Press Release
☷Fort McCoy 2023 year in review First half of year included historic events continued construction winter training January to March
U.S. Army ( By Press Release office)
Jan 05,2024
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Airmen from different Air National Guard security forces units were taught how to build a 10 - person tent for Arctic conditions as part of a 16 - day Cold - Weather Operations Course led by the Air Force at Fort McCoy , Wisconsin . Over 50 Airmen participated in the training , which included learning about using tents in cold weather , building improvised shelters , survival techniques , and appropriate cold - weather attire . A firefighter with the Directorate of Emergency Services Fire Department at Fort McCoy , Wisconsin practiced an ice rescue scenario on January 11 , 2023 , at Big Sandy Lake . Several firefighters took turns diving under the ice , covering depths of up to 15 feet or more . They completed various rescue scenarios under the guidance of their colleagues . Each diver was connected to a tether line with communication capabilities . This training is done annually to maintain their skills . The construction site for a new training brigade headquarters at Fort McCoy , Wisconsin is shown at sunset on February 2 , 2023 . A contract worth $11 , 964 , 432 . 87 was awarded to L . S . Black Constructors on June 9 , 2022 , to build the headquarters . Construction started in August 2022 . The site is located across the street from where the same contractor is building two new troop barracks buildings . The project will include modern systems for fire protection , alarms , video surveillance , and energy monitoring . Anti - terrorism and force protection measures will also be incorporated , and sustainability and energy - efficient technology will be prioritized . In total , eight new buildings are planned for the area . The U . S . Army Corps of Engineers is overseeing the project . Fort McCoy has a pretty cool history of supporting cold - weather training . Way back in January 1943 , they hosted some winter training for the Army ' s 76th Division before they went off to fight in the Battle of the Bulge in World War II . Fast forward to now , and they ' re still at it , with officers like Jonathan Stephens from the Fort McCoy Directorate of Emergency Services Police Department patrolling in freezing temperatures . These guys work their butts off in any weather to keep the installation safe . Speaking of training , the Air Force recently had a 16 - day Cold - Weather Operations Course at Fort McCoy , where over 50 Airmen learned all about surviving in the cold . And hey , Fort McCoy is always expanding and improving , like with the new C - 17 load trainer facility being built . They ' re all about being the Total Force Training Center . Oh , and they even do prescribed burns to manage the land , with folks like Forestry Technician Tim Parry overseeing the process . So yeah , Fort McCoy is a pretty happening place . Contractors from JMJ Construction and Heritage Movers are currently moving and repairing four barracks buildings from the 1600 block to new locations in the 1700 and 1800 blocks . The plan is to have the buildings relocated and placed on their new foundations before the ground thaws , with the remaining work to be completed by summer 2023 . This effort is part of the ongoing improvements and renovations taking place at Fort McCoy . This is the first time ever that they ' re moving barracks buildings like this at Fort McCoy . Four soldiers are driving Joint - Light Tactical Vehicles ( JLTV ) as part of a convoy during training operations on March 3 , 2023 , in Fort McCoy . The Army says the JLTV family of vehicles is designed to add protection while still maintaining payload and performance . These vehicles give service members more options for protected mobility and are specifically built for modern battlefield networks . JLTV operator training started at Fort McCoy in May 2019 . On March 6 , 2023 , a special ceremony was held at the Fort McCoy History Center to present Alan Blencoe ' s Vietnam War - era Army uniform . Blencoe , a former Army sergeant , served in Vietnam from February 1970 to December 1971 and worked as a public safety dispatcher at Fort McCoy until his retirement in May 2019 . He unexpectedly passed away on September 14 , 2021 , and his wife Kathy donated his uniform to the History Center . Guests enjoyed skiing , snowboarding , and snowtubing at Whitetail Ridge Ski Area on January 26 , 2023 . Whitetail Ridge , located in Fort McCoy ' s Pine View Recreation Area , offers various activities for the whole family . They have downhill skiing , snowboarding , and snowtubing . For more information on costs and special events at Whitetail Ridge , visit https://mccoy . armymwr . com/programs/whitetail - ridge - ski - area . Retired Army Command Sgt . Maj . Thomas E . Campbell shared his story on March 3 , 2023 , at Fort McCoy during a presentation in building 60 . Campbell was