Activated 31 August 1951 at Camp Pendleton, California, as Cold Weather Training Battalion, Provisional Staging Regiment, Training and Replacement Command.

Designated 11 September 1951 as Cold Weather Battalion, Staging Regiment Training and Replacement Command, Camp Pendleton California, and relocated to Bridgeport, California.

Designated 28 May 1952 as Cold Weather Battalion, Bridgeport, California, Marine Barracks, Camp Pendleton.

Designated 1 September 1953 as Cold Weather Battalion, Bridgeport, California, Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton.

Designated 15 September 1956 as Marine Corps Cold Weather Training Center, Bridgeport, California.

Designated 1 November 1963 as Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, California.

Placed in cadre status 10 October 1967.

Reactivated 10 May 1976 at Bridgeport, California, as Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center.