Camp Gonsalves
Encyclopedia
Camp Gonsalves is located in Northern Okinawa, Japan across the villages of Kunigami
and Higashi
. At 17500 acres (70.8 km²) JWTC contains 22 helicopter landing zones, one water surface beach access, four bivouac sites, three outdoor classrooms, one firebase, three 3rd world village target sites and one target missile site.
Also known as the Northern Training Area (NTA), the Jungle Warfare Training Center (JWTC) occupies 17500 acres (70.8 km²) of jungle in Northern Okinawa
. The hilly and rugged terrain, topped with single and double canopy forest has been challenging U.S. Marines
in the art of jungle warfare for over 50 years. Established in 1958 as a Counter Guerilla school in the early years of the Vietnam War
, the area offers the same challenges that prepared our predecessors for operations in Southeast Asia. Over the years the base camp at NTA gradually evolved from a few Quonset hut
s and other small buildings to the present facility today completed in 1984. On November 5, 1986, the base camp was officially named Camp Gonsalves, in memory of PFC Harold Gonsalves
who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor
for his heroic actions during the Battle of Okinawa
. In March 1998, to better convey NTA as a training base, the name was officially changed to the Marine Corps Jungle Warfare Training Center. Today JWTC is the only Department of Defense
jungle training facility in existence.
Originally scheduled for December 2008, a fifty-one percent land reversion of the Jungle warfare Training Center to the Government of Japan is an on-going process. Plans for the reversion include building new landing zones, and the expansion of existing LZ's.
With the backing of the 3rd Marine Division, JWTC is in a transition of becoming a TECOM
(Training and Education Command) school. New courses and curriculum are currently under development to encompass a Jungle Tracking Course, Jungle Trauma Course, and a Jungle medicine Course. With the expansion of courses also comes the planning for enclosed classrooms, better teaching equipment, as well as many other various buildings and teaching aids.
Since 2007, approximately 10,000 people have participated in the sit-ins at three sites in the area. In 2008, the Japanese government attempted to serve injunctions against 15 participants. While, 13 of the injunctions were thrown out of court, the remaining two have yet to be decided.
subtropical evergreen forests, most of the area surrounding JWTC is designated as a national forest by the Government of Japan. JWTC is home to 24 endangered species including the Okinawa Rail
, Amami Woodcock
, Pryers Woodpecker
and the Ryukyu Robin
. Also residing at JWTC are three species of pit viper poisonous snakes, the Okinawa habu
, Himehabu
, and the Sakishima Habu
. JWTC supports ongoing and extensive efforts by the local Government of Japan's mongoose capturing project.
Following the 2006 disclosure that the United States military had made widespread use of the defoliant Agent Orange in the jungle training center during the 1960s, local citizens have called for an investigation into the current use of chemical and biological weapons within the camp. The region supplies the densely-populated south of the island with drinking water and the impact on the islanders' long term health is of grave concern.
Kunigami, Okinawa
is a village located in Kunigami District, Okinawa, Japan.As of 2003, the village has an estimated population of 5,629 and a population density of 28.90 persons per km². The total area is 194.80 km².-External links:*...
and Higashi
Higashi, Okinawa
is a village located in Kunigami District, Okinawa, Japan.As of 2003, the village has an estimated population of 1,876 and a population density of 22.94 persons per km². The total area is 81.79 km².- External links :*...
. At 17500 acres (70.8 km²) JWTC contains 22 helicopter landing zones, one water surface beach access, four bivouac sites, three outdoor classrooms, one firebase, three 3rd world village target sites and one target missile site.
History
Okinawa Prefecture
is one of Japan's southern prefectures. It consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over long, which extends southwest from Kyūshū to Taiwan. Okinawa's capital, Naha, is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island...
