Fort McCoy continues to support diverse military training throughout September 2026
Military aircraft operated over Fort McCoy, Soldiers attended professional military education courses, institutional training organizations continued developing technical and medical skills, and military units conducted weekend readiness activities throughout September 2026, demonstrating the breadth of training supported at the installation.
The month’s activities included additional U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II training, C-130 Hercules aircraft operations, courses conducted through Fort McCoy’s Regional Training Sites (RTS), training at the Fort McCoy Noncommissioned Officer Academy, and recurring training by Army Reserve and National Guard units.
Together, these activities illustrate how Fort McCoy supports different military services, career fields, and levels of readiness at the same time. From individual Soldiers developing technical skills in a classroom to aircrews maintaining proficiency in military aircraft, the installation provides training opportunities designed to prepare service members for future missions.
Aircraft training continues
Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft conducted additional training at Fort McCoy during September, including activity observed Sept. 17. The training followed A-10 operations Aug. 17–21, when A-10C aircraft from the 303rd Fighter Squadron at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., conducted specialized bombing and low-level flight training at the installation.
According to Fort McCoy’s Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security (DPTMS), the August training included missions toward the installation's impact area and provided pilots with opportunities to maintain and sharpen their flying and weapons-delivery skills.
The September activity continued the presence of the A-10 at Fort McCoy, DPTMS officials said.
The A-10, designed primarily to provide close air support to ground forces, benefits from an environment that combines extensive airspace, varied terrain and designated training areas. Fort McCoy's impact area and aviation facilities provide options for training that supports a range of military aviation requirements.
C-130 Hercules aircraft also conducted training at Fort McCoy on multiple days in September, including Sept. 16.
The C-130 is a versatile military transport aircraft used for tactical airlift, personnel and cargo transport, airdrop operations and other missions. Its ability to operate in a variety of environments makes it an important aircraft for supporting military forces.
Fort McCoy has regularly supported C-130 training over the years. The installation’s airspace, training lands and aviation facilities, including Young Air Assault Strip and the Sparta-Fort McCoy Airport, have provided opportunities for aircrews to practice mission-related skills. Previous training at the installation has included airdrop operations and other activities designed to maintain aircrew proficiency.
The September aircraft activity reinforced Fort McCoy’s role in supporting joint-service training, DPTMS officials said. Air Force training takes place alongside Army activities, illustrating how the installation's infrastructure can accommodate different missions and training requirements.
Institutional training builds technical, leadership skills
Aircraft operations represent only one part of Fort McCoy’s training mission. Throughout the year, the installation also supports institutional training through organizations such as Regional Training Site-Maintenance, Regional Training Site-Medical and the Fort McCoy NCO Academy.
These organizations provide structured instruction that develops specific military occupational skills and prepares service members to perform their duties at their home stations and during future assignments.
RTS-Maintenance supports technical training for Soldiers in maintenance and sustainment fields. Its courses help develop the knowledge and practical skills needed to maintain military equipment and support operational readiness.
RTS-Medical provides a training environment for medical personnel to develop and maintain skills needed to support service members in a variety of operational settings. Such training is an important part of ensuring that military medical personnel can perform their duties when called upon.
Fort McCoy’s NCO Academy provides professional military education for enlisted Soldiers, including the Basic Leader Course and the Battle Staff Noncommissioned Officer Course. Through classroom instruction, practical exercises and field-based assessments, Soldiers develop leadership, planning and decision-making skills they can apply when they return to their units. This institutional training complements the field training conducted by operational units. While Soldiers may practice tactical tasks and collective operations during weekend or annual training, formal courses provide dedicated time to develop technical expertise and leadership competencies.
The combination gives service members opportunities to improve individual performance while also strengthening their ability to contribute to larger unit missions.
Weekend training remains an important part of readiness
September also included weekend training by Army Reserve, National Guard, and other military personnel.
Battle assembly training, commonly conducted over weekends, gives reserve-component units opportunities to maintain individual skills, conduct collective training, complete readiness requirements and prepare for future missions.
Depending on the unit and its mission, these activities can include tactical exercises, equipment preparation, communications, medical readiness, sustainment tasks and other military training requirements.
Fort McCoy’s training areas, ranges, facilities and support infrastructure allow units to conduct activities that go beyond what may be available at their home stations. Units can use the installation's resources to practice tasks in a field environment while coordinating the personnel, equipment and logistical support needed to accomplish their objectives.
This recurring training, DPTMS officials noted, is particularly important for Army Reserve and National Guard forces, whose service members balance military responsibilities with civilian employment and other commitments. Scheduled training periods provide opportunities to sustain readiness and strengthen teamwork between drills and longer annual training periods.
Institutional courses and weekend training also serve complementary purposes. Soldiers who complete professional education can bring their knowledge back to their units, while collective training allows leaders and service members to apply that knowledge in practical settings.
A training mission shaped by more than a century of service
The diversity of September’s training activities reflects Fort McCoy’s updated motto for 2026: “Training the Total Force and Shaping the Future since 1909.”
The motto was introduced as part of the installation’s 2026–2030 Five-Year Strategic Business Plan. According to Fort McCoy’s Plans, Analysis, and Integration Office, the wording recognizes the installation's history while emphasizing its continuing role in preparing military forces for future requirements.
The updated motto also reflects a mission that extends beyond supporting any single military service or training event.
Fort McCoy’s mission statement says the installation strengthens Total Force readiness by serving as a training center, Mobilization Force Generation Installation and Strategic Support Area, enabling warfighter lethality to deploy, fight and win the nation’s wars.
That mission encompasses the full range of activities taking place at the installation. Aircrews maintain aviation proficiency, technical schools develop specialized skills, the NCO Academy prepares future enlisted leaders, and operational units use the installation's training areas to improve collective readiness.
Each activity contributes to a broader objective: ensuring service members and units can perform their assigned missions when needed.
The installation's history demonstrates the enduring importance of that role. Established in 1909, Fort McCoy has supported generations of service members from the Army, Army Reserve, Army National Guard, Air Force and other military organizations, as well as government and civilian partners.
In fiscal year 2025, Fort McCoy supported training for 109,962 troops, according to DPTMS Range Officer Brooks Lundeen. That total reflected the installation's support for annual training, weekend battle assemblies, institutional courses and exercises. The fiscal year total provides broader context for the volume and variety of training Fort McCoy supports, although it does not represent a September 2026 count.
September’s combination of aircraft operations, institutional education, and recurring unit training demonstrates how that mission continues in practice. The installation supports both specialized training requirements and the everyday work of maintaining military readiness.
As Fort McCoy moves forward under its updated motto, its ability to support different services, organizations and training requirements remains central to preparing the Total Force for future missions.
Located in the heart of the upper Midwest, Fort McCoy is the only U.S. Army installation in Wisconsin. For more information, visit https://home.army.mil/mccoy or the Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office page on DVIDS at https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/FMPAO.
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