Marines prepare for mountain warfare
by Jonni Hill, jhill@recordcourier.com
January 1, 2006

More than 200 Marines from Camp Pendleton, Calif., participated in a cold weather mountain warfare training exercise for two weeks in December.

The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit Command Element joined with the Marine Corps' Infantry Officer's Course at the U.S. Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, located in Pickel Meadow near Bridgeport.

At an elevation of more than 8,000 feet in the mountains above the training center, Grouse Meadows became the high country classroom where the Marines would spend nine days learning the basics of winter survival in preparation for possible future missions in cold weather environments.

Their first day of outdoor training started with a seven-mile march from the training center, with full packs, to the upper meadows. Starting at an elevation of 6,765 feet with ground clear from the snow that had fallen a week before, it wasn't long before they found themselves in snow and drifts up to 2-feet deep. The first night was spent learning how to eat and sleep in snow, surviving single-digit temperatures, melting snow for fresh water over single burner stoves and trying to stay as comfortable as possible in these conditions.

With about 80 percent of the Marines new to snowy conditions and winter survival, the next few days would be spent learning basic mobility with snowshoes and cross-country skis. Frostbite is the biggest and most constant threat when there is no relief of escaping the elements for such a prolonged time.

"A lot of times we get classes on many things pertaining to injuries and frostbite," Capt. Leticia Reyes said, "but here we have had practical application for all we learned in classroom training. It makes a big difference."

The Gardenia, Calif., resident said she had never been in the snow under these conditions before.

For Cpl. David Gonzales, a maintenance management clerk in charge of keeping the gear combat ready, his hometown was Orlando, Fla., before joining the Marines two and a half years ago. Gonzales had never been in the snow before.

"This experience is pretty good," he said. "It brings us closer as a cohesive unit."

Cpl. David Rae is a tactical network data specialist, whose job it is to manage the three computers carried into the mountains to be used for intelligence, operations and administration while in camp.

The Carlisle, Penn., resident is no stranger to snow, but, skiing, snowshoeing and cold weather survival were all new to him.

"It's a good gut check to see what kind of person you really are," Rae said. "I thought I was going to die out here but I came through it pretty well. This place does make me miss home though. I miss hunting."

Like Rae, Niagra Falls, N.Y. resident Gunnery Sgt. Rhonda Mera had lived in harsh winter conditions on the edge of Lake Erie but had never skied or spent any prolonged time out in the elements.

One of her assignments on this exercise was to photograph the operation.

Keeping the Marine Expeditionary Unit informed of any enemy threats, gathering information from different sources and getting the reports from the source to the field is the job of Sgt. Corey Schwendeman, senior intelligence analyst.

For Schwendeman, it was his second time in the mountains but the first time he had come to the training center, he was an observer.

"Nobody quit, everyone worked together. This course taught us how to take care of Marines in the snow," the Marietta, Ohio, resident said. "This is beneficial to everyone and it is up to you whether or not you are happy or miserable out here."

The encampment looked like a small city among the trees that lined the edge of the meadow. Trails were dug from tent to tent and the tents were dug down in the snow for more protection.

"When we break camp you will hardly know any of us were here," Reyes said. "Before we leave, all the snow will be shoveled back into place and smoothed over. Of course we can't hide our tracks from the skis or snowshoes as we make our forward movement but that is what our forward and rear observers are for. They let us know of any enemy movement around us so we can take evasive action before they find us."

The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit does a six-month rotation in the Pacific arena where they are on tour for half the year and in training for the other half. They were in the Pacific near Sri Lanka when the tsunami struck on Dec. 26, 2004. They provided humanitarian assistance after the disaster. They were also called into Iraq during their tour to conduct combat operations.

The experiences the unit shared at the Mountain Warfare Training Center, facing the elements, surviving in the harsh conditions Decembers can bring to the Sierra and pulling together has bonded them into a like minded working machine. The nine-day survival training ended Dec.15 with a seven-mile march back to the training center.

"It was a great experience," Reyes said, "but, I sure will appreciate a hot shower when this is all done."

Ellie