WEBVTT 00:01.510 --> 00:02.690 - [Reporter] Marines and sailors 00:02.690 --> 00:05.730 with Marine Rotational Force Europe 18.1 00:05.820 --> 00:08.070 spent three weeks in the Norwegian wilderness, 00:08.070 --> 00:10.560 enhancing their survival skillsets recently. 00:10.560 --> 00:14.190 The exercise kicked off with ski and snowshoe instruction, 00:14.190 --> 00:16.950 courtesy of Norwegian winter warfare specialists 00:16.950 --> 00:18.013 from Home Guard 12. 00:18.790 --> 00:20.880 ^- Important to have the cold weather certification 00:20.880 --> 00:22.010 ^for the company, in the event that we 00:22.010 --> 00:23.910 ^were to deploy anywhere out of Norway, 00:23.940 --> 00:25.260 into a cold weather environment, 00:25.260 --> 00:27.553 and that we have the experience and the exposure. 00:27.890 --> 00:29.240 From my perspective it's gone very well, 00:29.240 --> 00:30.130 from the Norwegian side, 00:30.130 --> 00:31.770 and the United States Marine Corps side. 00:31.770 --> 00:33.400 Both parties have worked together 00:33.400 --> 00:35.453 much better than anyone anticipated. 00:36.660 --> 00:38.560 - [Reporter] Following their ski instruction, 00:38.560 --> 00:39.730 the service members learned 00:39.730 --> 00:42.163 how to build and live in snow caves. 00:48.240 --> 00:51.910 ^- For the marines that live and serve in warm places 00:52.220 --> 00:54.490 ^it's very nice to have this 00:55.340 --> 00:57.570 ^basic training and to make sure that they 00:57.900 --> 00:59.323 know the skills and drills. 00:59.630 --> 01:01.120 Because if you're going to fight 01:01.120 --> 01:03.790 and survive in the cold weather environment, 01:03.790 --> 01:05.160 you also have to train there. 01:05.160 --> 01:07.630 So make sure that you follow the hard routines, 01:07.630 --> 01:08.880 learn them, and use them. 01:11.890 --> 01:14.160 - [Reporter] Exercise participants also refined their cold 01:14.160 --> 01:17.030 weather infantry tactics through several live fire 01:17.030 --> 01:18.803 squad and platoon attacks. 01:19.417 --> 01:21.584 (gunfire) 01:24.520 --> 01:26.480 - Unit cohesion is naturally built by trial 01:26.480 --> 01:28.870 and tribulation so a day in a cold weather environment with 01:28.870 --> 01:31.570 heavy packs on skis you've never used before or 01:31.570 --> 01:33.250 snow shoes you've never used before. 01:33.250 --> 01:35.250 I think naturally creates some cohesion. 01:35.250 --> 01:36.980 I believe the unit came up here was already a very 01:36.980 --> 01:39.450 strong unit cohesion and certainly this environment 01:39.450 --> 01:41.853 only continues to build that. 01:41.990 --> 01:43.580 - [Reporter] The marines and sailors concluded the 01:43.580 --> 01:45.990 training evolution by conducting a polar plunge, 01:45.990 --> 01:48.983 to simulate falling through ice into near freezing water. 01:49.820 --> 01:51.459 - Good morning my name is Lieutenant Colonel Gordan, 01:51.459 --> 01:52.897 I'm the battalion commander for first battalion 01:52.897 --> 01:55.380 six marines currently assigned as the marine rotational 01:55.380 --> 01:57.430 force Europe and Black Sea rotational force for 01:57.430 --> 01:58.573 marine forces Europe. 01:58.920 --> 02:02.070 Today's drill is an ice recovery, broken ice drill. 02:02.070 --> 02:05.250 So I'm gonna hurl myself into this water and then self 02:05.250 --> 02:06.513 recover out of the water. 02:07.410 --> 02:10.133 So as we say in the 2nd marine division, follow me. 02:34.630 --> 02:36.450 - [Reporter] Reporting from Haltdalen training center 02:36.450 --> 02:38.383 Norway, I'm Corporal Gloria Lipco.