A member of the Armed Forces of Malta has successfully completed one of Italy’s toughest military mountaineering courses.Lance Bombardier Arnold Agius recently graduated from the Basic Mountaineering Course at the Centro Addestramento Alpino in Aosta, Italy, after completing an intensive 20-day programme run by the Italian Army.The course brought together 25 participants, with Agius standing out as the only Maltese soldier, alongside 22 Italians and two Lebanese personnel.Designed to prepare troops for operations in challenging alpine conditions, the training saw participants operate at altitudes between 2,000 and 3,500 metres, developing vital skills including rope work, mountaineering knots, belaying techniques, casualty recovery, emergency procedures, glacier movement and navigation across mountainous terrain.The achievement marks another milestone for the AFM’s international training efforts, equipping Maltese personnel with specialised skills that can be applied in demanding operational environments.Congratulations, Arnold! •