a featured speaker for Fort McCoy ' s suicide prevention awareness event in early March 2023 . He talked about his personal experiences of surviving combat deployments , dealing with survivor guilt , and how he overcame his own struggle with suicide . Terry Rogalla , Fort McCoy ' s Suicide Prevention Program manager , organized the event . The Fort McCoy prescribed burn team coordinated a prescribed burn on March 20 , 2023 , in a remote area on South Post . The team for prescribed burns at Fort McCoy includes personnel from different departments , like the Fire Department , Environmental Division , and Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands . These burns are beneficial for wildlife , plant communities , and reducing the risk of wildfires . According to Fort McCoy Forester Charles Mentzel , they help control invasive species and give native species a chance to thrive . In 2023 , Fort McCoy had a lot going on with construction projects , training , and important events . The workforce stepped up to successfully accomplish many tasks throughout the year . The Directorate of Human Resources introduced a new onboarding process for new employees , focusing on personalizing the welcome and providing support . However , it ' s definitely worth putting in the effort . As 2023 got underway , the construction of a future transient training brigade headquarters in the 1600 block on the cantonment area was going full steam ahead . By January 5 , the building ' s framework was taking shape and it actually started to look like a building . According to a news update before January 5 , contractor L . S . Black Constructors had already built one wall on the new building , and workers were busy all around the grounds . They had also started receiving steel for the framework , and there was visible progress on the project from late December to early January . On January 11 , firefighters gathered at Big Sandy Lake on South Post to practice ice rescue training . They wore dry suits and diving equipment as they took turns diving under the ice to rescue a victim . Assistant Fire Chief Hunter Young explained the importance of this training , saying that it ' s necessary for each member of the dive team to be ready in case of a real emergency . He described the main scenario they practiced , which involved rescuing a fisherman who had fallen through the ice and then locating a second victim . Young emphasized the technical skills required for ice diving and the need to be comfortable in such a challenging environment . Firefighter Brandon Perron , who participated in the training , expressed how valuable it is to have a dive team in the area to assist local communities that do not have this capability . He highlighted the importance of being able to respond quickly and help people in need . " - Kris Steinhoff , a Fort McCoy Land Rehabilitation and Maintenance ( LRAM ) crew member from the Directorate of Planning , Training , Mobilization and Security , was busy operating an excavator with a special attachment in early January to provide security along a road on the South Post to improve the facility . For this work , Jim Raiten , LRAM coordinator at Fort McCoy DPTMS , said Steinhoff conducted some roadside vegetation clearing in collaboration with the Fort McCoy Directorate of Public Works ( DPW ) . “Fort McCoy DPW has identified some roadsides that have vegetation encroachments , such as overhanging branches and smaller trees growing in the right - of - way throughout the installation , ” Raiten said . “So this work was done to help preserve the travel routes to make them safer and reduce the amount of roadway maintenance . ” - Fort McCoy held Martin Luther King Jr . Day Jan . 19 at the McCoy ' s Community Center 2023 , and guest speaker Marcus Gentry took the opportunity during this celebration to urge everyone in attendance to adhere to Dr . To remember Martin Luther King Jr . lived . Gentry ' s talk covered many things that represent the memory , history and meaning of Martin Luther King Jr . ' s life . Gentry discussed the principles King lived by during his talk . “The first principle he lived by was the principle of compassion — compassion for someone in something beyond themselves , ” Gentry said . “One of the quotes he used to talk about this principle was true compassion . True compassion is more than just tossing a coin at a beggar . It demands of our humanity that if we live in a society that produces beggars , we have a moral obligation to restructure the society . This is what he said about compassion . That ' s a principle . " - Fifty Airmen with multiple Air National Guard Security Forces units completed a 16 - day cold weather operations course at Fort McCoy in mid - January as part of training led by Air Force Security Forces instructors . Master Sgt . Anthony Harvey , chief of security forces for the 164th Mission Support Group , 164th Airlift Wing , at Memphis Air National Guard Base , Tennessee , helped organize the training . Harvey