Army Reserve unit trains to rapidly mobilize Soldiers
By Capt. Elizabeth Bloomfield
| 649th Regional Support Group | June 7, 2018
Spc. Raymond Johnson, left, and Spc. Nicholas Filak work on a generator during training with the 758th Ordnance Company at Fort McCoy, Wis. on March 7, 2018. 758th Ordnance Company are at training in preparation to become a Mobilization Support Force. (released/U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Mark McKinley) (Photo by Staff Sgt. Mark McKinley)
Pfc. Hunter Hoffman, center, is assisted after receiving TASER hander certification training with the 102nd Military Police Company at Fort McCoy, Wis. on March 12, 2018. 102nd Military Police Company are at training in preparation to augment the Fort McCoy police upon mobilization of the Mobilization Support Force. (released/U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Mark McKinley) (Photo by Staff Sgt. Mark McKinley)
Spc. Lakila Jackson from the 490th Quartermaster Company assists a soldier receiving her CIF issue during training at Fort McCoy, Wis. on March 9, 2018. 490th Quartermaster Company are at training in preparation to become a Mobilization Support Force. (released/U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. John Carlisle) (Photo by 1st Lt. John Carlisle)
Spc. Joseph Phelps confirms container orientation with the RTCH operator, Spc. Joel Bouchard, prior to the container being loaded onto a vehicle during training at Fort McCoy, Wis. on March 8, 2018. 490th Quartermaster Company are at training in preparation to become a Mobilization Support Force. (released/U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. John Carlisle) (Photo by 1st Lt. John Carlisle)
Spc. Jorden Dehaas from the 1001st Quartermaster Company ground guides a LMTV into the retail fuel point during training at Fort McCoy, Wis., on March 8, 2018. 1001st Quartermaster Company are at training in preparation to become a Mobilization Support Force. (released/U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Mark McKinley) (Photo by Staff Sgt. Mark McKinley)
Soldiers from the 490th Quartermaster Company, from left to right: Sgt. Patrick Oliveri, Spc. Kyle Chase and Spc. Kyle Pridmore assemble rucksacks while Spc.Lorraine Irizarry instructs Spc Emillie Carson on how to assemble the rucksacks behind them at Fort McCoy, Wis. on March 9th 2018. 490th Quartermaster Company are at training in preparation to become a Mobilization Support Force. (released/U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. John Carlisle) (Photo by 1st Lt. John Carlisle)
Spc. Lorraine Irizarry (right) instructs Spc. Emillie Carson (left) from the 490th Quartermaster Company on how to assemble a rucksack in support of CIF operations at Fort McCoy, Wis on March 9, 2018. 490th Quartermaster Company are at training in preparation to become a Mobilization Support Force. (released/U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt John Carlisle) (Photo by 1st Lt. John Carlisle)
Spc. Emillie Carson ground guides as Army Reserve Soldiers with the 948th Transportation Company work to load a container onto a vehicle during training at Fort McCoy, Wis. on March 8, 2018. 948th Transportation Company are at training in preparation to become a Mobilization Support Force. (released/U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Mark McKinley) (Photo by Staff Sgt. Mark McKinley)
Spc. Joseph Young ground guides Spc. Joel Bouchard with the 490th Quartermaster Company work to load a container onto a vehicle during training at Fort McCoy, Wis. on March 8, 2018. 490th Quartermaster Company are at training in preparation to become a Mobilization Support Force. (released/U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Mark McKinley) (Photo by Staff Sgt. Mark McKinley)
Spc. Raymond Johnson, left, and Spc. Nicholas Filak work on a generator during training with the 758th Ordnance Company at Fort McCoy, Wis. on March 7, 2018. 758th Ordnance Company are at training in preparation to become a Mobilization Support Force. (released/U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Mark McKinley) (Photo by Staff Sgt. Mark McKinley)
Staff Sgt. Robert Wolfarth, left, and Spc. Mekesh Murgor take an M-9 ACE (Armored Combat Earthmover) for a test drive after completing repairs during training with the 758th Ordnance Company at Fort McCoy, Wis. on March 13, 2018. 758th Ordnance Company are at training in preparation to become a Mobilization Support Force. (released/U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Mark McKinley) (Photo by Staff Sgt. Mark McKinley)
Pvt. Courtnie Vanderhei from the 102nd Military Police Company took part in Level I Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) training at Fort McCoy, Wis. on March 8, 2018. 102nd MPs are at training in preparation to become a Mobilization Support Force. (released/U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Mark McKinley) (Photo by Staff Sgt. Mark McKinley)
FORT McCOY, Wis. —
The 649th Regional Support Group is one of a few military organizations assigned to be a Mission Support Force. MSFs have a unique and critical role in the current national defense strategy – Focused Ready Units, also known as Ready Force X.
