RTS-Maintenance At Fort McCoy Looking At Busy Training Schedule During Fiscal year 2020, Commandant Says

FORT MCCOY, WI, UNITED STATES

Story by Scott Sturkol

Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office

During the first quarter of fiscal year 2020, Regional Training Site (RTS)-Maintenance will be completing eight courses of training, said Maj. Anthony Strong, the unit’s commandant.

“It’s going to be a busy year for sure, but we’re ready for it,” Strong said.

RTS-Maintenance at Fort McCoy trains Soldiers in the Army’s 91-series military occupational specialty (MOS) and as of Oct. 1, is administratively supporting the training of Soldiers in the 89B MOS. The unit aligns under the 3rd Brigade (Ordnance), 94th Division of the 80th Training Command.

“We are the largest RTS-Maintenance of the four that are in the Army Reserve,” Strong said. “I think we are also structured to compete with the largest in the National Guard, too.

“I think we put on world-class training for every ordnance Soldier who comes through the door here, whether they are from the Army Reserve, National Guard, or the active component.”

Some of the RTS-Maintenance Courses include the Career Management Field 91/94 Ordnance Senior Leader and Advanced Leader Courses, Tracked Vehicle Recovery Course, Wheeled Vehicle Recovery Course, 91L10 Construction Equipment Maintenance Repairer Course, and more. The unit is centrally located in the cantonment area with an entire complex to hold training.

“We know we have great training because we get top-notch feedback from our end-of-course critiques,” Strong said. “The training that we put these Soldiers through is superb.”

Strong also said Fort McCoy is a great place for all the training because of what the installation offers and how well their schoolhouse is supported by post personnel.

“I think anything that we have ever asked for from Fort McCoy to accommodate us, they have been there for us,” Strong said.

The post’s four-season climate also assists in providing better training, he said.

“We have students who come from all over to train here, and you never know what kind of weather you might see here,” Strong said. “That helps our students be prepared for any kind of environment.”

Earlier in 2019, Sgt. Garrett Maxwell with Detachment 1, Company E, 40th Brigade Support Battalion of San Diego, Calif., attended the 91L10 Construction Equipment Maintenance Repairer Course. He said the training helped him build better skills.

“I have grown significantly as both a noncommissioned officer and as a mechanic,” Maxwell said of his time training at RTS-Maintenance. “The hands-on experience (I received) will prove to be invaluable.”

After the first quarter’s courses are completed, Strong said his staff will have a small break between courses for the holidays. Then in January during the second quarter of fiscal year 2020, he said, his team will begin another full round of courses.

“Our training seems to be growing by about 10 percent or more each year,” Strong said. “That growth is proof of how well we continue to train Soldiers.”

As training continues, Strong said RTS-Maintenance staff appreciates all the support from the Fort McCoy Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Wisconsin Military Academy, Fort McCoy Garrison, Logistics Readiness Center, and others.

RTS-Maintenance at Fort McCoy trains Soldiers in both active and reserve components of the Army.

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.