Winter Training with the US Marines

The training complex, the Mountain Warfare Training Center (MWTC) in California is not located on the coast, but rather in the mountains, at an elevation of 2,000 meters where the rarefied air makes it difficult for the trainees to cover the three miles (4,8 km) of the physical fitness test under the short time limit. But the hardest part was yet to come. The team members spent several weeks on the snow-covered mountain, where they mastered various survival skills and shelter-making techniques, and their tasks also included military ski instruction, producing potable water and starting fire, which are perhaps not so easy at a height of 3,000 meters, on locations covered by meters-high layers of snow with avalanche risk. Naturally, during these weeks they did not return to their base, as part of their training program was about creating the conditions for survival under adverse circumstances.

The officer cadets attentively listened to the sergeant first class’ special account of his experiences. In the second part of the presentation, they were introduced to some pieces of equipment and clothes used on the training course, and also to the contents of a US marine’s MRE and survival kit.

Photos by the author