Units that may mobilize out of Fort McCoy are identified as Focused Ready Units, and these units make up more than 40 percent of the Army Reserve. The MSFs as a whole are made up of reserve units from across the United States, and the 649th RSG has been assigned to stand-up the MSF site at Fort McCoy.
The 649th RSG has engaged in a variety of battle drills designed to prepare and exercise the capabilities of the soldiers to prepare for the mission. This type of training is essential to the mobilization process, allowing the Army Reserve to mobilize thousands of soldiers out of Fort McCoy quickly and efficiently.
“I want to provide deploying Soldiers with the most challenging training while providing them the support they need so they are prepared to decisively fight and win America's wars,” said Brig. Gen. Tony Wright. “Our Soldiers will face some challenging combat environments and I believe we owe them our best.” Wright is currently the Deputy Commanding General for the 88th Readiness Division.
The training also focuses on increasing unit readiness to mobilize and deploy forces against a near-peer adversary, a country with the similar military capabilities, to ensure our enduring national security. Properly trained FRU units will lay the foundation in order to achieve that readiness.
Col. Jeffrey Pugh, the 649th RSG Commander, will empower the MSF soldiers to fully and competently support the FRU training. “I am confident the 649th and its subordinate units are mission ready and capable of providing quality readiness support at Fort McCoy if called upon,” expressed Pugh. “This will allow the mobilizing units the maximum time possible to train with the 181st MFTB prior to deploying for contingency operations.”
While at Fort McCoy, FRUs participate in equipping and training initiatives including focused equipment upgrades, and challenging individual and crew training. FRU training is partially focused on reducing the time required during the pre- and post-mobilization process.
Wright echoed those thoughts, saying “the impact for the RSG is that they must adapt and train to become an organization that is ready to conduct a new mission that has not been done in our lifetimes, which is a no notice, or minimal notice mobilization. Col. Pugh and his staff had to develop a plan to train for this non-standard mission.”
Soldiers have been training on multiple Army platforms, and have been able to put the training to good use. This includes a number of basic needs from paperwork to housing the mobilizing soldiers.
Medical services have been provided in a brand new state-of-the-art facility allowing optometry, audiology, labs and immunizations. The new facility has received attention from Lt. Gen. Charles Luckey, commander of the Army Reserve, who visited the troops March 11.
The MSF’s mission could not be successful without the Total Force Training Center at Fort McCoy where soldiers will prepare for their forward combat missions. It is Fort McCoy’s primary responsibility to support the training and readiness of military personnel and units of all branches and components of America’s armed forces.
“I can't say enough about the level of teamwork across the enterprise here at Fort McCoy. I am excited to witness the RSG, Garrison, and 181 come together and attack issues in a unified manner that creates synergy in tackling tough challenges,” expressed Wright. “I believe together we are uniquely prepared to deliver trained and ready units to meet the future needs of the combatant commanders.”
Our national defense requires soldiers to deploy faster than ever. The 649th RSG at Fort McCoy has the support and the training needed to be ready for the MSF mission to rapidly mobilize FRU units to support any threat to our nation’s freedom.