Photo By Scott Sturkol | Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 271 load equipment on railcars Jan....... read more read more
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More than 70 Marines who were at Fort McCoy for the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing’s Ullr Shield exercise faced tough conditions during training in railcar loading in late January as part of the exercise.
During the training, the Marines, all from Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 271, dealt with frigid below-zero temperatures and several inches of fresh snow while loading 34 railcars with 77 pieces of equipment and more than 50 containers.
Ullr Shield is a training exercise designed to improve 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing’s capabilities in extreme cold-weather environments. Ullr Shield took place from early January to early February at Fort McCoy with more than 1,200 Marines participating.
The Marines accessed training venues across Fort McCoy in addition to the rail yard, such as the Combined Arms Collective Training Facility (CACTF), Young Air Assault Strip, Sparta-Fort McCoy Airport, Leadership Reaction Course, Confidence Course, Improved Tactical Training Base Freedom, numerous live-fire ranges, and more.
“As part of their redeployment from the exercise, they requested training on railcar loading,” said Fort McCoy Transportation Officer D.J. Eckland with the Logistics Readiness Center (LRC) Transportation Division.
During the rail-loading operation, temperatures dipped as low as minus 15 degrees and snow fell on several different days.
“In years past for operations like this, we had warmer temperatures and better weather,” Eckland said. “MWSS 271 (personnel) wanted to conduct rail operations as part of their cold-weather training, and Mother Nature didn’t disappoint.”
Movements Branch Chief Terry Altman, also with the LRC Transportation Division, said the training and loading with the Marines went well.
“Everything was loaded correctly, and there were no accidents or incidents,” Altman said. “That’s a great outcome when considering the weather they were working in.”
Eckland said his team was glad to be able to support the training and loading effort.
“We’re always happy to support this kind of training,” Eckland said. “Not only did these service members get some great hands-on training on an important mode of transportation, we also were able to demonstrate Fort McCoy’s joint training and strategic rail capability.”
MWSS 271 is located at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. Its mission is to “provide aviation ground support to enable a Marine aircraft group (MAG) or a composite MAG to conduct expeditionary operations.”
Fort McCoy has supported America’s armed forces since 1909. The post’s varied terrain, state-of-the-art ranges, new as well as renovated facilities, and extensive support infrastructure combine to provide military personnel with an environment in which to develop and sustain the skills necessary for mission success.
Learn more about Fort McCoy online at www.mccoy.army.mil, on Facebook by searching “ftmccoy,” and on Twitter by searching “usagmccoy.”
| Date Taken: | 02.15.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 02.15.2018 16:57 |
| Story ID: | 266220 |
| Location: | FORT MCCOY, WI, US |
| Web Views: | 87 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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