FACTOID # 83: More than half of Indonesia's primary school teachers are under 30years of age .
 
 Home   Encyclopedia   Statistics   Countries A-Z   Flags   Maps   Education   Forum   FAQ   About 
 
WHAT'S NEW
RECENT ARTICLES
More Recent Articles »
 

SEARCH ALL

FACTS & STATISTICS    Advanced view

Search encyclopedia, statistics and forums:

 

 

(* = Graphable)

 

 


Encyclopedia > Jungle Warfare Training Center
Camp Gonsalves
Marine Corps Jungle Warfare Training Center

Logo for the Marine Corps Jungle Warfare Training Center
Active 1958 - present
Country United States
Branch USMC
Type Training Base
Size 20,000 acres (80 km²)
Part of 3rd Marine Division
Garrison/HQ Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler
Nickname NTA (Northern Training Area)
Commanders
Current
commander
Lt. Col. Antonio B. Smith
Notable
commanders
Lt. Gene A. Deegan (1961)
Captain Oliver North (1973-1974)
Captain S.M. Lowery (1983-1986)
Captain Glenn T. Starnes (1986)

Contents

Year 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States military responsible for providing power projection from the sea,[1] utilizing the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. ... The U.S. 3rd Marine Division is a unit of the United States Marine Corps, one of three active divisions. ... Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler (usually Butler Marine Base in Okinawa) is a United States military Marine base located in the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa. ... Year 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Oliver Laurence North (born October 7, 1943) is most well known for his involvement in the Iran-Contra Affair. ... For the song by James Blunt, see 1973 (song). ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ...

History

Camp Gonsalves is a United States Marine Corps training base located in 20,000 acres (80 km²) of single and double canopy jungle on the Northern end of Okinawa. This area near Okuma that spreads across the villages of Kunigami and Higashi, has been used to train Marines and military service members since the area was first established in 1958. A few short years later a three-man detachment led by Lt. Gene A. Deegan was tasked with establishing a base camp within the training area. The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States military responsible for providing power projection from the sea,[1] utilizing the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. ... This article is about the prefecture. ... Okuma can be a place name: ÅŒkuma (大熊町; -machi), a town located in Futaba District, Fukushima, Japan. ... Kunigami (国頭村; -son) is a village located in Kunigami district, Okinawa, Japan. ... Categories: Move to Wiktionary | Stub ... Year 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...


As American involvement in the Vietnam War escalated, interest in the area increased and a detachment of officers and enlisted were stationed at the Northern Training Area (NTA) to teach courses. The area's dense jungle and rugged terrain was ideal for preparing Marines for the jungles of Vietnam. Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000...


Most of the surrounding areas are designated as Government of Japan National Forest. This environmentally sensitive area has been used as a training area for over 44 years and is an excellent example of the Marine Corps' environmental stewardship.


Over the years the base camp gradually evolved into an array of Quonset huts and other buildings until 1984 when the present facility was completed. Captain S.M. Lowery, who spent two and a half years as the Officer In Charge of NTA, oversaw the planning and construction of the buildings. On November 5, 1986, the base camp itself was officially named Camp H. Gonsalves, in memory of Private First Class Harold Gonsalves who was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the Battle of Okinawa. A typical Quonset hut A Quonset hut is a lightweight prefabricated structure of corrugated steel having a semicircular cross section. ... This article is about the year. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... Private First Class Harold Gonsalves (1926-1945) was a United States Marine who sacrificed his life to save fellow Marines in the Battle of Okinawa during World War II. For his heroism on this occasion, he was posthumously awarded the highest military honor of the United States — the Medal of... For the computer game, see Medal of Honor (computer game). ... Combatants  United States  United Kingdom  Canada  Australia  New Zealand Empire of Japan Commanders Simon B. Buckner â€  Joseph W. Stilwell Ray Spruance Mitsuru Ushijima â€  Isamu Cho â€  Strength 548,000 soldiers, 1,300 ships,  ? aircraft 100,000 regulars and militia,  ? ships,  ? aircraft Casualties 12,513 dead or missing, 38,916 wounded, 33...

