 Located on the northern end of Okinawa, the Jungle Warfare Training Center at Camp Gonzales has prepared Marines and Joint Forces since 1958 for the rigors of combat in a dense, jungle environment. Originally established as the Counter-Gorilla School and later renamed the Northern Training Area, the Center prepared Marines for combat in the jungles of Vietnam. JWTC or JW, as the training ground is affectionately referred to by Marines, was designated as the Jungle Warfare Training Center in 1998. It is the only jungle training center in the Department of Defense. JWTC is the largest to face on Okinawa. Consisting of 20,000 acres of mountainous, rugged terrain covered by single and double canopy vegetation, it serves as the perfect training classroom for students. The instructors at the center provide training on a wide range of topics, including jungle hazards, land navigation, survival techniques, rope-assisted movements, and patrolling methods. Nearly 8,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines train at JWTC each year. Classes typically take up to seven days to complete. Many service members have the opportunity to tackle the challenging 3.8 mile JW Endurance course. This physically demanding event consists of 31 obstacles, which can take up to five hours for squad-sized teams to complete. The renowned course is a culminating event for students and test individual endurance, teamwork, and leadership. As one of the morning course premier training facilities, the Jungle Warfare Training Center will continue to push service members to their limits in any climb or place.