Fort McCoy  In-depth Overview

FORT MCCOY:

MISSION:

 Strengthen Total Force Readiness by serving as a Training Center, Mobilization Force Generation Installation, and Strategic Support Area.

VISION:

To be the Strategic Support Area of Choice for Training America's Armed Forces.  

MOTTO:

Total Force Training Center

Fort McCoy is known as the Total Force Training Center because this installation supports the training and mobilization of reserve and active component military personnel from all branches of America's armed forces. 

Fort McCoy has become the training site of choice for satisfying both individual and collective training requirements.

The Installation's varied terrain, state-of-the-art ranges, new as well as renovated facilities, and extensive support infrastructure, combine to afford our military personnel with an excellent environment in which to develop and sustain the skills necessary for their mission success.

Fort McCoy is named for Robert Bruce McCoy.

The son of a Civil War captain, McCoy was a prominent local resident who, throughout his lifetime, served as a lawyer; district attorney; county judge; and mayor of Sparta, Wis.

He reached the rank of major general during his 31 years of distinguished military service, which included service in the Spanish-American War, the police action in Mexico, and World War I.

McCoy returned from the Spanish-American War with a dream. He knew that as warfare became increasingly more modern, larger and more powerful guns would be developed, and training would be emphasized. He envisioned these changes would require larger training areas, and, by 1905, he had acquired approximately 4,000 acres of land in the Sparta area.

Maj. Samuel Allen of the 7th Field Artillery at Fort Snelling, Minn., also admired the terrain of the Sparta area for its training value. McCoy invited Allen's unit to put his Family's ranch to the test during 16 days of training. September 1905 marked the first use of the land for military purposes.

As a result of the 16-day test, Allen recommended to an Army review board that a large piece of land be purchased for an artillery camp. Approximately 14,000 acres of land, including McCoy's property, were purchased in 1909. The resulting parcel was called the Sparta Maneuver Tract.

The Sparta Maneuver Tract was divided approximately in half by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. The maneuver camp situated on the northern half of the parcel was referred to as Camp Emory Upton, while that to the south was known as Camp Robinson, an artillery camp.

In 1910, the War Department authorized $40,000 for construction and improvements to the area. The camp officially was designated Camp McCoy on Nov. 19, 1926, in honor of Maj. Gen. Robert B. McCoy, who had died that same year.

More than 45,000 acres were added between 1938 and 1942. Unlike any other acquisition of sub-marginal farm land by the federal government, the Camp McCoy project envisioned the use of the land for military purposes as well as fishing, hunting and forest production.

In February 1942, the War Department announced the building of a cantonment area referred to as the “New Camp,” which still serves as the installation’s cantonment area today. These additions included construction of the large, triangular-shaped cantonment area, known as the “triad.”

Camp McCoy was used as a training facility for many World War II units, including the 2nd Infantry Division; the 76th Infantry Division; and the 100th Infantry Battalion, which comprised Hawaii National Guardsmen of Japanese ancestry and was among the most decorated units in history. The post also served as a prisoner-of-war and enemy-alien prison camp during this time.

Aside from temporary lulls, the installation has been in almost constant use since its founding in 1909 and has provided artillery and maneuver training opportunities for millions of military personnel from all services.

Camp McCoy was aligned under U.S. Army Forces Command on July 1, 1973, and officially was re-designated as Fort McCoy on Sept. 30, 1974. In 1990-91, during Operations Desert Shield/Storm, Soldiers from 74 separate units and their equipment were deployed and redeployed at Fort McCoy.

From June 1991 through June 1992, the post also completed Operation Desert Fix, which was one of the largest reserve-component equipment demobilization/repair missions in the Army. During Desert Fix, Fort McCoy was responsible for inventorying, inspecting, repairing, and returning more than a division-and-a-half's worth of equipment to 121 owning units located throughout a nine-state area.

The 1990s ushered in the first great construction growth experienced at the post since the construction of the cantonment area in 1942.

From 1990 to the present day, new construction projects have served to modernize the post's infrastructure, facilities, and training areas. The hundreds of millions of dollars invested in the post have benefited Fort McCoy as well the local economy, with the majority of the new construction contracts having been awarded to regional firms.

The installation has provided support and facilities for the training of more than 100,000 personnel annually since 1984.

Fort McCoy was realigned under what is now known as the Installation Management Command (IMCOM) in 2002. On March 8, 2019, Installation Management Command became a subordinate command to Army Materiel Command, which Fort McCoy is also now aligned under through IMCOM.

