc area. The first section of volunteer NCOs were incorporated into the EHM in 1961. On the initiative of Colonel Gonnet, then commander of the EHM, an international military rally of mountain troops was created in 1963. In addition to France, the four other alpine nations participated. In 1966 the EHM was redesignated as the École militaire de haute montagne. In 1981 the High Mountain Military Group was relocated from Grenoble where it had been created 5 years prior, to settle at the EMHM.
Brevets
All mountain brevets are all available in summer and winter.
The Brevet d'alpiniste et de skieur militaire composed of:
*Brevet de skieur militaire
*Brevet d'alpiniste militaire
Chef d'équipe haute montagne
*CEHM Summer
*CEHM winter
**on a technical level, the CEHM is the equivalent of the BQTM but is only intended for corporals and master corporals.
*winter qualification, which also lasts four weeks
Chef de détachement haute montagne or Chef d'unité de haute montagne, these patents correspond to the same formation
*A summer course of 6 weeks
*A winter course of 6 weeks
Brevet supérieur de technicien de l'armée de terre Mountain Option
Brevet de guide de haute montagne
There are then other qualifications which, although not specific to mountain troops, were created and developed within the High Mountain Military School, including the three paragliding pilot licenses each having a higher qualification level. Example: The C-card is for all-weather solo flights, all sites, and night flights.
