Visited the MWTC center for Animal packers / mule ...

Visited the MWTC center for Animal packers / mule teams course as part of a workup for UDP to Okinawa with 3/3 Kilo several years ago in 2012.

The course was great and I consider it a three week vacation / camping trip, while everyone else in my unit got to freeze in the snow with the regular training. ANPK course material is mostly knowledge on animal husbandry, knot tying, and traveling with mule teams, all fairly straight forward and not difficult. There is also a horseback riding extended course but it wasn't offered at the time.

I wish I was sent before going to Afghanistan, I could have used the knowledge to bus mail and supplies back to out little tiny outpost.

The facilities are great with the exception of the training unit squad bays. The bays have a small wire cage to lock gear in, they are exceptionally small, flimsy, and gear can be readily stolen from them. This is also my only gripe about the base. (4/5 stars)

The exchange or grocery store is small but well stocked, it does not have summer sausage which is one of the best foods for the mountains, bring your own. Get a jet boil and lots of Raman noodles too, its available there.

Chowhall is skimpy on food but it gets the job done, the exchange is near by if you need something more.

The gym is great, I was fortunate to be able to use it daily while at lower base camp because I wasn't under regular requirements, ex, the utterly ridiculous buddy system. Last I heard from the person running the gym, the indoor basket ball court that no one ever uses, was getting converted into a fully stocked weight room! Marines love their weight rooms and its great news for future units.

The weather was great! Attended during the start of October, supply issues ''happy suits', cooking stoves, team size tents, among other very rarely seen luxury items! It will freeze, ice on the ground, ice in the water, sleep on your water bottles or they freeze to! Winter MREs aren't bad either.

Classroom is roomy, only used it a few times, roads are well paved, gardens, and walkways are in good order, its a bit of a walk going from the training side to the permanent personnel side but you get used it, no more than camp schwab Okinawa, Fuji, or MCBH.

That covers everything? Great place to get stationed if you happen to be that lucky.