# High Altitude Warfare School

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/High_Altitude_Warfare_School
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/High_Altitude_Warfare_School.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Altitude_Warfare_School
> Source revision: 1293114341
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Specialized military training institution of the Indian Army

"HAWS" redirects here. For the surname, see [Haws](/source/Haws).

High Altitude Warfare School Type Defence Service Training Institute Established 11 December 1948; 77 years ago (11 December 1948)[1] Location Gulmarg , Jammu & Kashmir , India

The **High Altitude Warfare School** (**HAWS**) is a [defence service](/source/National_security) training and research establishment of the [Indian Army](/source/Indian_Army). In 1948, the Indian Army established a ski school in Gulmarg that later became the High Altitude Warfare School, which specialises in snow–craft and winter warfare.[2] It is located in an area which is prone to avalanches. Selected soldiers from the US, UK, Germany and other countries visit regularly for specialist training.[3][4][5]

## History

The birth of High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) of Indian Army in 1948 can be directly attributed to the loss of [Gilgit-Baltistan](/source/Gilgit-Baltistan) in the [Siege of Skardu](/source/Siege_of_Skardu) to Pakistan in [1947–1948 Indo-Pakistani War](/source/Indo-Pakistani_War_of_1947%E2%80%931948). The school was established in December 1948 by [General](/source/General_(India)) [K S Thimayya](/source/Kodendera_Subayya_Thimayya), then holding the rank of [Brigadier](/source/Brigadier). It was initially known as the *19 Infantry Division Ski School*. During the winter of 1949–1950, the school was redesignated as a Command Establishment and renamed as the *Winter Warfare School*. On 8 April 1962, it was upgraded to a Category A Training Establishment and adopted its current name.[1]

## Training

HAWS offers two training programmes, the Mountain Warfare course and the Winter Warfare course. The former course is conducted in [Sonamarg](/source/Sonamarg) between May and October each year. The latter course is conducted in Gulmarg between January and April. The two courses train personnel in High Altitude warfare, [counter intelligence](/source/Counter_intelligence) and survival skills. Ice-craft is taught at Machoi across Zojila. Army personnel deployed to the [Siachen Glacier](/source/Siachen_Glacier) and to other high altitude forward posts on the [Himalayan](/source/Himalaya) borders go through the courses.[6]

HAWS is the nodal instructional facility for specialised training and dissemination of approved doctrines in mountain, high altitude and snow warfare. The training programs at HAWS are open to personnel of the armed forces of friendly countries.[7][8]

U.S. Army Capt. Mathew Hickey (left), with the 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), leading the way up a steep slope while on his way to winning an endurance test during training at the Indian Army's High Altitude Warfare School, 2013

HAWS also trains Indian Armed Forces personnel for winter sports such as snowboarding, alpine skiing and Nordic skiing. The school recently added facilities to allow the Indian Army ski team to train at night.[9][10]

## Media

The [*Discovery* Channel](/source/Discovery_Channel) created a documentary series detailing the military training program at HAWS. This documentary was part of a larger series on the Indian Armed Forces, titled *Veer by Discovery*.[11][12]

## See also

### Alumni

- [Cherring Norbu Bodh](/source/Chhering_Norbu_Bodh)

- [Jagdish Singh](/source/Jagdish_Singh_(cross-country_skier))

- [Ranveer Jamwal](/source/Ranveer_Jamwal)

- [Narendra Kumar (mountaineer)](/source/Narendra_Kumar_(mountaineer))

### Of related interest

- [High Mountain Military School](/source/High_Mountain_Military_School), France

- [Mountain Leader Training Cadre](/source/Mountain_Leader_Training_Cadre), United Kingdom

- [Mountain Warfare Training Center](/source/Mountain_Warfare_Training_Center), USA

- [Army Mountain Warfare School](/source/Army_Mountain_Warfare_School), USA

- [Mountain Warfare Training Camp Michael Monsoor](/source/Mountain_Warfare_Training_Camp_Michael_Monsoor), USA

- [Hatsavita Mountain Warfare Training Centre](/source/Hatsavita_Mountain_Warfare_Training_Centre), Russia

- [List of mountain warfare forces](/source/List_of_mountain_warfare_forces)

