MARINE CORPS MOUNTAIN WARFARE TRAINING CENTER, BRIDGEPORT, Calif.-- Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer visited the MCMWTC to tour the training area, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019.
After honorably serving for five years as a Marine Corps Aviator, Spencer said he was excited for his visit to MCMWTC.
Spencer got the chance to speak with Marines, sailors and civilian workers and answer questions. Questions ranged from issues on base to service level issues. This was a rare opportunity for Marines and sailors at all levels to interact with the Secretary of the Navy.
“This is something a lot of Marines don’t get to experience, especially on this base,” said Sgt. John McAmoil, a food service specialist with MWTC. “I’m very grateful to have been here today.”
After receiving a lesson on the Special Operations Forces Horsemanship Course taught at the base, Spencer and his team had the opportunity to tour the training area on horseback. They took a route the Marines, sailors and other service members use during training, seeing the importance of the austere, mountainous location.
At the end of their visit, Spencer and his team, toured a small museum called the Legacy Hut at the base. Here they examined equipment used by the training center throughout its history.
Outside the Legacy Hut, Marines displayed equipment currently used in training. Spencer learned what the equipment was used for and how to use it.
“This truly is a national treasure,” said Spencer. “The training that goes on up here cannot be replicated anywhere else”.
The Marines of the base are slated to support a Marine Corps Service Level Exercise called Mountain Exercise starting in October. After this they will participate in Marine Warfighting Exercise as part of the adversary force.
These exercises are often used as training as Marines and sailors prepare for deployments. Over 500 Marines will be on the base training this fall. In this training they will learn and practice survival skills and how to conduct military operations in mountainous environments.