Ram's Head Device



The Ram's Head Device or Military Mountaineer Badge is a military special skill badge of the U.S. Army National Guard. The Ram's Head Device is awarded to any soldier after completion of the U.S. Army Mountain Warfare School, based at the Ethan Allen Firing Range in Jericho, Vermont. The badge is authorized for wear on the uniform of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont National Guard soldiers --these states have units that are aligned with the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain)-- but is widely worn unofficially by other graduates of the Mountain Warfare School.

History
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.

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 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.

Wear of the Ram's Head Device
AR 670-1 paragraph 29-6 j discusses National Guard awards generally:

Excerpt from the State of Vermont Adjutant General's Office Permanent Order 121-01 (1 May 2006):

Note: It is believed that the requirement to complete both the Summer and Winter phases of the Army Mountain Warfare School in order to earn the Ram’s Head Device may have changed. Some current and/or former Soldiers say that the school no longer requires the completion of both phases in order to graduate from the course. This would allow a special skill badge, such as the Ram's Head Device, to be awarded to graduates after only completing either the Summer or Winter training session.