The Northern Warfare Training Center

The Northern Warfare Training Center (NWTC) at Black Rapids Training Site south of Fort Greely, Alaska, teaches Soldiers to survive, maneuver and fight in the extreme conditions. Although the school is in the frozen north, the skills Soldiers learn here translate readily to places like Afghanistan's rough, mountainous terrain. The NWTC's commandant says training in such extremes make Soldiers more adaptable in all climates. Ever since the Revolutionary War, when the ill equipped and poorly trained Army of General Washington suffered in the cold at Valley Forge, many of our nation's conflicts have involved fighting in mountain terrain, cold weather, or both. The NWTC is responsible for developing and maintaining the U.S. Army's state-of-the-art cold weather and mountain warfare tactics and techniques.The NWTC teaches three basic courses during the harsh Alaska winter months: the Cold Weather Leader's Course, the Cold Weather Orientation Course and Arctic Light Individual Training. The Cold Weather Leader's Course is a two-week course that teaches everything from the basics of learning to stand and move on skis and snowshoes to a full range of arctic survival skills. Leaders must be mentally and physically ready to operate safely and effectively in high altitude and cold weather climates, according to McDonald. Having the confidence in themselves and their equipment in those conditions will give them the advantage they need to fight the enemy. The NWTC is providing techniques, tactics and procedures to enhance today's military in modern war fighting capabilities.




Sgt. Trish McMurphy, U.S. Army Alaska PAO