Mountain Warfare Training Center

The MCMWTC conducts formal schools for individuals and battalion training in summer and winter mountain operations and they are also involved in testing cold weather equipment and clothing, and developing doctrine and concepts to enhance our Corp's ability to fight and win in mountain and cold weather environments.

The MCMWTC is the Marine Corps' premier training site for Marines preparing to serve in mountainous regions with emphases in cold and high altitude confrontations. This pivotal training post was first established in 1951 as a Cold Weather Battalion (CWB) with a primary mission of providing cold weather training for replacement personnel bound for Korea. Due to the exceptional training provided in support efforts for the Korean Conflict and subsequent readiness, the CWB transitioned into the Marine Corps Cold Weather Training Center. As a result of its expanded role, it was renamed the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center in 1963. MCMWTC operated on a full-time basis until 1967 when in support of the Vietnam War was placed in a cadre status, with reactivation to a full-time command on May 19th, 1976.

MCMWTC has approximately 250 active duty Marines and Sailors assigned as permanent personnel and approximately 100 civilian employees.

The Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center (MCMWTC) is located on California Highway 108 at Pickel Meadow, 21 miles northwest of Bridgeport, California, and 100 miles south of Reno, Nevada. The MCMWTC is cited at 6,762 feet, with elevations in the training areas ranging to just under 12,000 feet. In an agreement between the U.S. Forest Service and the Marine Corps, the MCMWTC occupies and is permitted to train on 46,000 acres of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. While the land remains under the management of the U.S. Forest Service, this letter of agreement permits uses of the area to train Marines in mountain and cold weather operations.

Due to the Training Center's small size, there is no base transportation.