Mountain Warfare Training Center

Mountain Warfare Training Center, MWTC
Mono County, northwest of Bridgeport, California

MWTC Insignia
Coordinates 38°21′33″N 119°30′45″W / 38.35917°N 119.51250°W / 38.35917; -119.51250Coordinates: 38°21′33″N 119°30′45″W / 38.35917°N 119.51250°W / 38.35917; -119.51250
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 at 6800 ft above sea level 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

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 provided pre-deployment training in support of Operation Enduring Freedom—the war in Afghanistan.[1]

Operating Areas

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. 38°21′24″N 119°30′59″W / 38.35667°N 119.51639°W / 38.35667; -119.51639[1][4]

MWTC Installation Capabilities

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

USMC Mountain Leader (S/W) Logo

Most courses require a first class Physical Fitness Test, typically conducted on Training Day 1.

Pre-Deployment Training Programs (PTP)

ETTs conducting Rough Terrain Driving in Hawthorne May 2007

MWI (Mountain Warfare Instructor, a.k.a. Red Hats) Training[5]

Basic MWI

Senior MWI

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

Master MWI

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 MWTC Command and Staff "A Training Complex for Complex Terrain"
  2. ↑ Hutton, Robin (2014). Sgt. Reckless: America's War Horse. Regnery History. p. 34. ISBN 9781621572633.
  3. ↑ "The U.S. Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center 1951-2001"
  4. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  5. ↑ Academic Training Center Order, Dated June 2010
  6. ↑ AIARE
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