. The hilly and rugged terrain, topped with single and double canopy forest has been challenging U.S. Marines
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
in the art of jungle warfare for over 50 years. Established in 1958 as a Counter Guerilla school in the early years of the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, the area offers the same challenges that prepared our predecessors for operations in Southeast Asia. Over the years the base camp at NTA gradually evolved from a few Quonset hut
Quonset hut
A Quonset hut is a lightweight prefabricated structure of corrugated galvanized steel having a semicircular cross section. The design was based on the Nissen hut developed by the British during World War I...
s and other small buildings to the present facility today completed in 1984. On November 5, 1986, the base camp was officially named Camp Gonsalves, in memory of PFC Harold Gonsalves
Harold Gonsalves
Private First Class Harold Gonsalves was a United States Marine who sacrificed his life to save fellow Marines in the Battle of Okinawa during World War II...
who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for his heroic actions during the Battle of Okinawa
Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg, was fought on the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War of World War II. The 82-day-long battle lasted from early April until mid-June 1945...
. In March 1998, to better convey NTA as a training base, the name was officially changed to the Marine Corps Jungle Warfare Training Center. Today JWTC is the only Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
jungle training facility in existence.
JWTC Mission
The Jungle Warfare Training Center provides expert instruction to prepare Marine and Joint Forces for the rigors of combat in a dense jungle environment. Building upon small unit leadership, a tactical mindset and unit cohesion our instructors instill confidence, bolster leadership, and challenge all individuals who train aboard JWTC.Jungle Skills Course
JWTC offers a Jungle Skills Course encompassing basic Marine combat Marine combat skills in a jungle environment. The course consists of six total days comprising five training days. In addition to basic combat skills in the jungle, the course is designed to enhance the training unit's small unit leadership, tactical mindset, and unit cohesion. Training up to 100 personnel, a few classes taught in the Jungle Skills course are land navigation, patrolling, rope management & rappeling, and jungle booby traps. The Jungle Skills course culminates with the Jungle Endurance Course.Jungle Leaders
The Jungles Leaders course is designed to develop small unit leaders in all aspects of small unit combat operations and basic survival skills in the jungle. It combines the previously taught Jungle Survival Course period of instruction with comprehensive basic warfighting skills. to take part in the Jungle Leaders Course, the Jungle Skills Course is a prerequisite. The target of the course is for small unit leaders (Team Leaders through Platoon Commanders or equivalent) from any Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). The course consists of six total days consisting of five training days. Training up to 25 personnel, a few classes taught in the Jungle Leaders course are patrol orders, patrol ordrs, patrolling, jungle casevac (Personnel Extraction), survival skills, defense and executing patrol bases.Jungle Endurance Course
The Jungle Endurance Course is the culminating point of the Jungle Skills Course. Classes taught through the five-day Jungle Skills course are utilized throughout the E-Course. In 12–18-man teams, students traverse 3.8 miles (6.1 km) of dense jungle and rugged terrain. Using teamwork and perseverance, teams compete with one another across 31 obstacles spread along the course. Teams face hasty rappels, rope obstacles, water obstacles and a stretcher carry to complete the entire course.Independent Operations
JWTC offers areas for units to operate independently with proior coordination. Utilizing the areas, units have done Realistic Urban Terrain Exercises (RUTEX), Raids, Non-Combatant Evacuation Operaations (NEO), Reconnaissance and Surveillance, Land Navigation, Fast Rope, Spie Riggin, Communication Exercises, and Water Insertion.The future of JWTC
With the backing of the 3rd Marine Division, JWTC is in a transition of becoming a TECOM
United States Marine Corps Training and Education Command
The Marine Corps Training and Education Command is the primary training command of the United States Marine CorpsIt develops, coordinate, resource, execute, and evaluate training and education concepts, policies, plans, and programs for Marines to meet the challenges of operational...
(Training and Education Command) school. New courses and curriculum are currently under development to encompass a Jungle Tracking Course, Jungle Trauma Course, and a Jungle medicine Course. With the expansion of courses also comes the planning for enclosed classrooms, better teaching equipment, as well as many other various buildings and teaching aids.
