History
“Climb to conquer” was the motto of the MCW platoon founded in 1947 by Sgt. Hurley, a mountaineer and a member of the famed 10th Mountain Division during World War II. Hurley recognized the uniqueness of Norwich University’s location among mountains with severe winter temperatures as well as its mission to train cadets to be officers in the Army. Realizing the need for officers with experi
ence in mountain warfare, Hurley and the Army started the MCW platoon at Norwich. Skills taught to these students included skiing, snowshoeing, wilderness survival, first aid, climbing and mountaineering, day and night land navigation and cold-weather injuries. MCW today
The Mountain Cold Weather Company trains four times a week. Two days of training are designed to teach first year candidates, known as Green Sticks, the basics of mountain warfare and cold weather survival. The other two days of training are devoted to the further development of mountaineering skills for second, third and fourth year Black Hats. The first year training consists of two phases each culminating with a specific event. The first phase is KAP week, a week of rigorous physical training in remembrance of two former members who were killed in combat, meant to challenge the incoming Green Stick mentally and physically. At the end of this phase, the Green Sticks earn their MCW patch. After completion of Survival Weekend and receiving a minimum score of 250 on an Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), the Green Stick will earn a patch to be worn on the jacket of the Class B Cadet Uniform. The final phases commences at the end of second semester with Black Hat testing. Black Hat testing is two weeks long, consisting of a written test, a ruck march, a PT test, and hands on testing of everything the Green Stick has learned. After completion of Black Hat testing and a minimum APFT, the Green Stick is issued and recognized as a Black Hat. Each year offers more opportunities to further advanced and develop a Black Hat's mountaineering as well as leadership and management skills.
