An educational encounter with Norwegian winter
Under strict infection control measures, 650 U.S. Marines received valuable cold weather training in Norway this winter.
Centre of Excellence Cold Weather Operations (COE CWO) has conducted Basic Cold Weather Unit Training for 650 soldiers, NCOs and staff officers from 26th MEU and U.S. Marine Corps units based at Setermoen and Elvegårdsmoen camps in northern Norway.
Due to both COVID-19 quarantine regulations and the hurricane Frank, the programme had to be adjusted and compressed. But with flexibility and the support from Allied Training Centre and 40 instructors from the Norwegian Army and Home Guard, we conducted several parallel education programmes in week 3 through 5 2021.
The first week, we focused on training and education of the personnel already out of quarantine. We had parallel courses running for Team Leaders (TL), medics and staff personnel. This training focused on basic skills and knowledge in how to operate in winter environment from individual to platoon level.
In the following days, we conducted a field exercise with approximately 450 USMC personnel. We focused on establishing basic routines and provide the unit with basic knowledge in how to establish base, and how to fight and maintain combat readiness in operations in cold weather climate. Through the training, the unit acquired knowledge and skills in navigation and safe routing, buddy rescue and avalanche knowledge. They also established improvised bivouac and completed break through ice drill.
At the end of the period, a separate programme for snowmobile drivers was carried out.
The purpose of the training is to give the unit basic knowledge and skills in how to move, fight and maintain combat readiness in a cold climate, and the end state is reached when the units are ready to start field integration training with Norwegian or other Allied units in a cold climate. Due to the compressed program the units are now to a greater extent equipped to cope with the cold climate.
COVID-19 infection control measures
Due to the ongoing pandemic, COE CWO kept a strong focus on infection control measures throughout the training. The measures introduced for the training ensured sufficient distance maintained during theoretical and practical lectures.
All training and exercises were conducted in pre-divided cohorts. The intensified infection control measures and the implementation of the training programme was continuously monitored in consultation with medical officers from the Norwegian Armed Forces.