Cold weather unit training with US Marine Corps

Centre of Excellence Cold Weather Operations (COE CWO) will conduct Basic Cold Weather Unit Training for 700 soldiers, NCO’s and staff officers at US Marine Corps’ units based at Setermoen and Elvegårdsmoen in northern Norway.

The training will take place in Indre Troms in northern Norway week 3-5 2021 supported by 40 instructors from the Norwegian Army and Home Guard. The training will focus on basic skills and knowledge in how to operate in winter environment from individual to platoon level. The training is based on Curriculum for Allied Basic Cold Weather Unit Training. The first days focuses on training of Team Leaders (TL), medics and staff. 

The rest is unit training with a tactical exercise which ends with live firing and break through ice drill. At the end of the period there will be a dedicated program for snowmobile drivers.

The main goal for this training is to establish basic routines and give the unit basic knowledge in how to fight and maintain combat readiness in operations in cold weather climate. Through the training, the unit will acquire knowledge and skills on utilizing their own combat techniques in winter conditions, whilst also being able to use their weapon platforms as well as maintain them.

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 ongoing pandemic COE CWO will focus on infection control measures throughout the training. The measures introduced for the training ensure sufficient distance maintained during theoretical and practical lectures.

The intensified infection control measures have been prepared in consultation with medical officers from The Norwegian Armed Forces.