Cold-weather training for 2017-18 stated a 'phenomenal' success at Fort McCoy

From December through March, Bill Hamilton and his team of instructors with the Fort McCoy Cold-Weather Operations Course held six, 12-day sessions of the course in which hundreds of students were trained.

More than 230 students graduated from the course during the 2017-18 CWOC season, Hamilton said. Overall, more than 400 service members - including Marines, Sailors, and Soldiers - received some type of cold-weather operations training from the staff.

"The season I would say was a phenomenal success," said Hamilton, who works for contractor Veterans Range Solutions, which supports the Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security, or DPTMS. "Even though we didn't train as many students as we originally planned, it was still nearly quadruple the amount of students we trained the previous season. That's a significant increase in students, and the feedback we received from those students showed we were doing something right."

The CWOC is modeled after the Cold-Weather Leader Course taught by the Army Northern Warfare Training Center (NWTC) at Black Rapids, Alaska, Hamilton said. And even though it's modeled after the NWTC training, it is very much a Fort McCoy course.

"In our training, we use all of the installation," Hamilton said. "Using ahkio sleds and hauling all of their equipment, students traversed through dozens of miles of terrain starting on North Post and ending at Big Sandy Lake on South Post. Additionally, our program of instruction is nearly identical to that at NWTC with the exception that we don't teach certain skills, such as mountaineering and related topics that are better served in mountainous areas."

During training, students learned about a wide range 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.

"Our training also focused 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," said Instructor Joe Ernst.

Hamilton said there were times where he would have liked to see more snow and cold weather.

"But in each class session, we were able to teach the skills we needed to teach and Mother Nature seemed to cooperate at times we needed her to," Hamilton said. "I think each student was able to effectively experience the challenges we put them through."

After each class session, students provided feedback to help make the course better for the next class. Hamilton indicated that many students wanted to see more challenges in an already tough course.

"Going into next year, we are looking at expanding the course by another two days based on the feedback we received from students," Hamilton said. "This will make the course even tougher and more challenging. Each student who participates in the future will be tested to their limits."

Hamilton added the successful season wouldn't have been possible without his instructor team. In addition to himself and Ernst, the team comprises Hunter Heard, Manny Ortiz, and Mike Nguyen.

"This is a great team - these people are definitely the experts," Hamilton said. "I think we have the right mix of people doing this training. They proved it day after day during training."

Staff Sgt. Joshua Carlisle, a student in CWOC Class 18-05 from B Company, 1st Battalion, 128th Infantry at Rice Lake, Wis., was like many of the CWOC students who said the course not only challenged them, but also helped them grow their cold-weather survival skills.

"The course gives you the instruction to perform and function in the cold weather and then you have to go out and implement the training that was provided," Carlisle said. "It's a course ... that forces you to solve issues.

"Also, Fort McCoy has the right training areas for this type of training with enough maneuver (space) so it feels like you're isolated when you're out in the woods," Carlisle said.

CWOC classes resume again in December, Hamilton said, and they expect to have an average of 50 students per class.

"We're looking to make the training even better through learning more about how others teach similar training throughout the world," Hamilton said. "We want our students to leave here with the best training experience possible."

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."