FT. MCCOY, Wis — Security forces airmen from the 164th Airlift Wing and 118th Wing recently completed 14 days of training that included improvised shelter building, skiing, snowshoeing, and more in Fort McCoy Cold-Weather Operations Course (CWOC). This was the very first time Air Force Airmen have attended and completed this course.
“The 164th and 118th Security Forces Squadrons were honored to have been the first Airmen to complete the CWOC,” said Chief Master Sgt. Anthony Harvey, Security Forces Manager. “I believe that courses like CWOC are vital to the Adaptive Operations concept and the Air Force’s ability interoperate with our joint partners.“
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.
“I found that understanding the capabilities and proper wear of the Extended Cold Weather Clothing System to be most beneficial,” said Harvey. “If someone would have told me that I would be fine operating in 7 degree weather with just a level I base and Level IV outer shell I wouldn’t have believed them; however, I often found that basic layers were more than adequate when conducting field movements through Ft. McCoy in those temperatures.”
