This is Part 8 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

Brigade FTX

After completing platoon LFX, battalion STX, and CALFEX, the BCT should identify any outstanding requirements to prepare for their brigade FTX as their final collective training opportunity before deployment to the National Training Center. Individual qualification ranges or secondary crew gunnery may be necessary before or immediately following the brigade FTX, but the brigade will also need a significant amount of time for recovery, unscheduled maintenance, and services after the crucible of training they just completed. The overall planning of a brigade FTX is the responsibility of the division, but the BCT has significant responsibilities in proposing and refining training objectives, integrating external enablers, and meeting preliminary requirements. The division will serve as the HICOM and EXCON for both the brigade and the OPFOR, has responsibility for sourcing and training OCs, and is responsible for spectrum management, approving training objectives, requesting training areas and resources, and the budget. The brigade must assist in the development of the simulations and communications architecture and must request Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES) and Home station Instrumentation Training System (HITS) for all personnel and equipment, so direct and indirect fire systems register effects during the training.

This is Part 7 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

Company STX and CALFEX

Upon completion of the gap crossing and battalion STX, one company from the battalion proceeds immediately to the CALFEX while the other companies proceed to STX. The battalion establishes its CTCP, MCP, FTCP, and Main CP in their TAA. The FLE or BSA remains established throughout the execution of CALFEX to support units as they train. The battalion retains control of its companies executing company STX. The battalion has responsibility for planning, resourcing, and executing the company STX. The battalion should adopt a similar model as they did for platoon STX, including training on company mounted and dismounted maneuver, changing movement techniques, changing movement formations, movement to contact, attack, hasty defense, breaching, and battle handoff. Cavalry troops should train zone reconnaissance, screen, and reconnaissance handoff.

This is Part 6 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

Gap Crossing (Battalion STX); setting the stage for CALFEX

After completing platoon LFX, the battalion redeploys to their motor pools and conducts an abbreviated recovery. After a few days, the battalion prepares to deploy to the Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise (CALFEX). This brief recovery period allows all battalions to refit personnel, clean equipment, and conduct unscheduled maintenance. The battalion motor pool serves as the Division Support Activity (DSA), and the battalion receives an OPORD tasking them to deploy to a Tactical Assembly Area (TAA) to defend Atropia from invading Donovian forces. This deployment operation serves as a battalion STX lane, providing the battalion an opportunity to exercise tactical control of multiple companies, assign tasks and purposes to different C2 nodes, and integrate attachments. This battalion STX also prepares the battalion to conduct Reception, Staging, Onward movement, and Integration (RSOI) in a theater of war.

This is Part 5 of an 8 Part Series. The full and unredacted article and all enclosures are available on Milsuite at https://www.milsuite.mil/book/groups/abct-training

Platoon Training, Battalion STX, and CALFEX: Maximizing Combined Arms Lethality

The decisive point of the ABCT’s training progression is building lethal companies and platoons which occurs during platoon LFXs and the CALFEX. Much like crew gunnery, these training events involve the integration of all C2 and sustainment nodes. These events require the participation of the entire brigade and battalion staff to synchronize all WfF and forge the brigade into a combat-ready team. Without putting all WfFs together, the brigade cannot function effectively. The purpose of combined arms training is training the synchronized and simultaneous application of arms to achieve an effect greater than if each arm was used separately or sequentially. Combined arms enables the ABCT to overwhelm and destroy enemies on the battlefield. To compress the time required for training and prevent the need to conduct ten days of deliberate recovery after training each echelon, the ABCT should structure training so that the ABCT conducts platoon through battalion training in one continuous block through multi-echelon design.

This is Part 4 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

Lethality Validation Exercises

Exercising CPs and staffs requires a deliberate training approach. Trained staffs enable lethal crews, platoons, and companies to win. The BCT fight requires shaping the enemy in the deep fight and destroying the enemy in close combat with an overwhelming shock through violent, synchronized, combined arms maneuver. Achieving these outcomes requires effective staff at the battalion and brigade. Training staffs and CPs requires regular employment and exercise at echelon. Without regular exercise, CPs will fail to integrate resources or synchronize the fight. For this reason, ABCTs should conduct Lethality Validation Exercises (LVEs) every month where they do not deploy CPs as part of another collective training event. LVEs validate the setup standards, layout, and infrastructure of CPs as a TENTEX, validate communications systems configurations during a COMMEX, train plans sections by conducting tactical MDMP and rehearsing distribution of an Operations Order (OPORD) including all fighting products, and validate that fighting products enable current operations functions during a Command Post Exercise (CPX).

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.