had previously completed Fort McCoy ' s version of the Cold - Weather Operations Course ( CWOC ) . He said it makes sense to hold an Air Force - only version of the CWOC at Fort McCoy in 2023 . The 16 - day course his teaching team teaches mirrors the previous CWOC course at Fort McCoy , which ended in spring 2022 . “We actually had to turn people away for this session because there was so much interest , ” Harvey said . “We are excited to come here and hold this course . ” Technology . Sergeant . Michael Samsa , one of the instructors supporting the training who is with the 164th Security Forces Squadron in Memphis , said their goal is to teach a wide range of cold weather skills and tactics during the course . “We teach how to use an Ahkio sled , how to use thermal shelters , how to traverse rough terrain with snowshoes and ski poles , and how to be able to maintain operations in such cold weather environments , ” Samsa said . – The newly formed Hiring Process Action Team launched in January to address arguably the biggest challenges facing Fort McCoy Garrison today – hiring and recruiting . One of the critical points for Fort McCoy in 2023 is to aggressively pursue a 100 percent manning rate by Sept . 30 - a challenge set by Garrison Commander Col . Stephen Messenger , who will be the champion for this initiative . The Fort McCoy Resource Management Office has partnered with the Directorate of Human Resources , the Civilian Personnel Advisory Center and the Civilian Human Resources Agency to find solutions to fill positions and reduce the time it takes to hire talent . FEBRUARY - By early February , construction work was well underway to build a C - 17 load trainer facility at Fort McCoy ' s Young Air Assault Strip at South Post , said General Engineer Gareth Ferguson of the Fort McCoy Directorate of Public Works . Contractor Veteran Range Solutions was awarded a $1 , 497 , 609 contract to build the facility at the air assault strip , Ferguson said . The contract ' s statement of work states: "Construct a C - 17 cargo trainer complete with ramp and simulated cargo hold with tie - downs and house it in a 3 , 500 square foot prefabricated metal building . " "Construction is expected to be completed in April , " Ferguson said . By February 10 , much of the facility ' s framework had already been completed and work was progressing steadily as weather conditions allowed for steady progress . According to the Fort McCoy Directorate of Plans , Training , Mobilization and Security ( DPTMS ) , the runway facility is good for training support missions that are already taking place there . Many Air Force units use the runway each year for exercises , touch - and - go landings with C - 130 Hercules and C - 17 Globe - master III aircraft and more . A work order for the installation of this facility into the runway was first submitted to DPW by the DPTMS Range Branch in November 2020 . - On Feb . 8 , Maj . Gen . Matthew Baker , commanding general of the 88th Readiness Division and commander in chief of Fort McCoy , visited with the U . S . Army Barracks Renovation Project Manager . Army Corps of Engineers , Omaha District , as part of an overall visit to the Fort McCoy barracks renovation project . Baker got a first - hand look at the ongoing efforts . After the mission “Operation Allies Welcome” , repairs and renovations will be carried out in the barracks . More than 200 barracks were renovated throughout the canton . Fort McCoy ' s prescribed burn team had an early start to their year as they held the first prescribed burn on Feb . 13 . The burn took place along several miles of railroad grade on South Post and involved various personnel from different departments working together . Charles Mentzel , the installation forester , emphasized the importance of teamwork in planning and executing prescribed burns . The weather conditions were ideal for the burn , and Mentzel stated that burning the south slopes early helps save time and effort . In January and early February , JMJ Construction was preparing to move four World War II - era barracks buildings to different areas of the installation . These buildings will eventually be used for training units . The 181st Multi - Functional Training Brigade organized their Cabin Fever event in early February to promote fitness during the winter months . Fort McCoy also held its Black History Month observance , featuring Dr . Quincey Daniels Jr . as the guest speaker . The observance was organized by the Fort McCoy Equal Opportunity Office , with Master Sgt . Ana Guzman giving the opening remarks . Amy Noble , the garrison chaplain from the Fort McCoy Religious Support Office , gave the opening prayer . Then , Guzman introduced Daniels , a former Army officer who has been on multiple deployments . Daniels is also an educator and works in the School of Education at National University . He ' s originally from San Antonio , Texas , but currently lives in Mindoro , Wis . During his talk , Daniels shared personal stories about himself and his family . "First of all , thanks for having me here , " Daniels said . "I ' m really grateful to be back at Fort McCoy since it ' s been a part of my life since 1991 . Black history is American history , that ' s something everyone should remember . To me , it means that we can make a difference and contribute to the mission just like anyone else . We ' re all better when we work together , that ' s the main message , " Daniels concluded . Lastly , contractor JMJ Construction from New Lisbon , Wis . , and Heritage Movers from Blue River , Wis . , successfully relocated the first two out of four World War II - era barracks buildings from the 1600 block to the 1700 block on Feb . 