Fort McCoy Cold-Weather Operations Course students hold tent-building scenario, Part II

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Video by Scott Sturkol

Fort McCoy Cold-Weather Operations Course students hold tent-building scenario, Part II

Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office

Dec. 16, 2019 | 3:36

Students in the Cold-Weather Operations Course (CWOC) Class 20-01, who include Soldiers and Marines, are shown completing preparatory work to erect a cold-weather tent Dec. 16, 2019, on South Post at Fort McCoy, Wis. The scenario involves one of their squad members falling through ice (cold-water immersion practice), and the squad then has to get their teammate warmed up immediately. They do this through drying the person as quickly as possible and wrapping in warm covers in the ahkio sled, then erecting the tent as quickly as possible and placing in the stove to get heat going to help the victim. Typically the squads were completing this scenario in under 8 minutes. 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.