The training at NTA was conducted on the small unit level and was designed to pass on the valuable jungle war fighting lessons learned in Vietnam. In 1995, a formal agreement, the Special Actions Committee on Okinawa, was made to eventually return Camp Gonsalves (and other Japanese US military installations) to the people of Okinawa. In 1998 the name was officially changed to the Marine Corps Jungle Warfare Training Center (JWTC) in an effort to better convey the mission of this training base. The most progressive changes to the area have occurred within the last year. In March of 2002, decisions were made to offer a wider variety of courses to a greater number of Marines at one time. This meant new funds had to be appropriated; the area's bivouac sites and field mess facilities had to be significantly upgraded. The objective was to be able to train entire battalion-sized units and the goal was to become the premier Jungle Warfare Training Center in the world. Private First Class Harold Gonsalves (1926-1945) was a United States Marine who sacrificed his life to save fellow Marines in the Battle of Okinawa during World War II. For his heroism on this occasion, he was posthumously awarded the highest military honor of the United States — the Medal of... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... The Special Actions Committee on Okinawa is a formal agreement made between the United States Government and the Government of Japan. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Jungle warfare is a term used to cover the special techniques needed for military units to survive and fight in jungle terrain. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... Symbol of the Austrian 14th Armoured Battalion in NATO military graphic symbols This article is about the military unit. ...


JWTC Mission

Aerial View JWTC Base Camp

The Jungle Warfare Training Center (JWTC) will provide expert instruction, and training in jungle warfare in order to prepare personnel and units to operate in jungle environments. Additionally, JWTC controls the usage of expeditionary campsites and diversified training areas, in order to allow Marine and Joint forces to conduct independent operations and combat exercises, from the squad to battalion/regiment size, within a dense jungle environment. In the fire service a Squad is a Engine Company with a compliment of rescue tools. ...


Training

Instability in Jungle regions varies from political and religious turmoil, narcoterrorism, ethnic conflict, mass migration, famine, economic flight, kidnapping, international boundary disputes, and humanitarian assistance. Narcoterrorism is a term coined by former President Fernando Belaúnde Terry of Peru in 1983 when describing terrorist-type attacks against his nations anti-narcotics police. ... <nowiki>Insert non-formatted text hereBold text</nowiki>A famine is a social and economic crisis that is commonly accompanied by widespread malnutrition, starvation, epidemic and increased mortality. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with development aid. ...


JWTC contributes to readiness in a number of ways and focuses on small unit leadership while providing instruction and training for six Infantry Battalions per year (10,000 personnel). JWTC also supports Independent Unit Operations, works with Japanese Ground Self-Defense Forces, conducts medical skills training and Multi-National Cross Training, supports air operations, and fulfills Jungle Mission Essential Task Lists. Japans honor guard often marches to greet the arrival of foreign dignitaries. ...


Jungle Skills Course

There are six Jungle Skills Courses annually. Each course contains 200 seats and is six training days long. Courses are offered to all non-infantry units.


The Jungle Skills Course is designed to refine a unit's patrolling and combat skills in the jungle environment. The course is intended to test individual endurance, build confidence, and develop small unit leaders throughout the six day package.


The course focuses on the following areas: Land Navigation, Patrolling, Survival, Jungle Shooting, and the Commando Course.


Jungle Trauma Course

The Jungle Trauma Course is five days long and is offered to all medical personnel. Each course contains 60 seats.


The course is staffed by members of the 3rd Marine Division Medical Staff as well as the JWTC instructor staff. The U.S. 3rd Marine Division is a unit of the United States Marine Corps, one of three active divisions. ...


Medical operations in a jungle environment include: Treatment of jungle related illnesses and injuries, evacuation and transportation of injured personnel, jungle skills, survival, and the Commando Course.

Cpl. Brian T. Britton (foreground) and Sergeant Jason B. Finch provide cover while a visual tracker scouts for signs left behind by their objective in the Northern Okinawan jungle during the Military Tracking Course.
Cpl. Brian T. Britton (foreground) and Sergeant Jason B. Finch provide cover while a visual tracker scouts for signs left behind by their objective in the Northern Okinawan jungle during the Military Tracking Course.

Combat Tracking Course

Tracking is the art of locating, identifying, and pursuing sign from intelligent interpretations and deductions, to gain reasonably accurate information about the target concerned. This information, passed onto Commanders in a timely fashion, will enable them to understand and shape the battlefield at a greater speed.


The Man Tracking Course is designed to instruct a Marine in proper tracking technique and instill the skills to track in the jungle environment. The course is intended to test individual endurance, build confidence, and develop the patience and determination all trackers require. The Man Tracking Course runs twice a year with seating limited to 15 students and runs 16 days long.


