Cold-Weather Operations Course instructors lead training effort at Fort McCoy

Photo By Scott Sturkol | Instructor Hunter Heard leads students in the Cold-Weather Operations Course (CWOC) Class 18-04 to a tent to install a tent heater Feb. 7, 2018, at Fort McCoy, Wis. The students included Marines and Soldiers. During the course, CWOC students are trained on a variety of cold-weather subjects, including snowshoe training and skiing as well as how to use ahkio sleds and other gear. Training also focuses on terrain and weather analysis, risk management, cold-weather clothing, developing winter fighting positions in the field, camouflage and concealment, and numerous other areas that are important to know in order to survive and operate in a cold-weather environment. The training is coordinated through the Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security at Fort McCoy. (U.S. Army Photo by Scott T. Sturkol, Public Affairs Office, Fort McCoy, Wis.)  

FORT MCCOY, WI, UNITED STATES

02.22.2018

Story by Scott Sturkol                                                                                         

Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office           

Five instructors support training for the Cold-Weather Operations Course at Fort McCoy. During Class 18-04 in early February 2018, they were especially busy in the field after freezing temperatures and snow added to the "classroom" environment.

The instructors include Bill Hamilton, Joe Ernst, Hunter Heard, Manny Ortiz, and Mike Nguyen. Hamilton and Ernst are second-year instructors and Heard, Ortiz, and Nguyen are in their first year. They all work for contractor Veterans Range Solutions, which supports the Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security, or DPTMS.

“Hunter brings us experience from his time teaching at NWTC in Alaska, and Mike adds his experience from teaching at the Marine Corps’ Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport (Calif.),” Hamilton said. “Manny brings his extensive senior experience as a medic. … Injury prevention is a big part of this course.”

The CWOC is modeled on the Cold-Weather Leader Course taught by the Army Northern Warfare Training Center (NWTC) at Black Rapids, Alaska, Hamilton said.

“Our program of instruction is nearly identical with the exception that we don’t teach certain skills, such as mountaineering and related topics that are better served in mountainous areas,” he said.

Students learn on a variety of cold-weather subjects, including skiing and snowshoe training as well as how to use ahkio sleds and the Arctic 10-person cold-weather tent, Ernst said. Training also focuses on terrain and weather analysis, risk management, cold-weather clothing, developing winter fighting positions in the field, camouflage and concealment, and numerous other areas that are important to know in order to survive and operate in a cold-weather environment.

DPTMS Director Brad Stewart said the success of the CWOC indicates there’s a growing need for that type of training as the military continues planning for future operations.

“The more we talk about the CWOC as we go out to places, we are finding that more and more units want to participate or they want to send students to be a part of this course,” Stewart said. “By holding this training (at Fort McCoy), we’re filling a niche that’s helping prepare our warfighters for future operations that could take them to anywhere in the world.”

Stewart said the CWOC also contributes to the installation’s strategic goal to be that year-round Total Force Training Center.

“Fort McCoy is having a direct impact by helping service members train in a four-season climate,” Stewart said. “We have the capability and capacity here to continue to grow that idea.”

Learn more about Fort McCoy online at www.mccoy.army.mil, on Facebook by searching “ftmccoy,” and on Twitter by searching “usagmccoy.”

• Date Taken: 02.22.2018
• Date Posted: 02.22.2018 12:26
• Story ID: 266835
• Location: FORT MCCOY, WI, US