Fighting, Enduring, Surviving: Inside Mountain Peak | Article

FORT DRUM, N.Y. — Soldiers assigned to 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), validated their readiness during Mountain Peak, Oct. 20-29, at Fort Drum. The Mountain Peak exercise trained and validated Soldiers to fight and win against America’s adversaries while also leveraging constantly evolving tactics on the battlefield.

Throughout Mountain Peak, Soldiers maneuvered through rugged terrain, conducted coordinated assaults and worked together to secure key objectives. The exercise tested more than tactical proficiency, requiring units to ensure they are ready to fight, endure and survive on the modern battlefield.

Throughout the training exercise, observer controller trainers — tasked with evaluating and coaching units on their performance, were present to ensure participating units are trained to standard.

“Mountain Peak is an opportunity for Soldiers to refine their techniques and put into place all the different systems they’ve been training,” said Sgt. 1st Class Michael Ranger, an observer controller trainer assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment. “It gives them opportunities outside of their normal routine for them to work together, war-game, and execute. We shadow and coach them so they can be effective in their mission set.”

The exercise followed a progression of tactical operations designed to replicate the demands of large-scale combat, beginning with a forcible entry before transitioning into offensive operations and ultimately defensive operations.

As the scenario evolves, Soldiers must seize and secure key terrain, maneuver against a live opposing force and establish defensive positions to protect their gains. This progression challenges the brigade in a multi-domain environment to adapt to changing battlefield conditions, synchronize its capabilities and refine its tactics while preparing to fight and win against a near-peer adversary.

In addition to testing the unit’s ability to conduct near-peer warfare, Mountain Peak provides an opportunity for medical personnel to practice prolonged field care, strengthening their ability to sustain casualties when evacuation is delayed or timely access to higher levels of treatment is limited.

The challenges they faced during Mountain Peak required medical teams to manage patients over extended periods while working with available personnel, equipment and supplies in austere field conditions.

One such capability that is being tested is Project Valkyrie; a way for medics to use compatible donors at the site for whole blood transfers for the patient.

“Project Valkyrie is setting the standard across all branches of service,” said Staff Sgt. Dominic Vigar, a combat medic specialist assigned to 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (LI). “Project Valkyrie will help a lot with prolonged field medical care…if we have those donors available to us, I can start pulling from those donors, keeping the casualty alive for an extended amount of time.”

Along with validating readiness, the unit used Mountain Peak as an opportunity to assess developing best practices for how to employ the multi-functional reconnaissance company and integrate intelligence and coordinate fires to support maneuver operations. By identifying gaps, adjusting their approach and applying lessons in real time, units can refine their techniques and develop more effective ways to operate on the modern battlefield.

The exercise also incorporated modern battlefield technologies, including unmanned aircraft systems and counter-UAS capabilities, allowing units to evaluate emerging threats, improve battlefield awareness and adapt to an evolving operational environment.

Mountain Peak provides the brigade with a critical opportunity to assess its overall effectiveness before its upcoming Joint Readiness Training Center rotation in January 2027 and for future operational requirements.

“Mountain Peak certifies us as ready to deploy whenever the nation calls,” said Capt. Connor Bryan, the commander of Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (LI). “We train here hard working on our techniques, tactics and procedures to ensure that when we go down-range, we’re a well-oiled and rehearsed fighting machine.