Jungle Endurance Course

The Jungle Endurance Course is a 3.4 mile (5.5 km) trek through the jungle designed to test the student's newly developed skills. Students also learn to work together as a team overcoming the course's tough obstacles.


The course begins with a hasty rappel down a 40 foot cliff. Then the students cross a deep ravine using the two and three strand bridges. The course then heads into the jungle where the students must execute additional hasty rappels and negotiate several log obstacles and stream crossings. The course comes back out of the jungle at the SAT (Suspension and Traverse) Trainer where the students demonstrate their ability to construct a retrievable "Jungle One Rope Bridge" across a standing body of water. The course continues into the jungle for several more stream crossings and log obstacles, including a 12 foot wall that the students must assist each other over.


Students continue towards the "Pit and Pond" where they must low crawl through the muddy trenches and underneath barbed wire obstacles. The final obstacle is a 600 meter stretcher carry up two steep, muddy hills and on to the finish line.


Independent Operations

There is also a variety of training areas set aside for Independent Operations. Ten training areas are currently available for training opportunities as well as 23 helicopter landing zones. For other uses, see Helicopter (disambiguation). ...


Independent Operations that are supported by JWTC include: Fast Rope, Air Assault, Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP), External Loads, Ship-to-Shore Operations, rappelling tower, multiple target sites, beach access, and survival training areas. Fast-roping is a technique for descending down a thick rope. ... A US Army UH-1 Huey seen offloading troops during the Vietnam War Air Assault (or air mobile, in the U.S.) is the movement of forces by helicopter or aircraft to engage and destroy enemy forces or to seize and hold key terrain. ... The RRT of the 22d MEU-SOC, Tunisia, 1997 The Radio Reconnaissance Platoon is the special operations element of the United States Marine Corps Radio Battalion. ...


The Future of JWTC

Morning Colors at Camp Gonsalves

The future of the Jungle Warfare Training Center is promising. The goal is to become the premier Jungle Warfare Training Center in the world. The next few years will see continued improvements in the training areas, bivouac sites, and several additions to the curriculum.


Future training will include an extended Man-Tracking Course, revised Jungle Leaders Course aimed at the Squad Leader ranks, and further Joint and Multi-National training programs.


The development of new training sites, e.g. the multi-level tunnel complex, Asian Combat Town, field mess upgrade and suspension and traverse (SAT) trainer upgrade are in various stages of planning.


Future Initiatives for JWTC include: Jungle Warfare MOS (Military Occupational Specialty), Jungle Warfare MCI (Marine Corps Institute) Course, and Exchange Programs between U.S. & Foreign Allies. A Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) is a job classification in use in the United States Army and Marine Corps. ... Since February 1920, MCI (Marine Corps Institute) has facilitated the training and education of individual Marines anywhere, anytime. ...


After the jungle warfare training grounds in Fort Sherman, Panama closed in 1999, JWTC on Okinawa became the only jungle training grounds in the entire Department of Defense by default. This article is about the year. ... The United States Department of Defense, abbreviated DoD or DOD and sometimes called the Defense Department, is a civilian Cabinet organization of the United States government. ...


Environmentalism

The area is home to 51 endangered species, which include the Okinawan Rail, a flightless bird, and two newly discovered species of bats. Extreme care is taken to preserve their habitat. Strict regulations concerning solid waste management and the disposal of hazardous materials are enforced, and thorough police calls (clean sweep operations) are conducted at the end of each training cycle. Due to the area's limited access by industry and the steps taken by the Marines Corps, the environment will be preserved so that Marines and wildlife may continue to live together in harmony.


References

All Hands is the title of a monthly magazine of the United States Navy for its soldiers. ... 2003 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December A timeline of events in the news for August, 2003. ...

External links



 

COMMENTARY     


Share your thoughts, questions and commentary here
Your name
Your comments
Please enter the 5-letter protection code

Want to know more?
Search encyclopedia, statistics and forums:

 


Lesson Plans | Student Area | Student FAQ | Reviews | Press Releases |  Feeds | Contact
The Wikipedia article included on this page is licensed under the GFDL.
Images may be subject to relevant owners' copyright.
All other elements are (c) copyright NationMaster.com 2003-5. All Rights Reserved.
Usage implies agreement with terms.