MCW Ice Trek 2000

By Natasha Waggoner
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

Rather than spend their holiday in bed, the cadets of the Norwich Army ROTC's Mountain Cold Weather Company (MCW) spent New Year's Day preparing for the field.

On Jan. 1, 2002, while most people were still recovering from hangovers, 35 members of MCW returned early to the Norwich campus for the unit's second annual Ice Trek at Smuggler's Notch.

"This is a way we can get the freshmen out with the rescue team and the mountaineers for a week long camp," the company commander of MCW, senior John Nestor, 21, a business management major from Middlefield, OH, said. "It's the first real big training event we offer other than Saturday trainings."

According to Nestor, the primary goal of the Trek is to further the abilities of the unit by giving them experience in the environment. The company's new recruits, also known as green sticks, participated in many classes during the Ice Trek, all of which were taught by members of the company's elite rescue team.

This year was only the second Ice Trek in the history of MCW. The first was put together a year ago by Sgt. 1st Class Burke, the MCW Training Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO), and then cadet Donald Braman, who graduated from Norwich in 2001 and is now serving as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

"I came up with the Ice Trek idea last year with Cadet Braman, who was company commander of MCW," Burke said. "We discussed some training objectives that we wanted the company to move toward, and we thought a Field Training Exercise (FTX) like that, in the mountains where the ice is readily available, was a good idea. So we implemented it, and it was a great success."

On top of the training in mountaineering and cold weather survival skills, the Ice Trek also promotes teamwork and leadership, according to Burke.

Sophomore Michael Vieira, 19, a criminal justice major from St. Johnsbury, VT, found himself learning how to be a leader when he was put in charge of eight of the company's freshmen during the Trek.

"I made sure I taught my green sticks all the basic skills they needed to know while they were out there," said Vieira. "I taught them everything, from how to dress in the cold to when to eat and how to do the basic cold weather survival skills."

Chris Ruscio, 20, a junior political science major from Springfield, Mass., is the Executive Officer of MCW this year.

"The idea originated with Sgt. Burke, but the planning was mostly done by the company commander, the 1st Sgt., the platoon leaders, and myself." Ruscio said.

According to Ruscio, training events at this year's Trek included a mountain walk, an ice climb, an avalanche class, a rescue class, and a ski class.

Tom Sullivan, 21, junior criminal justice major from Northboro, Mass., and 1st Sgt. of MCW, played a major role in planning the Trek. According to Sullivan, he and Sgt. Burke had to make an initial assessment of the area in which they planned to train, then had to begin coordinating the supplies for meals and ensure the maintenance of the equipment.

A major part of MCW is the rescue team. The team consists of cadets who are specially trained to carry out mountain rescues in winter conditions.

Steven Pellerin, 20, a junior from Methuen, Mass., majoring in criminal justice, is a rescue team sergeant. According to Pellerin, during the Ice Trek the members of the rescue team remained in a state of readiness should the unit receive a call to a rescue.

"My job was to make sure the rescue team was ready as well as the equipment," Pellerin said. "If anything did happen, and we actually had to go on a rescue, I had to make sure we had enough equipment and that my team was ready to go."

The Ice Trek afforded unique opportunities for the members of the team to further their training. Sgt. Burke said he incorporated a night ice climb in the Ice Trek specifically for the members of the rescue team.

According to Burke, the climb helped the team build their confidence level by showing them they could employ the same skills in the dark that they use in daylight. It was "the peak event" of the weekend for the cadets of the rescue team, because it forced them to gain more advanced skills, according to Burke.

"Climbing the ice pitch at night was my favorite activity we did," said Adam Sachetti, 21, a senior criminal justice major from Walpole, Mass., and rescue team leader. "We were doing something dangerous that we don't have a lot of experience in, so it was scary and got the adrenaline flowing, and that's what I like."

Another popular event among the members of the team was the Mountain Walk. From the ridgeline there is a view of Mansfield, Smuggler's Notch and Stowe, according to Dawson.

"There was very steep terrain where you needed to use a mountain axe, cramp-ons and rope team movements to get up the mountain," he said. "It's a nice view, and it ends with everyone glissading down; sliding on their rear to the bottom of the mountain."

According to Joshua Meyer, 19, a freshman criminal justice major from Plainsburg, NY, MCW has given him the knowledge and experience to place him above his peers through leadership and by working with others.

"We had to work together as a team and set up tents when we arrived at camp," said Siobhan Coyne, 19, a freshmen political science major from Caivei, Mass. "It was a really good time; we got to know each other really well through all the activities that we did."

Because Sgt. 1st class Burke will not be returning to the Norwich Army Unit next year, steps are being taken to ensure that this year's Ice Trek will not be the last, including a continuity binder.

"I hope that after I leave here that it will go on because it's a success," Burke said. "It shows you who are weak and who is strong. I'm not interested in numbers. I'm interested in quality and training motivated cadets."

Back to Guidon index