24 and March 2 . This was an unprecedented feat at Fort McCoy , as they used a remote - controlled system on wheels to move an 81 - year - old , 90 - foot , two - story barracks building through streets , parking lots , and frozen lots . In other news , several members of the Fort McCoy Garrison team received top honors at the 2022 Army Installation Management Command Maj . Gen . Keith L . Ware Communications Awards Competition held in January . Greg Mason , an audiovisual production specialist from the Fort McCoy Multimedia - Visual Information Office , was named the 2022 Installation Management Command Clark Taylor Civilian Videographer of the Year . Mason also won two other awards in special categories . He got first place in Broadcast Category C , Social Media/Multimedia Video , and second place in Broadcast Category B , Feature Video . Kaleen Holliday , a public affairs specialist from the Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office , was recognized in Category L for community relations and received the 2023 Installation Management Command Kathy Canham - Ross Award of Distinction . Scott T . Sturkol , the editor of The Real McCoy newspaper , won the 2022 Installation Management Command Moss - Holland Civilian Writer of the Year in the writing competition . Sturkol also placed second in the photography competition , specifically in Category C for Training Documentation Photograph , with his photo of cold - water immersion training . Interestingly , this photo was chosen by the Army as one of the 60 Photos of the Year for 2022 . Matt Childs from Heritage Movers led the barracks right in front of one of the brand new four - story barracks buildings that were recently built on post . It was a cool moment of old and new coming together on this historic day . The contractors only took a few hours to move the barracks from its original spot to its new location in the 1700 block . On March 2 , after successfully moving the first barracks the previous week , Childs and his team got to work moving another building . And once again , within a few hours , they had the second barracks placed next to the first one in the 1700 block . Fort McCoy kicked off its support for the 81st Army Emergency Relief ( AER ) Campaign on Feb . 28 with a breakfast event at McCoy ' s Community Center on post . The AER campaign runs from March 1 to May 15 every year and provides emergency financial assistance for various needs like food , rent , medical expenses , and more . The breakfast had a great turnout with many members of the Fort McCoy community in attendance . It was organized by the Fort McCoy Army Community Service ( ACS ) Office with the Directorate of Family and Morale , Welfare and Recreation . Lt . Col . Chad Maynard , the Fort McCoy Garrison Deputy Commander , gave opening remarks at the event . Over 40 teams of Army ROTC cadets from all over the Midwest , Arizona , and Vermont came to Fort McCoy for the 2023 Northern Warfare Challenge . This competition , hosted by the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse ' s Eagle Battalion and 3rd Brigade Army ROTC , included events like rifle marksmanship , cold - weather first aid , knot tying , and fire - starting . The cadets also completed a 16 - mile ruck march through the bluffs of La Crosse , starting at the Forest Hills golf course . In late February , the 181st Multi - Functional Training Brigade held their Best Observer - Coach/Trainer ( OC/T ) competition at Fort McCoy . This competition recognizes the outstanding military performance , leadership , and achievements of First Army OC/Ts in their daily duties . In March , Alan Blencoe ' s Army uniform was officially put on display at the Fort McCoy History Center by his wife Kathy and Director Mark Reaves from the Directorate of Emergency Services . Blencoe , a Vietnam War veteran and former Army sergeant , served at Fort McCoy as a public safety dispatcher for many years before retiring . Sadly , he passed away unexpectedly in September 2021 . Kathy contacted the Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office last fall to see if they would be interested in displaying Al ' s uniform , and she sent it to them as a donation . They organized a small ceremony to honor him .
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