Cold-Weather Operations

The following pull down menu box will direct you to the major sections of the CWO (Cold Weather Operations) guide.

Photo Courtesy of Northern Warfare Training Center

During cold weather, the environment can directly affect an individual's health and performance. Cold can lower body temperature, resulting in cold injuries and impaired performance. Moreover, cold weather is often accompanied by wind, rain, snow and ice, which can worsen the effects of cold, as well as contribute to injury and performance impairments in and of themselves. Cold-weather conditions impair many aspects of normal military functioning in the field, which can in turn influence Soldier health and performance. Food and water problems are common during cold weather, since requirements are high and supply is difficult. Cold weather contributes to increased disease and non-battle injury, since maintaining proper field sanitation and personal hygiene is difficult, sick and injured individuals are susceptible to cold injuries, and the use of indoor stoves may lead to burns or suffocation. Operational problems often arise in cold weather. Heavy clothing restricts movements, equipment often malfunctions, travel can be difficult, cold-weather clothing and NBC protective clothing and equipment are difficult to integrate, and fogging and freezing of eyepieces and windows occur frequently. While cold makes military tasks more difficult, it does not make them impossible.

Viewing cold as a challenge to be overcome is the key to the positive attitude required to successfully complete the mission. The purpose of this portion of HOOAH 4 HEALTH is to describe how the environmental conditions stress Soldier health and performance during cold weather operations, and to explain ways of overcoming that stress.