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In mountain warfare, adversaries come in two forms, the
enemy force and the unforgiving elements. In many respects,
an alpine terrain can be the more formidable opponent, for
unlike our enemies, we cannot oblige Mother Nature to
relent.
Marines and sailors with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, are
putting their cold-weather survival skills to the test during
Mountain Training Exercise 1-17 aboard the Marine Corps Mountain
Warfare Training Center Bridgeport, California January 13 through
February 6, 2017.
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January 19, 2016 - A Mountain Warfare Instructor leads Marines with
2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, in skiing drills during Mountain
Training Exercise 1-17 in the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training
Center Bridgeport, California training area. MCMWTC is one of the
Marine Corps’ most secluded posts, comprised of approximately 46,000
acres of terrain with elevations ranging from 5,000 to 11,000 feet.
The exercise trains elements of the Marine air-ground task force
across the warfighting functions for operations in
mountainous, high-altitude and cold-weather environments in order to
enhance a unit’s ability to shoot, move, communicate, sustain and
survive in the most rugged regions of the world. (U.S. Marine Corps
photo by Cpl. Levi Schultz)
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MCMWTC is one of the Marine Corps’ most secluded posts,
comprised of approximately 46,000 acres of terrain with
elevations ranging from 5,000 to 11,000 feet. MTX trains
elements of the Marine air-ground task force across the
warfighting functions for operations in mountainous,
high-altitude and cold-weather environments in order to
enhance a unit’s ability to shoot, move, communicate,
sustain and survive in the most rugged regions of the world.
During this iteration of MTX, the inclusion of the Artic Tent,
designed to house up to 15 personnel, enabled the “Warlords” to be
truly immersed in the frigid landscape throughout the full duration
of the training.
“For the first time, we established a tent city in Grouse Meadows
on top of about 5 feet of snow,” said Maj. Mark A. Wlaschin,
logistics officer, MCMWTC. “The plan was to billet up to 1,200
personnel; however, we ended up with a max of 811 people living in
the city, similar to many forward staging bases around the world.”
Improving upon previously used cold-weather tents, the Artic
Tents more effectively insulate heat and can be installed with
heating stoves.
“[The tent city] really facilitated their learning in an
administrative manner,” Wlaschin said. “Having 15-man tents
connected in rows of three allowed them to organize platoon-level
leadership to make sure everyone was doing the right things and that
medical issues were addressed quickly.”
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January 18, 2016 - Marines with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment,
set up communication equipment in a tent city located in the Grouse
Meadows training area during Mountain Training Exercise 1-17 in the
vicinity of the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center
Bridgeport, California. MCMWTC is one of the Marine Corps’ most
secluded posts, comprised of approximately 46,000 acres of terrain
with elevations ranging from 5,000 to 11,000 feet. During this
iteration of MTX, the inclusion of the Artic Tent, designed to house
up to 15 personnel, enabled the “Warlords” to be truly immersed in
the frigid landscape throughout the full duration of the training.
(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Levi Schultz)
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The snow-covered tent city served as a sprawling center
of operations throughout the exercise.
“During the first phase of MTX 1-17, we see [the Marines]
conducting the mobility training of the exercise where they learn
flat ground techniques,” Wlaschin said. “This includes learning to
ski and move on snow shoes in a flat environment before moving on to
downhill techniques.”
Throughout this phase, Marines also learn to thrive in frigid
temperatures that can drop as low as minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit
during winter months. Mountain warfare instructors teach basic
survival techniques, from heating and purifying water to how to
properly utilizing cold weather gear.
For Marines, this is just one means of being prepared to complete
their mission “in every clime and place.”
“They trained us in the
proper gear and taught us how to survive,” said Cpl. Corey Jarvis,
squad leader, 2/2. “If you can train out here and get past that
mental block, than I feel like you can step up and do anything.”
By U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Levi Schultz
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2017
The U.S. Marines
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