Busy training operations continue at Fort McCoy in May

Photo By Scott Sturkol | Soldiers on post for training in Operation Cold Steel II prepare for a training event May 2, 2018, at Fort McCoy, Wis. Operation Cold Steel II began in mid-February 2018. According to exercise planners, Operation Cold Steel II operations at Fort McCoy for 2018 falls under Task Force Triad. The task force, hosted by the 416th Theater Engineer Command, holds training through May 31 in which more than 3,000 Soldiers, or approximately 1,000 crews, are expected to attend the mounted crew-served weapons qualification training. (U.S. Army Photo by Scott T. Sturkol, Public Affairs Office, Fort McCoy, Wis.)  

FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, UNITED STATES

05.09.2018

Story by Scott Sturkol                                                                                                       

Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office           

Going into May and throughout May 2018, many units and thousands of troops are to Fort McCoy for exercise, weekend, battle-drill, and extended-combat training.

Training also continued for Operation Cold Steel II. Operation Cold Steel II began in mid-February 2018.

According to exercise planners, Operation Cold Steel II operations at Fort McCoy for 2018 falls under Task Force Triad.

The task force, hosted by the 416th Theater Engineer Command, holds training through May 31 in which more than 3,000 Soldiers, or approximately 1,000 crews, are expected to attend the mounted crew-served weapons qualification training.

During Cold Steel II, gunnery crews are training on the M2, M240, M249, and MK19 weapons across a variety of vehicle platforms, including Humvees, M1078 Light Medium Tactical Vehicle, M1083 Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles, M1075 Palletized Load System Vehicle, and the M113 Armored Personnel Carrier. Crews conduct the training and qualification throughout a 13-day schedule.

Fort McCoy’s Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security (DPTMS) supports this training with the Humvee Egress Assistance Trainer, Engagement Skills Trainer; Reconfigurable Vehicle Tactical Trainer; Unstabilized Gunnery Trainer — Crew; Virtual Battlespace Trainer 3 (VBS3); as well as with live-fire ranges, Range Maintenance and after-action review.

With weekend, battle-drill, and extended-combat training in May, DPTMS Training Coordination Branch Chief Craig Meeusen said it's busy.

“We’re looking at more than 13,000 people training on post in May,” Meeusen said.

Fort McCoy has supported America’s armed forces since 1909. The installation’s motto is to be the “Total Force Training Center.” 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: 05.09.2018
• Date Posted: 05.09.2018 12:33
• Story ID: 276328
• Location: FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, US