Mountain Warfare Training Center

Mountain Warfare Training Center, MWTC
	Mono County, northwest of Bridgeport, California
	File:MWTC Logo.jpg MWTC Insignia
Coordinates	Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Type	Military base
Site history
Built	1951
In use	1951–present
Garrison information
Current; commander	Current CO

The Mountain Warfare Training Center (MWTC) is a United States Marine Corps installation located in Pickel Meadows on California State Route 108 in the Toiyabe National Forest, 21 miles (34 km) northwest of 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.^[1]

History

File:MWTC Basecamp.jpg

MWTC Basecamp, Pickel Meadows

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.^[2] 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 Center's focus was on training and preparing Marines and operational units for deployments on NATO's Northern flank, particularly Norway.^[3] Recently, with the Global War on Terrorism, the MWTC provides pre-deployment training in support of Operation Enduring Freedom—the war in Afghanistan.^[1]

Operating Areas

File:MWTC RHU and MOUT site.jpg

MWTC MOUT site in Hawthorne (lower left) and RHU Village set up in Summit Meadows Sept 2007

MWTC is located in what's known as Pickel Meadows of the Sierra Nevada mountains south of Lake Tahoe on 46,000 acres (190 km²) of mountainous terrain with elevations from 6,700 ft (2,000 m) – 11,000 ft. Other areas utilized by MWTC: Sweetwater Airstrip 6,835 ft (2,083 m), Mt Shasta 14,179 ft (4,322 m), the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada (U.S.) and Hawthorne Army Depot for live fire exercises. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.^[1]^[4]

MWTC Installation Capabilities

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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 Bandvagn 206
Stables and pack animals
Specialized technical mountaineering and ski equipment
Modern Range Operations Center
Multiple small arms ranges
Multiple rock climbing training areas
Multiple stream crossing sites
Ski Lift
Avalanche training site
Unit/Combat Operations Center
MCCS, Post Exchange, Single Marine Program, Fitness Center and Rock Training/Climbing wall
The Pickel Post, Base Newsletter
Family Housing for Permanent personnel

MWTC School of Mountain Warfare

Marines conduct cold weather live fire small arms range

Scout Snipers train at the Mountain Warfare Training Center

Formal Courses / Training Programs Offered

File:New Mountain Leader (summer and winter) Logo.jpg

USMC Mountain Leader (S/W) Logo

Mountain / Cold Weather Pre-Environmental Training
Mountain Operations Staff Planning Course
Summer and Winter Mountain Leader Courses
Tactical Rope Suspension Techniques (TRST) Course
Mountain / Cold Weather Scout Sniper Course
Assault Climber Course
Scout Skier Course
Mountain / Cold Weather Survival Course
Mountain / Cold Weather Medicine Course (Navy)
OSV (Over the Snow Vehicle) / rough terrain driver training
Animal Packing Course
Custom tailored packages for Aviation units
Mountain Warfare Instructor Qualification Courses
Special Operation Forces (SOF) Horsemanship Course

Many courses require successful completion of the Mountain Endurance Test on Training Day 1 which consists of a 5-mile ruck run with 50 lb pack in 75 min or less wearing the camouflage uniform and boots followed immediately by at least 10 pull ups and then directly into a 30-foot rope climb.

Pre-Deployment Training Programs (PTP)

ETTs conducting Rough Terrain Driving in Hawthorne May 2007

Mountain Exercise (MTX) (revamped summer/winter package customized per METL) (2010–Present)
- Training for all USMC MAGTF elements/units for OEF
Mountain Warrior
- Training for USMC battalions headed to Afghanistan to participate in combat operations in support of OEF. Exercise Mountain Warrior was directed by the Commandant of the Marine Corps as an alternate training venue to Exercise Mojave Viper (EMV) (Mojave Viper) due to insufficient throughput capacity of EMV at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms. (2009-2010)
Mountain Viper
- Training for USMC Embedded Training Teams (ETTs) for OEF (2006-2009)

MWI (Mountain Warfare Instructor, AKA Red Hats) Training^[5]

Basic MWI

MLC or IQC (Instructor Qualification Course) Graduate, Seasonal
BIC (Basic Instructor Course)
SAT (Systems Approach to Training) and ORM (Operational Risk Management) Online Courses
ORM (Operational Risk Management)
RSO (Range Safety Officer)
225 score on the United States Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test (PFT) unadjusted for age or altitude
Recommendation from Course Chief

Senior MWI

File:MWTC MWI Training.jpg

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

Summer and Winter Mountain Leader Course (or IQC)
Completed AIARE Level 1 Avalanche Course^[6]
Qualify as a BSI (Basic Ski Instructor)
Complete Snow II Clinic
Complete Rock II Clinic
Complete Alpine II Clinic
Certified as a Wilderness First Responder or higher
Completed 20 hours of platform Instruction
Recommendation from OIC.

Master MWI

Completed AIARE Avalanche Level 2 or Level 1 Instructor Course
Qualify as a MSI (Military Ski Instructor).
Complete Snow III Clinic
Complete Rock III Clinic
Complete Alpine III Clinic
Completed 40 hours of platform Instruction
Recommendation from OIC.

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 MWTC Command and Staff "A Training Complex for Complex Terrain"
↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
↑ [1] "The U.S. Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center 1951-2001"
↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
↑ Academic Training Center Order, Dated June 2010
↑ AIARE

External links

[mca-marines.org-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 MWTC Command and Staff "A Training Complex for Complex Terrain"

[2] Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

[3] [1] "The U.S. Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center 1951-2001"

[GR1-4] Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

[5] Academic Training Center Order, Dated June 2010

[6] AIARE

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