Category Archives: The Army

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Part 3: Got Shock? How to Train your Brigade for Lethality and Winning in Large Scale Combat Operations

A Guest Post By COL Michael Schoenfeldt (@IRONHORSE6_) and MAJ Patrick Stallings (@DustyStetson9

This is Part 3 of an 8 Part Series. The full and unredacted article with all enclosures is available on Milsuite at https://www.milsuite.mil/book/groups/abct-training

Crew Gunnery: Setting the Foundation for Lethality

The brigade must establish and enforce the ABCT’s gunline. An ABCT consumes tremendous resources on an installation, and crew gunnery is an opportunity to train multiple echelons. The brigade is the headquarters that synchronizes and resources the gunnery and assists battalions in maximizing the multi-echelon training opportunities. While crew gunnery is a brigade training event, individual companies run each range and battalions support the training. The brigade master gunner should draft the gunline, develop the shot sheets, and coordinate for Vehicle Crew Evaluators (VCEs) to evaluate crews outside each battalion during crew Gunnery Table VI (GT VI). The division headquarters must shift red cycle and installation support requirements away from the brigade executing crew gunnery months for it to be a successful training event. Because an ABCT requires so many ranges over a block of time, smaller units on the installation must make the space for the ABCT to train.

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Part 2: Got Shock? How to Train your Brigade for Lethality and Winning in Large Scale Combat Operations

A Guest Post By COL Michael Schoenfeldt (@IRONHORSE6_) and MAJ Patrick Stallings (@DustyStetson95)

This is Part 2 of an 8 Part Series. The full and unredacted article with all enclosures is available on Milsuite at https://www.milsuite.mil/book/groups/abct-training

Operationalized Multi-Echelon Training

Time is a finite resource and units cannot simply add requirements to training calendars that are already overloaded. Increasing lethality and the ability of ABCTs to synchronize all WfFs requires multi-echelon training with clearly defined objectives and outcomes. During a properly designed company live-fire certification, an infantry company—the primary training audience— will train on all of its assigned METs. Additionally, that training event provides an opportunity for the parent battalion to establish its own Main Command Post (CP), Tactical Command Post (TAC), Combat Trains Command Post (CTCP), and Field Trains Command Post (FTCP) while validating current operations functions at each node. The company has an opportunity to deploy its CP and company trains. By evaluating the infantry company on its performance while receiving a Logistics Package (LOGPAC) at a Logistics Release Point (LRP) during a service station resupply, the distribution platoon and Forward Support Company (FSC) for the battalion can demonstrate proper tactics and validate their SOPs. The brigade trains the Brigade Aviation Element (BAE) and Fire Support Element (FSE) on managing airspace and de-conflicting fires by incorporating lift aviation, attack aviation, artillery, mortars, Shadow Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), and Raven UAS into the company live fire. Sappers from the Brigade Engineer Battalion (BEB) participate and integrate into the company by conducting a combined arms breach. By executing all of these events at the same time, the ABCT builds readiness and lethality across multiple echelons in one training event.

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Part 1: Got Shock? How to Train your Brigade for Lethality and Winning in Large Scale Combat Operations

A Guest Post by COL Michael Schoenfeldt (@IRONHORSE6_) and MAJ Patrick Stallings (@DustyStetson95)

This is Part 1 of an 8 Part Series. The full and unredacted paper with all enclosures is available on Milsuite at https://www.milsuite.mil/book/groups/abct-training

Preface

Cavalry – The cavalry soldier must consider his horse as a part of himself, and the perfect management of the horse cannot be learned either in schools or in a few weeks of practice. If daily exercises are dispensed with, both horse and man return to their natural state, and such mounted men cease to be efficient… Cavalry is indispensable in time of war. It will always take a leading part in pursuing a retreating enemy; it is the proper arm of ordinary reconnaissances; it will always serve as eclaireurs, and as escorts, and should, in the present state of war, carry carbines and be prepared for service on foot. It is weakened and destroyed in a country without forage. Its first cost, its constant maintenance, the defects of its employment, and the system of providing horses make it expensive; but it ought nevertheless to be maintained in a complete state, for its art can only be exercised by men and horses that are properly instructed.

Cavalry Tactics – The individual instruction of men and horses should be regarded as the most important point of the whole system, and should be as simple as possible; the man should be taught to manage his horse with ease and address over all kinds of ground and at all gaits, to swim rivers, to go through certain gymnastic exercise – such as vaulting, cutting heads, to fence, to fire very frequently at a mark, and to handle his weapon with accuracy and effect at all gaits, and in all situations… Insist upon the sabre being kept sharp in the field, provide the men the means of doing so, and lay it down that the strength of the cavalry is in the “spurs and sabre.”

