Exclusive: British and US Marines take on dual gruelling trial in heat and high altitude
With high temperatures and even higher altitudes, the US Marine Corps' remote Mountain Warfare Training Centre at Pickel Meadows in California offers a unique set of conditions to test some of the world's most elite troops.
The latest to face the challenge were members of the UK Commando Force, who were put through their paces on Exercise Green Dagger.
Major Luke Norkett, the OC of X-Ray Company, 45 Commando, said: "It absolutely sharpens our skill sets and makes us more ready for warfighting."
The Royal Marines are the lead for mountain warfare for UK defence. They are used to facing some of the most rigorous training on the planet and are being tested at every opportunity.
45 Commando sent 120 personnel from X-Ray Company Group, which includes 29 Commando Royal Artillery, 59 Commando Squadron Royal Engineers, Commando Logistic Regiment and 30 Commando.
Nothing fights you like the mountains
The Commandos are able to train here in a way that's just not possible in the UK – that's because of the combination of arduous mountain terrain at high altitude, as well as facing sustained 30°C heat.
Gunnery Sergeant Zachary Carrington, who is a Mountain Leader, told BFBS Forces News: "Nothing fights you quite like the mountains.
"Marines are expected and trained to be adaptable and to be able to perform in any climb and place.
"To perform out here and perform at a high level, which is the expectation, requires a significant amount of mental endurance."
His comments were echoed by Colour Sergeant James Keenan, a Mountain Leader 1 who is on exchange with the USMC at the Mountain Warfare Centre.
He told us: "The mountains throw up a whole load of obstacles, you know, we can expect ranks to operate up to 3,000m, which is particularly high. There's a third less oxygen than there would be at sea level."
From Korea to California
Royal Marines have a unique connection to the history of this place, as CSgt Keenan explained.
"So the United States Marine Corps started this training centre in the 1950s.
"It was started on the back of the Korea conflict and particularly what happened at Chosin Reservoir, where 41 Independent Commando Squadron were operating alongside USMC ranks on the ground, suffering and fighting alongside them."
The 1st Marine Division lost more than 4,300 men to combat, but more than 7,300 to the cold. Most died of frostbite and other types of cold-weather injuries.
"One of the lessons learned was to train ranks, to be able to equip them better, to operate in these environments," he explained.
"And on the back of that, the USMC established a Mountain Warfare Training Centre here in the Sierra Nevada in California."
The training centre is 85 miles from Yosemite National Park, which is visible from the camp itself on the far horizon.
Captain Alejandro Valencia, the commander of Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, said: "For most of my hikes that I've done in my military career, my worst ones have been out here."
We'll hold our own
They've endured a series of arduous training, which has included abseiling steep cliffs and roping across gorges, as well as practising their tactics when they come under attack.
Mountain Leader 2 Corporal Liam Brown from 45 Commando said: "They do very physical things... with less oxygen and it being really, really hot.
"It's been really tough for them; some have conquered their fear of heights, others have found their fear of heights.
"These mountains are really big, and the cliffs are quite scary if you're not used to it.
"But that's why we do it – so we can deploy anywhere in the world and have this capability."
The final part of Exercise Green Dagger will see them working for 2nd Battalion 4th Marines as they play the enemy against 1st Battalion 5th Marines.
Capt Valencia said: "Thankfully, the 45 Commandos, X-Ray Company, they're on our side right now, so we're trying to capitalise on their energy, to have those bragging rights against 1st Battalion 5th Marines."
When I asked how competitive it gets and how confident he was they'd give their opponents hell, Maj Norkett told me: "I have utmost confidence in my Commandos that they will perform in this environment.
"My experience is that resilience and grit count for a great deal. I think we'll hold our own."
Morale is a choice
So what does it take to excel in this environment?
Corporal Liam Brown told me: "Just all the Commando values practised – that's it really.
"You just need to be fit, be strong, but overall, morale is a choice. Just be happy and just get on with it, and you know Commando Force is just perfect for that."
Whatever awaits them in the next battle space, every second spent in these mountains forges an extra layer of strength, an extra layer of mental resilience, should the call come to fight.
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