Today, Fort McCoy’s primary mission is to support the readiness of the force by serving as a training center, mobilization force generation installation, and strategic support area. The installation has served in a continuing capacity as an Army power-projection site by processing and preparing military personnel for duty in overseas contingency operations.

The installation has served in a continuing capacity as an Army power-projection site by processing and preparing military personnel for duty in overseas contingency operations.

From Sept. 11, 2001, through Dec. 30, 2011, 140,197 military personnel from 2,416 units mobilized or demobilized at Fort McCoy during the installation's efforts to support the war on terrorism.

In September 2014, the movie "Fort McCoy" was released. "Fort McCoy" is a drama written, co-produced, and co-directed by Kate Connor, who also stars in the film, playing her real-life grandmother. The film, based on a true story, is set in the summer of 1944, with Connor sharing the experience of her mother's family with the U.S. Army and prisoner-of-war camp situated at the Wisconsin post.

In August 2021 to February 2022, Fort McCoy hosted more than 13,000 Afghan Refugees during Operation Allied Warrior.  

Today, the post provides full-scale support to its customers at each juncture of its training triad — transient, institutional, and exercise. Fort McCoy training levels reached an all-time record in fiscal year 2017 with 155,975 personnel participating in training.

1. 592 Active Duty Army Military, 1,076 other Military Service Members; 1,860 Students; 373 Family Members of Active Duty; 125,283 Military Retirees; Unknown - Family Members of Retirees; 2,587 Army Civilian Employees; 714 Other DOD Civilians employees; 429 Contractors; Unknown - Reserve Component; 2,563 Family Members of Reserve Components; Unknown -National Guard, Unknown - Family members of National Guard; Total population is 131,464 as of 31 May 2022.

The estimated population of Monroe County is 46,274 as of the 2020 Census.

1. Fort McCoy ACS provides support and services to a population of 592 Active Duty Army Military, 1,076 other Military Service Members; 1,860 Students; 373 Family Members of Active Duty; 125,283 Military Retirees; Unknown - Family Members of Retirees; 2,587 Army Civilian Employees; 714 Other DOD Civilians employees; 429 Contractors; Unknown - Reserve Component; 2,563 Family Members of Reserve Components; Unknown -National Guard, Unknown - Family members of National Guard; Total population is 131,464 as of 31 May 2022.

Fort McCoy is situated on approximately 60,000 acres in the Coulee Region of West Central Wisconsin. It is located on Hwy 21 between Sparta, known as the "Bicycling Capital of America" and Tomah, the "Gateway to Cranberry Country," marked by more than 2,500 acres of cranberry marshes dotting the region. Sparta (pop. 9,717) and Tomah (pop. 9383) are each about eight miles from the installation. Fort McCoy is approximately 35 miles east of La Crosse and 105 miles northwest of Madison and is located in a low to moderate income area. The base operator's phone number is 608-388-2222 or DSN 312-280-1110.

To Fort McCoy via Shuttle from Airport

If you are flying into the La Crosse airport, the Fort McCoy shuttle bus will pick up those who are here on official business by calling 608-388-3616. There is information available in the airport lobby. Pickups are regularly scheduled 7 days a week from noon until the last flight arrives.

Driving from the West

If you are approaching Fort McCoy from the West, take Interstate 90 East to Sparta, Exit 25. Go North on Hwy 27 to Montgomery Street (high school is on the corner on left side). Turn right and go to Rusk Street (2nd stop sign). Turn left onto Hwy 21 and proceed approximately 8 miles to Fort McCoy.

Driving from the East

If you are coming from the East, take Interstate 94 West. Exit to State Hwy 21 at Tomah and turn left. Proceed West on Hwy 21 for about 8 miles to Fort McCoy.

The nearest commercial airport to Fort McCoy is La Crosse Municipal Airport, located 35 miles west of the installation in La Crosse WI. A courtesy phone to arrange pickup for individuals traveling on official orders is located in the airport lobby. Rental cars are available at the airport. Other commercial airports in the region include Madison WI or Rochester MN, 110 miles; Minneapolis/St Paul MN, 180 miles; Milwaukee WI 185 miles; and Chicago O'Hare in IL, 240 miles. The TMP does not provide transportation to or from these airports.

608-388-2222 or DSN 312-280-1110.  The system is automated and does not have a live operator.  If you have difficulties, contact Army Community Service at 608-388-3505 for information and referral assistance.