Is the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division Returning to its Colorado Roots Mountain Tough to its Core?
The Resilient Heritage of the 10th Mountain Division
The storied lineage of the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division is steeped in the rugged terrain of Colorado’s peaks, where it originated during the Second World War. Founded with the strategic intent to prepare troops for combat in the treacherous alpine conditions of the Italian Alps, the division honed a reputation for gritty physical prowess and unwavering mental fortitude.
Now primarily stationed in the northeastern United States, the uniqueness and difficulty of becoming part of the 10th Mountain Division remain unaltered; the group still requires its members to possess unparalleled endurance and determination.
Rekindling Colorado Connections
Recently, the division has reconnected with its geographical and cultural heritage, embarking on a demanding 24-mile journey from the historic Camp Hale National Monument to the contemporary Vail Resort. This expedition, completed in a mere 15 hours, embodied the essence of the division’s rigorous spirit.
Former chair of the 10th Mountain Division Foundation and descendent of a division progenitor, Trux Dole, articulates the division’s deep-seated resilience: “They are mountain tough to every bit of the core.”
Dole perceives the 10th Mountain Division as a critical player within the military framework, especially given today’s geopolitical landscape’s numerous mountainous battlegrounds. The division’s distinctive “fellowship of the rope” and “mountain athleticism” set it apart in capability and camaraderie.
Exhibiting Alpine Prowess
The Ski Trooper Cup showcases the 10th Mountain Division’s elite athletic abilities as troops undertake a grueling gauntlet that includes skinning, rappelling, skiing, and climbing. Ranked officers and enlisted men alike, such as Lt. Col. Marc Cleveland and Sgt. Benjamin Andringa, concur that the high-altitude, mountainous training they undergo is unparalleled in the Army. They exude confidence in their unit’s aptitude to tackle and surmount any obstacle through collective effort and individual toughness.
The division’s continuum of martial excellence, forged in the fires of World War II and continuing to this day, is a testament to their deeply ingrained mantra of high-altitude fitness, psychological resilience, and technical outdoor survival skills. It is a specialization that distills America’s singular alpine military force.
Thus, the 10th Mountain Division, with its roots firmly planted in Colorado’s mountainous terrain, holds fast to its foundational ethos of resilience and adaptability. Whether facing the age-old challenges of mountain warfare or adapting to modern conditions, the division remains a symbol of rugged expertise and national pride.
