Fort McCoy members took time Feb. 18 to engage with the Tomah (Wis.) Chamber of Commerce during their February monthly meeting at a business in Tomah.
Lt. Col. Chad Holder, deputy garrison commander for U.S. Army Garrison-Fort McCoy, and other representatives from the installation talked and engaged with dozens of members of the chamber.
The attendance and support align with Fort McCoy’s community relations and strategic communications objectives aligned under the Fort McCoy 5-Year Strategic Business Plan. According to the Army War College, Strategic communications in the military involves the coordinated use of communication tools to engage key audiences effectively, and more.
According to its website at https://www.tomahwisconsin.com, the Tomah Chamber of Commerce welcomes a variety of organizations and businesses to be a part of their group. For example, the Fort McCoy Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation is part of the chamber as it is a non-appropriated fund entity.
“The Tomah Chamber and Visitors Center invite businesses, organizations, and not-for-profit organizations to become a member and grow with the Tomah community,” the website states. “We work to create an environment where it is desirable to do business, raise a family, and explore the area. Investing in the chamber is investing in Tomah.”
Meeting with chambers of commerce and other civic organizations allows Army leaders like Holder to have direct engagement with community leaders, and more.
Community outreach is an important part of the Army mission, states Army Public Affairs. According to the Army, as stated at https://www.army.mil/outreach, “the Army is about more than ensuring our national security at home and abroad, it’s about giving back and getting to know the communities that support us.”
The Tomah Chamber of Commerce meets monthly to discuss events, programs, organizations, and more. According to the website, they have an important purpose.
“The Greater Tomah Area Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit organization of business and professionals who have joined together to foster a cohesive environment where our businesses, families, and community can prosper,” the website states. “The economic well-being of this area is directly related to the caliber of work that is done by the chamber of commerce. The progressive and positive attitude of the chamber has a major impact on business, income, and future growth.”
Holder was the latest Fort McCoy leader to visit the Tomah Chamber. At times several leaders have attended chamber events throughout the past year. Holder provided news on items that can affect both communities, including efforts to improve military spouse employment.
Fort McCoy’s motto is to be the “Total Force Training Center.”
Located in the heart of the upper Midwest, Fort McCoy is the only U.S. Army installation in Wisconsin.
The installation has provided support and facilities for the field and classroom training of more than 100,000 military personnel from all services nearly every year since 1984.
Learn more about Fort McCoy online at https://home.army.mil/mccoy, on Facebook by searching “ftmccoy,” on Flickr at https://www.flickr.com/photos/fortmccoywi, and on X (formerly Twitter) by searching “usagmccoy.”
Also try downloading the My Army Post app to your smartphone and set “Fort McCoy” or another installation as your preferred base. Fort McCoy is also part of Army’s Installation Management Command where “We Are The Army’s Home.”