Operation Ready Warrior: After months of virtual drills Army Reserve Soldiers return to Fort McCoy for training

FORT MCCOY, Wis. (WKBT) – Army Reserve Soldiers are getting back to basics.

When the pandemic hit the Army Reserve had to adapt its training to keep soldiers safe.

A lot of their drills were done virtually.

But they finally came together again.

Over the last two weeks, they have been doing rigorous ‘Army Warrior Tasks Training’.

Soldiers have been working in tactical environments and are evaluated on things like moving under direct fire, radio communication, and treating injured civilians.

One lieutenant said this is a much-needed experience.

“Getting to do these types of events, doing the battle rushes, doing the AWT, practicing the medical, it’s all things we need to brush up on as soldiers, and this helps solidify those skills that we tend to get a little rusty on,” said Lt. Erin Nicklaw, 221st Ordnance Company Commander.

Soldiers said it feels good to be back in uniform.

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