Marines Prep For Cold Response 16 with Mountain Exercise 1-16

The following is a release from Sgt. Kristin Merrimarahajara, II Marine Expeditionary Force:

Noses and cheeks are red and breath makes an appearance with every exhalation. It has been below freezing, but that doesn’t stop these II Marine Expeditionary Force Marines from being outside in the mountains and snow, preparing to participate in upcoming exercise Cold Response 16 by training at the Mountain Warfare Training Center from Jan. 11-21, 2016.

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Cold Response is a joint, multi-nation exercise involving 12 NATO partners and allies. The exercise challenges their abilities to work together and grow as an organization and will take place in Norway in March of this year.

Approximately 900 Marines participated in Mountain Exercise 1-16 and trained to survive in below freezing and sometimes negative degree weather, focusing on moving, communicating and surviving.

The instructors at MWTC, also known as “red hats,” taught Marines how to traverse the mountainous terrain, how to react to an avalanche and how to melt and purify snow to use as drinking water in the wilderness, all while encouraging Marines to keep a positive mental attitude.

“We’re here to train the human factor,” said Col. Scott Leonard, Commanding …Read the Rest

Source:: Tactical Life