NCO Academy students enjoy Fort McCoy training environment

By Scott SturkolJuly 10, 2018

First BLC class graduates under new curriculum at Fort McCoy
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Students at the Fort McCoy Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) Academy participate in a graduation ceremony for the Basic Leadership Course (BLC) on June 22, 2018, at Fort McCoy, Wis. The graduating class was the first to complete a new BLC curriculum that... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
First BLC class graduates under new curriculum at Fort McCoy
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Students at the Fort McCoy Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) Academy march along a roadway during Basic Leadership Course (BLC) operations June 22, 2018, at Fort McCoy, Wis. The graduating class was the first to complete a new BLC curriculum that provide... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Students attending the Fort McCoy Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) Academy's Basic Leadership Course (BLC) said the installation was a great place to train.

Dozens of BLC students graduated June 22 after several weeks of training. For many of them, their view of the NCO Academy complex and the installation is favorable.

"Fort McCoy is a good place ... the NCO Academy facilities are top notch," said Spc. Coady Dalton with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 194th Field Artillery at Camp Dodge, Iowa.

Cpl. Hunter Hermes with Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team at Camp Douglas, Wis., said his experience at the installation was good, too.

"Fort McCoy is excellent," Hermes said. "The facilities here are some of the best. Everything is close together and easy to access."

Hermes also said the NCO Academy has "great instructors" who are "all very helpful and great at teaching."

Many students highlighted in questionnaires that they appreciated Fort McCoy's central location in the state and the Midwest. They also liked how the NCO Academy has everything available within its complex, which includes administrative areas, barracks, classrooms, and even a dining facility.

"The teaching facilities and staff are second to none," said Spc. William Erickson with Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 334th Brigade Support Battalion at Davenport, Iowa. "The classrooms always being open and barracks so close provided students the opportunity to really push themselves and excel in (training)."

Spc. Rebecca Torgrimson with Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 321st Engineer Battalion of Boise, Idaho, liked the areas outside the academy complex, too.

"I think the proximity of the fitness center, the exchange, McCoy's (Community Center), and the dining facility were very convenient to those of us who were without vehicles," Torgrimson said.

"The facilities are top of the line, and everything is centrally located," added Cpl. Brett Kaber with the 1158th Transportation Company of Beloit, Wis.

The NCO Academy was activated at Fort McCoy in 1988. The academy is one of the largest tenant organizations at Fort McCoy providing institutional training with more than 1,800 students attending annually for the Battle Staff Noncommissioned Officer Course and the Basic Leader Course.

The academy's mission is to "train and develop agile and adaptive warrior leaders and Soldiers in full-spectrum operations."

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."