Cold As Steel
Earn the Arctic Tab at the Northern Warfare Training Center in Black Rapids, Alaska. Fifteen days of cold-weather survival, skiing, and tactical operations in extreme sub-zero conditions.
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Earn the Arctic Tab at the Northern Warfare Training Center in Black Rapids, Alaska. Fifteen days of cold-weather survival, skiing, and tactical operations in extreme sub-zero conditions.
The Classroom & Skills phase teaches cold-weather survival fundamentals. Students learn injury prevention, the layering system that keeps soldiers alive in sub-zero conditions, and equipment familiarization including the ahkio sled and snowshoes.
Military skiing fundamentals begin here — most students have never skied before. Weapon maintenance in extreme cold is critical — lubricants freeze, metal becomes brittle, and bare skin sticks to frozen steel.
Shelter construction teaches students to build quinzhees (snow shelters) that maintain 32°F inside when it's -40°F outside. This skill is tested repeatedly throughout the course.
Field Training is where CWLC gets real. Students spend six continuous days in the Alaskan wilderness, maintaining themselves and their equipment in temperatures that drop to -40°F or colder.
Ski movement, cold-weather bivouac operations, river ice crossing, and avalanche awareness are all practiced in the field. Sleeping in the cold is itself a skill — improper sleeping bag management leads to hypothermia.
Students who cannot maintain their cold-weather equipment, fail to prevent cold injuries, or refuse to continue in extreme conditions are dropped from the course.
The FTX integrates every cold-weather skill into a sustained tactical operation. Students plan and execute patrols, establish cold-weather defensive positions, and conduct operations — all while managing the constant threat of cold-weather injuries.
Leadership is evaluated throughout the FTX. The CWLC is a leaders course — graduates must demonstrate they can lead soldiers in Arctic conditions, not just survive them.
The final assessment determines whether a student has demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and leadership required to plan and execute operations in extreme cold. Successful graduates earn the Arctic Tab.
Winter is THE season for CWLC. Most classes run January through March when conditions are most extreme. Temperatures routinely drop below -40°F and daylight is limited to a few hours. This is the full Arctic experience.
Spring "breakup" in Alaska is dangerous. Warming temperatures destabilize snowpack creating peak avalanche conditions. River ice weakens unpredictably. Late CWLC classes in March still experience extreme cold with added spring hazards.
CWLC does not run in summer. Alaska summers bring near-24-hour daylight and above-freezing temps. The NWTC runs other courses during summer months. Use this time to physically prepare and study cold-weather doctrine.
Fall is your last prep window before winter classes. Alaska's interior sees first snow in September and sub-zero temps by November. Some late-fall CWLC classes may begin in November, offering slightly "milder" conditions than January classes.
CWLC runs primarily during winter months (January – March). Limited classes may run in late fall/early spring. Source: NWTC / Fort Wainwright.
| Class | Report Date | Graduation | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| CWLC 01-26 | 06 Jan 2026 | 23 Jan 2026 | Winter |
| CWLC 02-26 | 27 Jan 2026 | 13 Feb 2026 | Winter |
| CWLC 03-26 | 17 Feb 2026 | 06 Mar 2026 | Winter |
| CWLC 04-26 | 10 Mar 2026 | 27 Mar 2026 | Spring |
Frostbite, hypothermia, and equipment failure are constant threats. The Alaskan wilderness is the ultimate adversary.
Every failure at CWLC has a type. We built a fix for each one.
Cold acclimatization isn't optional. If you've never experienced -40°F, your body and mind will revolt. Start preparing now.
Most students arrive with zero ski experience. Cross-country skiing with a full combat load is brutally exhausting. Build leg endurance now.
Sweat kills in the Arctic. Understanding the ECWCS layering system and moisture management is the difference between life and death.
Vapor barrier boots are required. Standard combat boots will freeze your feet. Get the right footwear or don't go.
Sleeping bag management is a survival skill. One mistake with moisture and your bag loses all insulation value.
You need fire to survive. Stove operation, fire starting in snow, and water procurement from ice are mandatory skills.
Key Takeaway: The cold is the enemy, not the cadre. Managing your layering system, moisture, and equipment in -40°F conditions is the real test. Arrive with ski skills, cardiovascular fitness, and the mental toughness to endure sustained extreme cold.
Arctic Tough — Cold As Steel
Graduates of the Cold Weather Leaders Course have proven they can lead soldiers in the most extreme cold-weather environments on Earth. The Arctic Tab represents mastery of survival, movement, and tactical operations in conditions that defeat unprepared forces.
From the frozen wilderness of Black Rapids, Alaska, Arctic warriors emerge ready to fight and win in any cold-weather environment the Army may encounter — from the mountains of Afghanistan to the Arctic Circle.
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