NORWEGIAN ARMED FORCES
Norwegian Army
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Norwegian School of Winter Warfare May 2026
E&T Section
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To Copy to
Allied embassies FST/O
NATO ACT HÆREN/HST/OPS AVD
HÆREN/TRENREG/ATS
Cold Weather Operations Courses 2026-2027
Background
On behalf of NATO Centre of Excellence Cold Weather operation, the Norwegian School of Winter
Warfare (NSWW) has the pleasure to invite the addressees1 to bid for seats on the courses offered to
NATO and partner nations.
The courses are as follows:
NATO Cold Weather Survival Instructor Course (NCWSIC), 9rd of November to 258h of November
2026
NATO Cold Weather Combat Medic Instructor Course (NCWCMIC), 23th of November to 9th of
December 2026
NATO Cold Weather Warfare Instructor Course (NCWWIC), 11th of January to 5th of February
2027
NATO Cold Weather Planner Course (NCWPC), 25th January to 5th February 2027
NATO Avalanche Rescue Instructor Course (NARIC), 12th to 16th of April 2027
NATO Cold Weather Survival Instructor Course (NCWSIC)
Aim
The objective is to provide the students with knowledge and skills needed to serve as Cold Weather
Survival Instructors and Advisers, including:
Providing practical skills and knowledge on how to survive in a harsh environment behind
enemy lines, with a minimum of equipment over a long period.
Providing skills and knowledge on how to survive off the land.
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Invitation will be distributed by unclassified email to all accredited NATO embassies and Allied Command
Transformation (ACT).
Mailing address Visiting address E-mail
FVS, Terningmoen Hamarveien 110
[email protected]
P. O. Box 393 Terningmoen Camp
N-2403 Elverum Elverum
Norway Norway
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Prerequisites of attendance
The NCWSIC course is offered primarily for officers and NCOs scheduled for Long Range Recce Patrol
and Special Operations.
It is recommended that the student have experience from operating in a cold environment.
This course requires a high standard of physical fitness. The students must fulfil the following
requirements:
7 km running test in combat boots, carrying a 20 kg rucksack - time limit 52 minutes. This test must
be documented from the home unit and presented at the start of the course. Students must be
prepared for testing at the course. Students that do not pass will be returned to their unit.
Students must have a security clearance; NATO-CONFIDENTIAL or above.
The course is limited to 24 students.
NATO Cold Weather Combat Medic Instructor Course (NCWCMIC)
Aim
The objective is to provide the students with practical experience and knowledge on how to conduct
medical training program for operations in a cold weather climate as instructors and advisors.
Through the course, the students will acquire knowledge and skills on utilizing examination drill
(MARCH) in cold weather conditions, how to prevent, recognize and treat cold weather injuries and
adapt their own equipment to best function in cold a weather climate. The student must have the
practical understanding and knowledge of:
MARCH (ON)
TCCC
Tactical Field Care (TFC)
Prolonged Field Care (PFC)
The course emphasises practical exercises and demonstrations including two field exercises with a
total of 8 nights spent in the field. Most of the activities are organized in small units. The initial basic
training will focus on improving individual skills on operating in a cold weather theatre before moving
towards a medical focus.
Prerequisites of attendance
This is an instructor course, and not a basic medic course. The students must have the educational
medical level and practical training as an instructor.
The NCWCMIC primarily focus on section and platoon level education, aimed at all personnel (all ranks
included) that function as a medical instructor or advisor in their own unit.
The course requires high standard of physical fitness, and it is recommended that the student have
experience from operating in a cold environment.
The course is limited to 24 students.
NATO Cold Weather Warfare Instructor Course (NCWWIC)
Aim
The main objective of NWIC is to provide the students with knowledge and skills needed to serve as
winter training instructors and advisors, including:
Providing tactical and technical knowledge on how to take advantage of terrain and the
conditions imposed by snow and cold weather.
Practicing survival, mobility and leadership under winter conditions.
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Prerequisites of attendance
This is an instructor course, and not a basic winter course. The students must have education and
practical training as an instructor.
The NCWWIC primarily focus on platoon and coy level responsibilities aimed at NCOs from the rank of
OR-4 or above, and officers up to and including the rank of OF-3.
The course emphasises practical exercises and demonstrations including one main field exercise with
11 nights spent in tents and alternative bivouacs. Most of the activities are organized in small units.
The initial basic training (weeks 1-2) will focus on improving individual skills.
