| Ram's Head Device | |
| Presenter: | United States Army |
| Type: | Badge |
| Awarded For: | Completion of the Mountain Warfare School |
| Status: | Currently awarded |
| Lastawarded: | On going |
| Higher: | (Group 3 badges) Astronaut, EOD, Aviator, Flight surgeon, Rigger |
| Lower: | (Group 5 badges) Diver, Special Operations Diver, Driver and Mechanic |
The Ram's Head Device is a military special skill badge of the United States Army National Guard. The Ram's Head Device is awarded to any soldier after completion of the Army Mountain Warfare School (AMWS), based at the Ethan Allen Firing Range in Jericho, Vermont.
The Ram's Head Device, is derived from the 85th Infantry Regimental crest which is topped by a ram's head symbolizing a unit skilled in mountain activity. The 85th was one of three regiments comprising the 10th Light Division (Alpine) when it was activated in July 1943. In the 1950s, the United States Army Mountain and Cold Weather Training Command at Fort Carson and Camp Hale, Colorado adopted the Ram's Head Device as the badge worn by their cadre.[1]
In 1983, the Vermont Army National Guard Mountain Warfare School was established in Jericho, Vermont. The Ram's Head Device was adopted as the Military Mountaineer Badge denoting successful completion of the Basic Military Mountaineer Course (BMMC) and awarding of the Skill Qualification Identifier – E "Military Mountaineer." In 2003 the Vermont Army Mountain Warfare School became the United States Army Mountain Warfare School.[1]
The badge is authorized for wear on the uniform of Vermont National Guard soldiers[2] [3] [4] and those Army National Guard units belonging to the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain) from other states, such as:
However, this badge is widely worn by other national guard graduates of the Army Mountain Warfare School, though not officially authorized.
When the Army Mountain Warfare School was put under the control of U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command in 2009, only the BMMC (Summer) or BMMC (Winter) must be completed to earn the Special Qualification Identifier "E", not both. Also, with the updated "History of the Ram’s Head Device" document (dated 5 September 2013) stating, "The Army Mountain Warfare School continues to award the Ram’s Head Device to soldiers who complete the BMMC." alludes that completion of only one of the phases of training (summer or winter) is now required to be awarded the Ram's Head Device.[2] [1] [5] [6]