Norwich University

In the wake of last week’s announcement that we have stood down the Rescue Team component of Mountain & Cold Weather Company, there have been a number of conversations between Army ROTC and the MCW Affinity Group to clarify the future development of the company.  As we developed the plan outlined below, our goal has been to ensure that Mountain & Cold Weather Company will continue to conduct the highest caliber military mountain leader development program of any institution in the United States.

As a formal part of Army ROTC, MCW consists of a company headquarters and 3 platoons. First and second year students may participate in MCW if they are enrolled with an ROTC program at Norwich University.  Students in their Junior or Senior years may participate if they are CONTRACTED with an ROTC program.  Members who are unable or unwilling to accept a contract will be encouraged to join the Norwich University Mountaineering Club (formerly the climbing club) so that they may continue to grow as recreational mountaineers. Members of the MCW Cadre will work with the Mountaineering Club advisors to further the excellence of that program.

The higher level Army ROTC military mountaineering training will be available exclusively to those who will be serving as officers in the armed services.  All training will be reviewed and certified by the AROTC Professor of Military Science to ensure compliance with the Army Doctrine.  The Company will use a three tiered approach to mountain leader development. Click here to read more.

Dear members of the Norwich community,

I am writing to tell you of a change within the Mountain and Cold Weather Company (MCW), a specialty unit of the Corps of Cadets that falls under the policy and supervision of active-duty Army ROTC instructors. COL Stephen V. Smith ’84, the Norwich professor of military science and Army ROTC’s commanding officer, is reorganizing one aspect of MCW to better reflect its current mission.

Effective Fall 2013, the component of MCW known as the Rescue Team will cease to exist. Recently, the Rescue Team performed training that had not been approved by the Norwich Army ROTC department and lacked an approved risk assessment. The Rescue Team’s lack of a mission, coupled with the unauthorized training exercises, prompted COL Smith to evaluate the MCW mission and make structural changes. Click here to read more.