Army Reserve Soldiers Train for Large-Scale Combat Operations at Fort McCoy

Approximately 7,000 Soldiers from the Army Reserve are participating in the Combat Support Training Exercise 25, Global Strike, an annual exercise designed to prepare reserve Soldiers for the transforming battlefield of the future. The exercise is being held at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, and focuses on training for large-scale combat operations, incorporating emerging threats seen in the global spectrum. Brig. Gen. Sandra Martin, deputy commander of the 412th Theater Engineer Command, is serving as the senior trainer for the event.

Key Takeaways:

• The Combat Support Training Exercise 25, Global Strike, is an annual exercise designed to prepare Army Reserve Soldiers for large-scale combat operations.
• The exercise incorporates emerging threats seen in the global spectrum, such as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and artificial intelligence (AI).
• Participating units are challenged with innovating defenses against anticipated threats, including UAS and AI.
• The exercise focuses on training for battalion-level and below operations, with a emphasis on speed and mobility on the battlefield.
• Units participating in the exercise include engineer, military police, chemical, aviation, and logistics units.
• Brig. Gen. Sandra Martin emphasized the importance of leaders rehearsing battle drills with their Soldiers, particularly quick movement of command posts and understanding what is necessary and what is not.
• The exercise also includes training in medical readiness and evacuation, facilitated by the Medical Readiness and Training Command.

Statistics:

• Approximately 7,000 Soldiers from the Army Reserve are participating in the exercise.
• 78th Training Division is working closely with Army Reserve units to understand challenges Soldiers would benefit from most.
• 12 months of planning went into preparing for the exercise, with close collaboration between the 412th Theater Engineer Command and the 78th Training Division.
• Units are training in simulations of large-scale combat operations, incorporating UAS and AI threats.