- [Mountain warfare](/source/Mountain_warfare)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-mod-training_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-mod-training_1-1) ["Recruitment and Training"](https://web.archive.org/web/20111120204200/http://www.mod.nic.in/rec%26training/). Ministry of Defence, Government of India. Archived from [the original](http://www.mod.nic.in/rec%26training/) on 20 November 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Hooda, Deepshikha (11 July 2018). ["High Altitude Warfare School Where Indian jawans are trained to survive in Siachen"](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/high-altitude-warfare-school-where-indian-jawans-are-trained-to-survive-in-siachen/articleshow/50968653.cms). *The Economic Times*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Pandit, Rajat (1 May 2004). ["High-altitude warfare school takes global aim"](http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/High-altitude-warfare-school-takes-global-aim/articleshow/651951.cms). *[Times of India](/source/Times_of_India)*. New Delhi. Retrieved 9 February 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Arctic Army officer excels on India's high ground"](https://www.army.mil/article/109823/arctic_army_officer_excels_on_indias_high_ground). *www.army.mil*. 23 August 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Kashmir avalanche kills Indian troops at high-altitude training camp"](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/feb/08/kashmir-avalanche-kills-indian-soldiers). *The Guardian*. Associated Press. 8 February 2010. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0261-3077](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0261-3077). Retrieved 5 January 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-upi-snow_6-0)** ["India's snow warriors"](http://www.upiasia.com/Security/2010/01/22/indias_snow_warriors/4083/). UPI Asia. 22 January 2010. Retrieved 23 October 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-toi-haws_7-0)** ["High-altitude warfare school takes global aim"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121103045428/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-05-01/india/28343844_1_army-hq-vairengte-foreign-armies). *[The Times of India](/source/The_Times_of_India)*. 1 May 2004. Archived from [the original](http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-05-01/india/28343844_1_army-hq-vairengte-foreign-armies) on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ADGPI-INDIAN ARMY, [*THE MOUNTAIN WARRIORS*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWcsrWsv11U), [archived](https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/gWcsrWsv11U) from the original on 15 December 2021, retrieved 5 January 2019

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["A first: Night ski training facility at Gulmarg resort"](https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/jammu-kashmir/a-first-night-ski-training-facility-at-gulmarg-resort/707315.html). *The Tribune*. Retrieved 4 January 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Hooda, Deepshikha (11 July 2018). ["High Altitude Warfare School: Where Indian jawans are trained to survive in Siachen"](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/high-altitude-warfare-school-where-indian-jawans-are-trained-to-survive-in-siachen/articleshow/50968653.cms). *The Economic Times*. Retrieved 5 January 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["High Altitude Warfare School Full Episodes | Veer by Discovery"](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL03W8AlrexrqZvnr0gVL0EklPanGrqxzo). *YouTube*. 31 October 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Veer by Discovery"](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAkYgW-5XG5uPyaO9PD_I5A/about). *YouTube*. 6 December 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2019.

v t e Indian military academies and colleges Education & training Sainik School Armed Forces Medical College Ajmer Military School Bangalore Military School Belgaum Military School Chail Military School Dholpur Military School Rashtriya Indian Military College Sainik Schools Amaravathinagar Ambikapur Balachadi Bhubaneswar Bijapur Chittorgarh Goalpara Gopalganj Ghorakhal Imphal Jhunjhunu Kapurthala Kazhakootam Kodagu Korukonda Kunjpura Lucknow Manasbal Nagrota Nalanda Punglwa Purulia Rewa Rewari Satara Sujanpur Tihra Tilaiya Tri Service Defence Services Staff College National Academy of Defence Production National Defence Academy National Defence College College of Defence Management Military Institute of Technology Indian Army Army Cadet College Army War College College of Military Engineering Counter-Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School High Altitude Warfare School Indian Military Academy Military College of Telecommunication Engineering Officers Training Academy Military College of Materials Management Indian Navy Indian Naval Academy Naval War College INS Shivaji INS Dronacharya INS Garuda INS Satavahana INS Valsura INS Venduruthy Indian Air Force Air Force Academy Air Force Administrative College Air Force School, Coimbatore Air Force School, Jodhpur Flying Instructors School Indian Air Force Test Pilot School Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment Air Defence College College of Air Warfare Commandants Commandant NDA Commandant IMA Commandant INA Commandant AFA Commandant DSSC Commandant MILIT Commandant CDM Commandant NWC Commandant CAW Commandant NDC Examinations Combined Defence Services Examination Services Selection Board Military academy Military education and training

[34°17′28″N 75°19′28″E / 34.291100453682155°N 75.32456900160886°E / 34.291100453682155; 75.32456900160886](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=High_Altitude_Warfare_School&params=34.291100453682_N_75.324569001609_E_region:IN)

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [High Altitude Warfare School](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Altitude_Warfare_School) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Altitude_Warfare_School?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.