From Military Dictionary: Comprising Technical Definitions; Information on Raising and Keeping Troops; Actual Service; and Law, Government Regulation, and Administration Relating to Land Forces,

by Colonel H.L. Scott, USA, 1861.

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Organizational Goals for NTC – From a Former Battalion XO

A Guest Post by MAJ Kevin Krupski

I forget what time it was, but it was dark, and we had finally gotten the semblance of a TOC established “in the box” after a long day leaving the RUBA. I was trying to account for the trail of equipment scattered along the route when the wind picked up – somehow the Ops Group was able to conjure up a dust storm just in time for our push through the “whale’s gap.”  I could not help thinking to myself that this was just the beginning.

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Tips for Navigating the AIM Marketplace

A Guest Post by LTC Trey Guy

The relationships between field grade leaders at the battalion level can make or break the ability of a unit to perform in combat. Those who are preparing to take command at the battalion and brigade level owe it to their soldiers to ensure the best possible command climate. With the opening of the AIM Marketplace for the 21-02 movers just a few days ago I thought it might be useful to share my experience. First off, I am not a branch manager nor have I ever worked at HRC and I do not have the information or experience that those professionals have. I am, however, a CSL select Air Defense Officer, slated to take command in the summer of FY21 (21-02 YMAV cycle). Over the last few weeks, the current battalion commander of the unit I will command was gracious enough to allow me to have a large amount of input into who the unit preferences in the AIM Marketplace.

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ACFT Prep 3.0/4.0

A Guest Post by Ed Arnston

Now that the ACFT is our official fitness assessment of record, I’ve written – and tested – two additional programs that will help you and your Soldiers prepare for the test.

As I have continually reminded my Soldiers – performing well on the ACFT is important, but the training we conduct to prepare for the ACFT is more important. Soldiers are consistently training lower body strength, core, and work capacity much more often since the ACFT has been introduced. This is excellent and will lead to stronger, more fit Soldiers on the battlefield.

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Training the Platoon Fundamentals: Lessons Learned from a Combined Arms Battalion Training Exercise

A Guest Post by Ethan Olberding, Ryan Feeney, Jonathan Punio, and Graham Foresman

How do you define platoon “fundamentals?”  Some would answer that with shoot, move, communicate, sustain, etc.  One could not argue with those points, but we must specifically define fundamentals so that our platoon leaders can focus precious time and understand expectations.  Sometimes fundamentals are the product of a simple face-to-face discussion between Commanders and their subordinates, which starts with “I expect that you can perform the following….”  Once defined, we have to ask, how do you train the fundamentals?

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The Trooper

A Guest Post by LTC Rich Groen

While attending the Pre-Command Course (PCC) at Fort Leavenworth, I pondered ideas of grandeur. I was about to take the reins of one of the most storied Cavalry Squadrons in the United States Army. In true pompous fashion, I wrote out my vision or keys to success:

  1. Be a positively intrusive leader that inserts yourself at the point of friction.
  2. Operationalize everything to ensure synchronization.
  3. Win!

It seemed simple enough, but I was quick to learn that to be a successful leader I needed to do more than just publish words. Humility and teamwork are the keys to successful command. Reflecting over the past 16 months, I’ve learned that I cannot do it all and that you cannot achieve your vision without partnerships that exist within and outside of your organization.

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Major Hog Molly

Meet Your New S3

The author lined up as an offensive lineman for the Army Black Knights.

For as long as I can remember, I have been absolutely infatuated with playing football.  I tended towards the larger end of the weight spectrum as a youth, thus I was one of the chosen few whom the coach put on the offensive line.  My life as a “Hog Molly” had begun, and I never looked back.  Like most young kids, I dreamt of playing professional sports.  Well, I got recruited during high school and chose to play football at Army.  As luck would have it, I had a solid career at Army and signed a contract with the Green Bay Packers.  My pro career was short-lived.  So short-lived in fact, that the previous sentence is longer than my time with the Packers.  But, I’m a born and bred Wisconsinite.  I played on the same field as Brett Favre and got to snap the ball to Aaron Rodgers.  Being a Packer was a literal dream come true.  I achieved a lifelong goal, learned a lot about football, and even more about life.

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Field Grade Love Languages

Utilizing the Long Range Calendar

During the 2018 graduation week series, I offered that “elite field grade officers know how to plot and manage a Long-Range Calendar (LRC) with high fidelity, even when the entire enterprise above them conspires against them.” This article describes in detail the seven rules of thumb for successful LRC management that I outlined in 2018.