Archive:Mountain Warfare Training Center: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 08:33, 12 June 2009

? The Mountain Warfare Training Center (MWTC) is a United States Marine Corps installation located in Pickel Meadows near Bridgeport, California. The training center exists to train units in complex compartmented terrain.

Mission

The Marine Corps' Mountain Warfare Training Center, as a major subordinate element of Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command, and with support from Marine Corps Installations - West, conducts unit and individual training courses to prepare USMC, Joint, and Allied Forces for operations in mountainous, high altitude, and cold weather environments in support of the Regional Combatant Commanders. Additionally, MWTC provides support to Marine Corps Combat Development Command (MCCDC); Training and Education Command; Marine Corps Systems Command; and other USMC and Department of Defense (DOD) agencies engaged in the development of warfighting doctrine and specialized equipment for use in mountain and cold weather operations.

History

The Mountain Warfare Training Center (MWTC) is one of the Corps most remote and isolated posts. The Center was established in 1951 as the Cold Weather Battalion with a mission of providing cold weather training for replacement personnel bound for Korea. After the Korean War, in 1963, the school was renamed the "Mountain Warfare Training Center" due to its expanded role. During the 1980s the Training Centers focus was on training and preparing Marines and operational units for deployments on NATO's Northern flank, particularly Norway. Recently, with the Global War on Terrorism, the MWTC provides pre-deployment training in support of Operation Enduring Freedom—the war in Afghanistan.

MWTC Installation Capabilities

Billeting facilities to support 1200+ training personnel
Chowhall to support permanent and training personnel
Naval Hospital Branch Clinic
Fire Department/EMS ambulances
Base Security Forces / PMO
Classrooms and base theater
1200’ VSTOL-capable Expeditionary Airfield EAF]
Fleet of BV 206 restricted terrain vehicles
Stables and pack animals
Specialized technical mountaineering and ski equipment
Small arms ranges
Ski Lift
Avalanche training site
Modern Range Operations Center
Unit/Combat Operations Center
MCCS, Post Exchange, SMP, Fitness Center and Rock Training/Climbing wall
Family Housing for Permanent personnel

MWTC School of Mountain Warfare

Formal Courses / Training Programs Offered

Mountain Operations Staff Planning Course
Mountain Leaders Course
Mountain Sniper Course
Mountain and Cold Weather Medical Courses
Mountain Survival Course
Satellite Courses for Specialized elements of the MAGTF
- Tactical Rope Suspension Techniques (TRST) Course
- Assault Climber Course
- Scout Skier Course
- Animal Packing Course
- Communications package
- Engineer packages
- OSV / rough terrain driver training
- Custom tailored packages for Aviation units
Mountain Warfare Instructor (MWI) Qualification Courses

Pre-Deployment Training Programs (PTP)

Mountain Viper
- Training USMC Embedded Training Teams (ETTs) for OEF

Mountain Warrior (revamped summer/winter package customized per METL)
- Training for all USMC MAGTF elements/units for OEF

Mountain Warfare Instructor (MWI, AKA Red Hats) Training

MWI Level 1

IQC Graduate
Basic Instructor Skills Course (BISC)
SAT and ORM
Wilderness First Responder (CPR)

MWI Level 2

File:MWTC MWI Training.jpg

MWIs (aka Red Hats) conducting advanced winter mobility training in the Eastern Sierras (Evolution Loop) March 2005

225 PFT unadjusted for age or altitude
FSIC Graduate
Assault Climber Certification or Military Skier Certification
Completed AIARE Level 2 Avalanche Course
Completed 20 hours of platform Instruction
Recommendation from Course Chief Instructor/Team Leader.

MWI Level 3

Completed AIARE Avalanche Level 3 Or Level 1 Instructor Course
Qualify as either an Assault Climber Instructor (ACI) Pack Master or a Military Ski Instructor (MSI).
Mentored two Level 1 MWIs to Level 2
Led an ATC, WTC, or Expedition
Completed 40 hours of platform Instruction
Recommendation from Course Chief Instructor/Team Leader.

