Mission Transition

Fort McCoy began existence in the days of horse-drawn caissons. Located on 60,000 acres between Sparta and Tomah, Wisconsin, it was founded in 1909 as Sparta Maneuver Tract, on 14,000 acres, with two camps – Camp Emory Upton and Camp Robinson.

In 1910, it was renamed Camp Bruce Elias McCoy, for a Civil War captain, who was the father of Maj. Gen. Robert Bruce McCoy, whose own 31-year career had included duty in the Spanish-American War, the police action in Mexico, and World War I. It had been the idea of the latter gentleman to create an artillery range on the original site and he had purchased and accumulated land for that purpose. In November of 1926, it was officially designated as simply Camp McCoy, in honor of Maj. Gen. Robert B. McCoy, who passed away in January of that year.

Over the years the primary use of this reservation came to be as a training center. However, it was to serve many other purposes including a supply base for the Civilian Conservation Corps, the holding of the Second Army Maneuvers in 1940, a holding facility for Japanese, German, and Korean Prisoners of War, housing of Japanese-Americans sent from the West Coast during WWII, a Limited Service School established to train physically disabled Soldiers in several specialist fields, a Reception and Separation Center for Soldiers returning from overseas, and a Job Corps Training Center.

Today Fort McCoy serves as a Total Force Training Center, with some 100,000 military members trained there each year. More than 71,000 military personnel from 47 states and two territories have been mobilized and demobilized at Fort McCoy since September 11, 2001.

Most Transitioners Here Are the Reserve Component Demobilizing

“Fort McCoy is a Reserve Component Training Installation.” says Denna (pronounced Deena) Linder, ACAP Transition/Career Counselor. “There are a few hundred Active Component and AGR’s assigned to this installation. The Fort McCoy Retirement Services Office (RSO) works with ACAP and the Department of Labor to provide transitioning services.

Mr. Ken Quade is responsible for registering all participants in TAP, including the retirees.

“Retirement Services Officer Mr. Bill Walters presents quarterly Retirement Briefing and I provide the pre-separation briefing. We have it four times a year here. Generally, about 40 people will attend the four day workshop, with about 80 percent of the participants retiring. The Retirement Briefing is held on Monday. The Department of the Army ACAP active component pre-separation briefing is held from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday. The TAP workshop follows and ends on Thursday. The Department of Labor managed the TAP program.”

“I do the Survivor Benefits thing and the Benefits things,” says Mr. Walters.”Then I have subject matter experts come in from the VA and Tri-Care, and some others. For the most part, I am dealing with the people who are approaching retirement or their spouses. If they so choose, they may take the pre-retirement part in one quarter and the ACAP and TAP in another quarter.”

Mrs. Linder says, “Ninety percent of my workload is giving the Manual briefing to the Reserve Component that’s demobilizing, which could be as many as 12,000 a year. But, as far as TAP and ACAP is concerned, we offer direct services for career counseling, employment assistance, mock interviews, etc. ACAP works hand in glove with the Department of Labor.

She speaks highly of Joe Naylor, the Department of Labor workshop facilitator, a member of the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program, (DVOP), who has been permanently assigned to Fort McCoy, She says that representatives from the Small Business Administration attend along with the other service providers to include local hiring managers that provide information about the selection process. However, no job fairs are held on the base due to the nature of the installation.

In dealing with people who may be retiring following a long career in the service, Mrs. Linder has a particular attitude toward helping them find what they want to experience in the civilian world. “I truly listen and guide them through the various resources they have so they can successfully transition from the military,” she explains.

Fort McCoy is Total Force Training Center By Shirley Lee
	Fort McCoy began existence in the days of horse-drawn caissons. Located on 60,000 acres between Sparta and Tomah, Wisconsin, it was founded in 1909 as Sparta Maneuver Tract, on 14,000 acres, with two camps – Camp Emory Upton and Camp Robinson. In 1910, it was renamed Camp Bruce Elias McCoy, for a Civil War captain, who was the father of Maj. Gen. Robert Bruce McCoy, whose own 31-year career had included duty in the Spanish-American War, the police action in Mexico, and World War I. It had been the idea of the latter gentleman to create an artillery range on the original site and he had purchased and accumulated land for that purpose. In November of 1926, it was officially designated as simply Camp McCoy, in honor of Maj. Gen. Robert B. McCoy, who passed away in January of that year. Over the years the primary use of this reservation came to be as a training center. However, it was to serve many other purposes including a supply base for the Civilian Conservation Corps, the holding of the Second Army Maneuvers in 1940, a holding facility for Japanese, German, and Korean Prisoners of War, housing of Japanese-Americans sent from the West Coast during WWII, a Limited Service School established to train physically disabled Soldiers in several specialist fields, a Reception and Separation Center for Soldiers returning from overseas, and a Job Corps Training Center. Today Fort McCoy serves as a Total Force Training Center, with some 100,000 military members trained there each year. More than 71,000 military personnel from 47 states and two territories have been mobilized and demobilized at Fort McCoy since September 11, 2001. Most Transitioners Here Are the Reserve Component Demobilizing “Fort McCoy is a Reserve Component Training Installation.” says Denna (pronounced Deena) Linder, ACAP Transition/Career Counselor. “There are a few hundred Active Component and AGR’s assigned to this installation. The Fort McCoy Retirement Services Office (RSO) works with ACAP and the Department of Labor to provide transitioning services. Mr. Ken Quade is responsible for registering all participants in TAP, including the retirees. “Retirement Services Officer Mr. Bill Walters presents quarterly Retirement Briefing and I provide the pre-separation briefing. We have it four times a year here. Generally, about 40 people will attend the four day workshop, with about 80 percent of the participants retiring. The Retirement Briefing is held on Monday. The Department of the Army ACAP active component pre-separation briefing is held from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday. The TAP workshop follows and ends on Thursday. The Department of Labor managed the TAP program.” “I do the Survivor Benefits thing and the Benefits things,” says Mr. Walters.”Then I have subject matter experts come in from the VA and Tri-Care, and some others. For the most part, I am dealing with the people who are approaching retirement or their spouses. If they so choose, they may take the pre-retirement part in one quarter and the ACAP and TAP in another quarter.” Mrs. Linder says, “Ninety percent of my workload is giving the Manual briefing to the Reserve Component that’s demobilizing, which could be as many as 12,000 a year. But, as far as TAP and ACAP is concerned, we offer direct services for career counseling, employment assistance, mock interviews, etc. ACAP works hand in glove with the Department of Labor. She speaks highly of Joe Naylor, the Department of Labor workshop facilitator, a member of the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program, (DVOP), who has been permanently assigned to Fort McCoy, She says that representatives from the Small Business Administration attend along with the other service providers to include local hiring managers that provide information about the selection process. However, no job fairs are held on the base due to the nature of the installation. In dealing with people who may be retiring following a long career in the service, Mrs. Linder has a particular attitude toward helping them find what they want to experience in the civilian world. “I truly listen and guide them through the various resources they have so they can successfully transition from the military,” she explains.