The course requires high standard of physical fitness. The students must fulfil the following
requirement:
7 km running test in combat boots, carrying a 20 kg rucksack - time limit 52 minutes. This test must
be documented from the home unit and presented at the start of the course. Students must be
prepared for testing at the course. Students that do not pass will be returned to their unit.
The course is limited to 64 students.
NATO Cold Weather Planner Course (NCWPC)
Aim
The purpose of this course is to enhance the Alliance members understanding and appreciation of the
Cold Weather Environment in order to develop NATO’s ability to prepare, plan, and conduct Land
Tactical Cold Weather Operations in a Multi Domain Operations (MDO) context.
The course aims to give the students an in-depth understanding and appreciation of the Cold
Weather Environment (CWE), and how this serves as a prerequisite for planning at tactical and
operational levels in order to conduct Cold Weather Operations (CWO).
The course will provide the students a broad knowledge of how support from GEOMETOC and CW
experiences are fundamental for CWO planning considerations, and how applying the CWO principles
will enhance the land force`s ability to prepare, plan, and conduct CWO in a MDO context.
Prerequisite of attendance
This two-week course is comprised of interactive plenary lectures, field trips with capability and CWE
demonstrations, practical tabletop and MAP exercises, and facilitated work in small syndicates
followed by back briefs to plenary.
The course uses a cold weather scenario with a divisional level scenario and OPORD. The syndicates
will work as a small Brigade Staff with relevant warfighting functions. The syndicates will conduct a
OPAP (Operation Plan Adjustment Process) to revise and adjust a Brigade plan, from summer
condition to a cold weather condition.
In conclusion, the education and training will provide the students with a foundational knowledge of
the challenges they will face, proper planning tools, and an understanding of the importance of
thorough preparation and planning to execute Cold Weather Operations.
The students must have a proficient national level in MDMP for land forces and/or the NATO
APP-28.
The students have served in a national or multinational HQ at battalion level or above, or
similar HQ for tactical planning.
Students must have a security clearance; NATO-Restricted (NR) or above.
This course is limited to 30 students.
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NOTE! Due to the lodging limitations in the Terningmoen camp, the students at this course must be
accommodated at a hotel outside the camp at their own nations cost. The Joining Report will provide
detailed information to the students minimum three months prior to arrival.
NATO Avalanche Rescue Instructor Course (NARIC)
Aim
The main objective of NARIC is to provide the students with knowledge and skills needed to serve as
companion rescue instructors.
Including lectures and practical training in the following subjects:
Transceiver knowledge
Safe routing
Evacuation of avalanche victims
Medical treatment of avalanche victims
Prerequisite of attendance
This is an instructor course and the students must have education and practical training as an
instructor.
The NARIC primarily focus on section and platoon level responsibilities aimed at NCOs from the rank
of Sergeant (OR-5) or above, and officers up to and including the rank of Lieutenant. The course
emphasises practical exercises and demonstrations. Most of the activities are organized in small units.
It is recommended that the student have experience from operating in a cold environment.
This course is limited to 24 students.
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General for all courses
Language
All classes will be given in English. Students must have the following minimum proficiency standards
in English (as described in STANAG 6001). Students do not meet this standard will be returned to unit.
a. Listening: (Functional /2)
b. Speaking: (Functional/2)
c. Reading: (Functional /2)
d. Writing: (Functional/2)
Course fee
All the courses are free of charge. The students must pay for food and lodging during the courses.
Some courses will be using civilian hotels due to limited availability of military accommodation. Info
will be given for each course. Each sending nation is responsible for travel arrangements and travel
costs for own students.
Security clearances
All courses require security clearance for NATO Restricted – NR, or above. This should be documented
with each student bringing the form “ATTESTATION OF NATO PERSONNEL SECURITY CLEARANCE”
(Appendix 2/annex1/AC/35-D/2000-REV7) from home unit.
Request for seats
The attached form Request for seats must be completed and returned to
[email protected]
no later than the 10th august 2026.
Allocation of seats
Allocation of seats will be issued shortly after the closing date (above), with instructions on the
nominating procedures. When nations have received their allocated seats, nominations should be
sent to the NSWW, no later than one month before the course start.
Joining instructions and course programmes will be distributed directly to the nominated candidates
and/or their respective units.
Point of contact NSWW
POC for courses at NSWW is:
MAJ (OF3) Sverre Kunej Dæhli
Head of Education & Training Section
E-mail:
[email protected]
+47 488 62 452
NSWW reserves the right to cancel or move courses.
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Vegard Flom
Colonel
Norwegian School of Winter Warfare
Electronically approved document, no handwritten signature is applied.