References

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Infobox Military Structure
+{{?}}
-|name= Mountain Warfare Training Center, MWTC
-|location= [[Bridgeport, California]]
-|image= [[Image:MWTC_Logo.jpg]]
-|caption= MWTC Insignia
-|type= Military base
-|built= 1951
-|materials=
-|used= 1951–present
-|controlledby=
-|garrison=
-|commanders=[http://www.mwtc.usmc.mil/Base%20Info/commanding_officer_page.htm Current CO]
-|battles=
-}}
 The '''Mountain Warfare Training Center''' (MWTC) is a [[United States Marine Corps]] installation located in [[Pickel Meadows]] near [[Bridgeport, California]]. The training center exists to train units in complex compartmented terrain.
 ==Mission==
-The Marine Corps' Mountain Warfare Training Center, as a major subordinate element of Marine Air-Ground Task Force Training Command, and with support from [[Marine Corps Installations West|Marine Corps Installations - West]], conducts unit and individual training courses to prepare USMC, Joint, and Allied Forces for operations in mountainous, high altitude, and cold weather environments in support of the Regional Combatant Commanders. Additionally, MWTC provides support to [[Marine Corps Combat Development Command]] (MCCDC); [[Marine Corps Training and Education Command|Training and Education Command]]; [[Marine Corps Systems Command]]; and other USMC and [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] (DOD) agencies engaged in the development of warfighting doctrine and specialized equipment for use in mountain and cold weather operations.
+The Marine Corps' Mountain Warfare Training Center, as a major subordinate element of [[Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command]], and with support from [[Marine Corps Installations West|Marine Corps Installations - West]], conducts unit and individual training courses to prepare USMC, Joint, and Allied Forces for operations in mountainous, high altitude, and cold weather environments in support of the Regional Combatant Commanders. Additionally, MWTC provides support to [[Marine Corps Combat Development Command]] (MCCDC); [[Marine Corps Training and Education Command|Training and Education Command]]; [[Marine Corps Systems Command]]; and other USMC and [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] (DOD) agencies engaged in the development of warfighting doctrine and specialized equipment for use in mountain and cold weather operations.
 ==History==
-[[Image:MWTC_Basecamp.jpg|300px|thumb|right|MWTC Basecamp]]
+The Mountain Warfare Training Center (MWTC) is one of the Corps most remote and isolated posts. The Center was established in 1951 as the Cold Weather Battalion with a mission of providing cold weather training for replacement personnel bound for [[Korea]]. After the [[Korean War]], in 1963, the school was renamed the "Mountain Warfare Training Center" due to its expanded role.  During the 1980s the Training Centers focus was on training and preparing Marines and operational units for deployments on [[NATO]]'s Northern flank, particularly [[Norway]]. Recently, with the Global [[War on Terrorism]], the MWTC provides pre-deployment training in support of [[Operation Enduring Freedom]]—the [[war in Afghanistan (2001–present)|war in Afghanistan]].
-The Mountain Warfare Training Center (MWTC) is one of the Corps most remote and isolated posts. The Center was established in 1951 as the Cold Weather Battalion with a mission of providing cold weather training for replacement personnel bound for [[Korea]]. After the [[Korean War]], in 1963, the school was renamed the "Mountain Warfare Training Center" due to its expanded role.  During the 1980's the Training Centers focus was on training and preparing Marines and operational units for deployments on [[NATO]]'s Northern flank, particularly [[Norway]]. Recently, with the Global [[War on Terrorism]], the MWTC provides pre-deployment training in support of [[Operation Enduring Freedom]]—the [[war in Afghanistan (2001–present)|war in Afghanistan]].
-==Operating Areas==
-[[Image:MWTC_RHU_and_MOUT_site.jpg|300px|thumb|right|MWTC MOUT site in Hawthorne (lower left) and RHU Village set up in Summit Meadows [[Sept 2007]]]]
-[[Image:Osprey_landing_at_EAF.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Osprey landing on MWTC EAF [[Nov 2007]]]]
