Road Trip: Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, California

[thedrifter]

Road Trip: Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, California





The Mountain Warfare Training Center (MWTC) is a United States Marine Corps installation located in Pickle Meadows near Bridgeport, California. The training center exists to train units in complex compartmented terrain. The center occupies 46,000 acres of Toiyabe National Forrest under management of the U.S. Forrest Service. A letter of agreement between the Forrest Service an the Marine Corps permits the use of the area to train Marines in mountain and cold weather operations.



The Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center (MCMWTC) is one of the Corps most remote and isolated post. The center was established in 1951 as a Cold Weather Battalion with a mission of providing cold weather training for replacement personnel bound for Korea.





After the Korea conflict the name was changed to the Marine Corps Cold Weather Training Center. As a result of it’s expanded role it was renamed the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center in 1963. MCMWTC operated on a full time basis until 1967 when it was placed in a caretaker status as a result of the Vietnam War. The training center was reactivated to a full-time command on May 19th 1976.



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.



The center is cited at 6,762 feet, with elevations in the training areas ranging to just under 12,000 feet. During the winter season (October - April) snow accumulation can rear 6 to 8 feet. Further, sever storms can deposit as much as four feet in a 12 hour period. Annual temperatures range from -20 degrees to +90 degrees Fahrenheit.

Learn More About Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center !

http://www.mwtc.usmc.mil/

Ellie

[TexasDvlDog]

I mentioned this on a prior thread...this was my first duty station. 1985-1987 Motor Transport Maint Section.