Takae citizens' sit-in protest
Following the 1999 crash of a United States military helicopter near Takae district's elementary school, local villagers started a sit-in campaign to block further construction of helipads in the area. When construction officials arrived to start building the new pads in 2007, they were met by protesters who surrounded the trucks and staged a sit-in. After a long stand-off, the prefectural police arrived and they ordered the construction to be halted since it was placing the lives of the protesters in danger.Since 2007, approximately 10,000 people have participated in the sit-ins at three sites in the area. In 2008, the Japanese government attempted to serve injunctions against 15 participants. While, 13 of the injunctions were thrown out of court, the remaining two have yet to be decided.
Environment
JWTC has 17500 acres (70.8 km²) of single and double canopy jungle over very rugged terrain. Being part of the Nansei islandsRyukyu Islands
The , also known as the , is a chain of islands in the western Pacific, on the eastern limit of the East China Sea and to the southwest of the island of Kyushu in Japan. From about 1829 until the mid 20th century, they were alternately called Luchu, Loochoo, or Lewchew, akin to the Mandarin...
subtropical evergreen forests, most of the area surrounding JWTC is designated as a national forest by the Government of Japan. JWTC is home to 24 endangered species including the Okinawa Rail
Okinawa Rail
The Okinawa Rail is a species of bird in the rail family, Rallidae. It is endemic to Okinawa Island in Japan where it is known as the...
, Amami Woodcock
Amami Woodcock
The Amami Woodcock, Scolopax mira, is a medium sized wader. It is slightly larger and longer-legged than Eurasian Woodcock, and may be .This species is a Restricted-range endemic found only in forests on two small islands of the Amami Islands chain in South Japan. Insofar as its habits are known,...
, Pryers Woodpecker
Okinawa Woodpecker
The is a woodpecker endemic to the island of Okinawa in Japan. It is the only member of the genus Sapheopipo.This is a medium-sized , dark woodpecker. It is dark brown in color with red-tipped feathers. It has white spots on the primaries. The head is a paler brown, with a dark red crown on the...
and the Ryukyu Robin
Ryukyu Robin
The Ryukyu Robin is a bird endemic to the Ryūkyū Islands, of Japan. It is sometimes placed in the genus Luscinia, but recent research suggests that the East Asian robins belong into a new genus uniting them with some East Asian Luscinias such as the Siberian Blue Robin.The specific name komadori...
. Also residing at JWTC are three species of pit viper poisonous snakes, the Okinawa habu
Trimeresurus flavoviridis
Trimeresurus flavoviridis is a venomous pitviper species found in Japan in the Ryukyu Islands. No subspecies are currently recognized.-Description:...
, Himehabu
Ovophis okinavensis
Ovophis okinavensis is a venomous pitviper species found in the Ryukyu Islands of Japan. No subspecies are currently recognized.-Description:This is the longest Asian pitviper, adults are usually 1.1-1.7 m long...
, and the Sakishima Habu
Trimeresurus elegans
Trimeresurus elegans is a venomous pitviper species found in Japan in the southern Ryukyu Islands. No subspecies are currently recognized. The species is aggressive with large fangs...
. JWTC supports ongoing and extensive efforts by the local Government of Japan's mongoose capturing project.
Following the 2006 disclosure that the United States military had made widespread use of the defoliant Agent Orange in the jungle training center during the 1960s, local citizens have called for an investigation into the current use of chemical and biological weapons within the camp. The region supplies the densely-populated south of the island with drinking water and the impact on the islanders' long term health is of grave concern.
See also
- British Military Garrison BruneiBritish Military Garrison BruneiThe British Military Garrison Brunei is the name given to the British armed forces presence in Brunei. Since the handover ceremony of Hong Kong in 1997, the garrison in Brunei is the only remaining British military base in the Far East, and along with Diego Garcia one of only two East of Suez...
An UK Army equivalent jungle warfare training site.
External links
- Camp Gonsalves / Okinawa Northern Training Area, GlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.org, launched in 2000, is a public policy organization focusing on the fields of defense, space exploration, intelligence, weapons of mass destruction and homeland security...