The Mountain and Cold Weather Company is one of the most exceptional organizations you’ll find in any Army ROTC unit in the country. The primary goal of this organization is to provide the Army with a select group of officers trained in surviving in the mountains and in cold weather.
History
“Climb to conquer” is the motto of the MCW platoon founded in 1947 by Sgt. Leslie J. Hurley. Master Sgt. Hurley was a mountaineer and a member of the famed 10th Mountain Division during World War II. Hurley saw the uniqueness of Norwich University’s location in mountains with severe winter temperatures and mission to train disciplined cadets to be officers in the Army. Realizing the need for officers with experience in mountain warfare, Hurley and the Army started the MCW platoon at Norwich. Skills taught to these students included: skiing, snow shoeing, wilderness survival, basic and advanced first aid, climbing and mountaineering, day and night land navigation and cold weather injuries.
In 1960, Spc. 1st Class Don Jennings started the MCW rescue team. The mission of this organization is to provide Northern New England with a rescue service capable of conducting search and rescue operations at any time of year under any climatic condition. The rescue team has gone on to provide this service on many occasions. Northern New England recognizes the MCW rescue team as the one to call when no one else can complete the rescue. An important first was accomplished in the Fall of 2000 with the certification of 45 company members as National Search and Rescue Association Search and Rescue Technicians II. Also with the generous financial help of the Tawani Charitable Foundation, we have been able to send company members to civilian courses ranging from first aid to advanced mountaineering out on Mt. Baker, Washington.
MCW Today
The Mountain Cold Weather Company trains three times a week. One day of training is company training designed to teach freshman and sophomores the basics of mountain and cold weather fighting. The other two days of training are platoon training days where they conduct training that supports their missions.
This training culminates in an exercise held in January where members can practice what they have learned in a mountain and cold weather environment. Cadets conduct all the training with the advice of Army ROTC cadre. The MCW also conducts numerous rescue and special operations demonstrations throughout the year. Demonstration venues include Rook Week and Family Week. Cadets who complete this training can go into the Army knowing they possess skills few of their peers have.
