Jungle Warfare Training Center up and running

Courtesy Photo | Marines carry a simulated casualty through muddy, uneven terrain during a jungle skills course at Camp Gonsalves, Okinawa. The center is the last U.S. military facility where service members can hone the skills needed to survive in a jungle environment. (Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler J. Hlavac)  

06.26.2007

Courtesy Story

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

By Lance Cpl. Tyler J. Hlavac
III Marine Expeditionary Force

The Camp Gonsalves Jungle Warfare Training Center is back in business.

The center, which is the last U.S. military facility where service members can hone the skills needed to survive in a jungle environment, took a two-month pause recently for training and facility upgrades.

Now, the JWTC staff is ready to continue carrying out the mission of developing and maintaining premier, year-round instruction in the application of jungle warfare tactics and techniques, said Lt. Col. Keith Treadway, commanding officer for Camp Gonsalves and JWTC.

JWTC took on its status as the last jungle training center after the closing of the Jungle Operations Training Center in Panama in 1999.

JWTC is located roughly two hours north of Camp Schwab and is composed of 20,000 acres of jungle. The center is divided into 10 training areas and a rocky beach access point.

The main training activity is the Jungle Skills Course, which is designed to allow a non-infantry unit a chance to learn jungle survival skills, said Treadway. In the course, Marines practice land navigation, patrolling, various survival techniques and mass casualty drills.

Marines test these skills at a wide variety of training sites throughout the center, including drug labs, third world villages, prisoner of war compounds and communication bunker sites.

What makes JWTC relevant today is that, aside from Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, 80 percent of conflicts since 1776 involving the Marine Corps have taken place in jungle or tropical regions, said Treadway.

"All first term Marines know, often times, is desert training," said Staff Sgt. Brandon Graham, the JWTC staff non-commissioned officer-in charge. "Marines need to maintain skills in all environments.

"(JWTC) also gives young NCOs and junior Marines a chance to lead and build confidence, because out on the course, whoever is willing to step up, is often in charge," he added.

JWTC is open to all Marines. There are no specials requirements other than basic Marine skills such as swim and rifle qualification.

• Date Taken: 06.26.2007
• Date Posted: 06.26.2007 00:19
• Story ID: 10984