Photo Essay: Cold-Weather Operations Course Class 20-02 completes snowshoe, ahkio-sled-use training at Fort McCoy

Photo By Scott Sturkol | Students in Cold-Weather Operations Course (CWOC) Class 20-02 move through the snow and terrain on snowshoes during training Jan. 9, 2020, on the cantonment area at Fort McCoy, Wis. 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, WISCONSIN, UNITED STATES

01.29.2020

Story by Scott Sturkol                                                                                               

Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office           

Students in Cold-Weather Operations Course (CWOC) Class 20-02 move through the snow and terrain on snowshoes during training Jan. 9, 2020, on the cantonment area at Fort McCoy, Wis.

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.

In a cold-weather, snow-filled environment, having snowshoes and the skill to use them is essential, course requirements show.

And nearly every day in the field, CWOC students are using snowshoes or skis. The snowshoes used by students are about 20 inches long, and they are the same snowshoes used at the Northern Warfare Training Center in Alaska.

Overall, students spend 20-30 hours training on snowshoes and using them in the field, said CWOC Instructor Hunter Heard.

The training is coordinated through the Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security at Fort McCoy.

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 each year since 1984.

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

• Date Taken: 01.29.2020
• Date Posted: 01.29.2020 08:57
• Story ID: 360778
• Location: FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, US