-MWTC is located in what's known as [[Pickel Meadows]] of the Sierra Nevada mountains south of Lake Tahoe on 46,000 acres of mountainous terrain with elevations from 6,700 ft – 11,000 ft. Other areas utilized by MWTC: Sweetwater Airstrip 6,835ft, [[Mt Shasta]] 14,179ft, the eastern slopes of the [[Sierra Nevada (U.S.)]] and [[Hawthorne Army Depot]] for live fire exercises. {{Coord|38|21|24|N|119|30|59|W}}{{GR|1}}
 ==MWTC Installation Capabilities==
@@ Line 41: / Line 21: @@
 *Specialized technical mountaineering and ski equipment
 *Small arms ranges
+*Ski Lift
+*Avalanche training site
 *Modern Range Operations Center
 *Unit/Combat Operations Center
@@ Line 49: / Line 31: @@
 [[Image:Snow MARPAT.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Marines train at the MWTC]]
 ===Formal Courses / Training Programs Offered===
+[[Image:New_Mountain_Leader_(summer_and_winter)_Logo.jpg‎|thumb|right|300px|USMC Mountain Leader (S/W) Logo]]
 *Mountain Operations Staff Planning Course
-*[[Mountain Leader]]s Courses
+*[[Mountain Leader]]s Course
 *Mountain Sniper Course
 *Mountain and Cold Weather Medical Courses
@@ Line 67: / Line 50: @@
 ===Pre-Deployment Training Programs (PTP)===
-[[Image:Rough_Terrain_driving_at_altitude.jpg|300px|thumb|right|ETTs conducting Rough Terrain Driving in Hawthorne [[May 2007]]]]
+[[Image:Rough Terrain driving at altitude.jpg|300px|thumb|right|ETTs conducting Rough Terrain Driving in Hawthorne [[May 2007]]]]
 *Mountain Viper
 **Training USMC [[Embedded Training Teams]] (ETTs) for [[OEF]]
@@ Line 74: / Line 57: @@
 **Training for all USMC MAGTF elements/units for [[OEF]]
-===Mountain Warfare Instructor (MWI) Training===
+===Mountain Warfare Instructor (MWI, AKA Red Hats) Training===
 ====MWI Level 1====
@@ Line 84: / Line 66: @@
 ====MWI Level 2====
-[[Image:MWTC_MWI_Training.jpg|300px|thumb|right|MWIs conducting advanced winter mobility training in the Eastern Sierras (Evolution Loop) [[March 2005]]]]
+[[Image:MWTC MWI Training.jpg|300px|thumb|right|MWIs (aka Red Hats) conducting advanced winter mobility training in the Eastern Sierras (Evolution Loop) [[March 2005]]]]
 *225 PFT unadjusted for age or altitude
 *FSIC Graduate
 *Assault Climber Certification or Military Skier Certification
-*Completed [[AIARE]] Level 2 Avalanche Course
+*Completed [http://avtraining.org/ AIARE] Level 2 Avalanche Course
 *Completed 20 hours of platform Instruction
 *Recommendation from Course Chief Instructor/Team Leader.
@@ Line 94: / Line 76: @@
 ====MWI Level 3====
-*Completed [[AIARE]] Avalanche Level 3 Or Level 1 Instructor Course
+*Completed [http://avtraining.org/ AIARE] Avalanche Level 3 Or Level 1 Instructor Course
 *Qualify as either an Assault Climber Instructor (ACI) Pack Master or a Military Ski Instructor (MSI).
 *Mentored two Level 1 MWIs to Level 2
@@ Line 104: / Line 86: @@
 {{portal|United States Marine Corps|USMC_logo.svg}}
 * [[List of United States Marine Corps bases]]
-* [[Army Mountain Warfare School]]
+* [[Army Mountain Warfare School]] [[USA]]
-* [[Northern Warfare Training Center]]
+* [[Northern Warfare Training Center]] [[USA]]
 {{clear}}
 ==References==
+<references/>
 * [http://www.mwtc.usmc.mil/ MWTC's official website]
 * [https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/sites/selectInstallation.do?installation_id=11541 Info on the installation]
+* [http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:k9rN5d3LlXMJ:www.alpinist.com/doc/_print/ALP18/short-march-hindu-kush-ed-darack  Alpinist, A Short March to the Hindu Kush, Posted on: November 27, 2006, Ed Darack]
+* [http://www.marines.mil/units/hqmc/Pages/JAN0814.aspx Mountain Viper Article Feb 2008]
+* [http://www.victorypoint.info/ Victory Point site]
+* [http://smallwarsjournal.com/documents/malik.pdf Small Wars Journal - Mountain Warfare - The need for specialized training]
+* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/3-97-61/index.html FM 3-97.61, Military Mountaineering]
+* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/3-97-6/index.html FM 3-97.6, Mountain Operations]
+* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/31-70/index.html FM 31-70, Cold Weather Manual]
+* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/9-207/index.html FM 9-207/TO 36-1-40, Operations and Maintenance of Ordnance Materiel in Cold Weather]
 [[Category:United States Marine Corps bases|MWTC]]