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).

Figure 8: Lethality Validation Exercises refresh the systems in all C2 Nodes, integrate all WfFs, and ensures the BCT can control a fight.

Unfortunately, C2 nodes typically have a turnover rate exceeding maneuver platoons and companies. Because each person on a staff executes a unique and specific set of tasks, new personnel require immediate training. High turnover can result in a “reset” of a C2 node where all resident knowledge leaves with the transitioning personnel. CP SOPs mitigate the impact of personnel transition, but frequent training is the only way to maintain proficient C2 nodes. Most company-grade officers and Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) have limited experience working on staff at the battalion and brigade level. These factors make the frequent exercise of CPs necessary.

Fortunately, CPs can train without tying up company and below leadership. As CPs gain more comfort deploying and conducting MDMP in accordance with their SOPs, the time and effort required to run a LVE continue to decrease. Execution of the LVE can take place in a single calendar week with two half days spent by brigade and battalion staffs turning a tactical OPORD, one-half day conducting a COMMEX, and two half-days executing the CPX. This provides a critical opportunity to test all communications systems and perform end-to-end maintenance. Additionally, LVEs should account for ongoing training and planning as well as training objectives that are scalable to reflect competing requirements. If a BCT has multiple competing requirements, the LVE may only consist of a TENTEX where CUOPS sections establish their nodes to train new personnel on the setup, tear down, and layout of the node.

Planning for the LVE requires confirmation of the training objectives, selection of a site for training, and the identification of an Exercise Control (EXCON) cell to facilitate execution. At a minimum, training objectives should include deploying C2 nodes, establishing communications across the entire PACE plan, training current operations, conducting MDMP, transmitting fighting products, validating a play from the Playbook, and rehearsing sensor to shooter linkages. The sensor to shooter linkage should test the execution of preplanned fire missions, call for fire from the cavalry squadron to a battery over a quick-fire net, and call for fire from a Shadow UAS or a targeting message from the BISE. The fires enterprise must validate Sensor to shooter linkage over all mediums, including digital fires over upper TI, FM, and HF.

After identifying the training objectives and scheduling the LVE, each battalion should identify where they will establish their CPs. Fortunately, local training areas near motor pools or headquarters buildings are suitable for achieving the training objectives of an LVE. The brigade main CP, brigade TAC, battalion main CPs, SOC, FDCs, and at least one howitzer per battery should participate in LVEs. The EXCON can consist of planners or officers and NCOs transitioning into or out of the unit soon. The EXCON should have a minimum of one person per battalion and 2-3 to cover the Brigade, with an overall Officer in Charge (OIC).

In the prepare phase of the LVE, the brigade should confirm satellite time for upper TI and turn an OPORD through MDMP. The installation Mission Training Center (MTC) can provide a division OPORD in a scenario that allows the BCT to validate the appropriate play on terrain they would like to plan on. No later than the week prior to the execution of the CPX, the brigade staff turns the OPORD through MDMP using Command Post of the Future (CPOF) and their PSOP. The outputs of the MDMP include all fighting products, including a SITEMP, EVENTEMP, Intelligence Collections Synchronization Matrix (ICSM), Red Checkbook, Blue Checkbook, NAI Overlay, Operations Overlay, Fires Overlay, Aviation Overlay, Fire Support Execution Matrix (FSEM), SYNCMAT, Decision Support Matrix (DSM), Attack Guidance Matrix, High Priority Target List (HPTL) by Phase, LOGSYNCMAT, and OPORD with annexes. The Brigade must distribute these products through analog and upper TI as they would in a tactical environment.

During the execution of the LVE, all elements in the brigade deploy their CP nodes with a full day to conduct a COMMEX and troubleshoot communications. After the COMMEX, the CUOPS phase of the CPX begins. Plan the tactical operation to begin at the same time as the start time of the LVE. For example, if the LVE begins at 0900, the Brigade should LD at 0900 in the OPORD. Ideally, the LVE Execution occurs with a dry run from 0900-1200, and a live run the following day from 0900-1200. During the dry run, the EXCON ensures that the CP understands how to follow the SYNCMAT and provides expected contact reports to Radio Telephone Operators (RTOs) through “white card” injects. Contact reports and fighting products drive operations and reporting in the CPs, with each WfF executing battle drills. White card injects drive fire missions over all medium, and observers for fire missions should come from all battalions with missions forward and behind the Coordinating Fires Line (CFL).

Figure 9: An example of the tactical maneuver concept for an LVE. All C2 node CUOPS sections track and exercise battle drills for an operation using fighting products and a Master Scenario Events List. The overall design of the LVE validates or identifies necessary changes for a specific play from the Playbook.

During the dry run of the LVE, staff train new personnel, familiarize themselves with the operation and execute battle drills they can easily anticipate. The EXCON works with the commander to revise the Master Scenario Events List (MESL) for the live run to include hard-to-anticipate events, such as a power outage, casualties at the CP, or an unexpected COA from the enemy. As the LVE continues, the battalions feed fire missions, Battle Damage Assessments (BDA), and routine reports to the BCT CPs. The LVE enables leaders in CPs to identify which human systems, technical systems, and SOPs need changes. Following each LVE S3s, XOs, and brigade staff AAR the training to make necessary updates to SOPs and recommend adjustments to training objectives for follow on LVEs.

Preparing for Platoon Live Fire Certifications

After the primary crew gunnery, the brigade sets aside time and space on the training calendar for a full ten-day recovery of personnel and equipment, individual training, team and squad LFXs, LVEs, unscheduled maintenance, and vehicle services.

Recovery is an operation of its own. Proper recovery requires resources, time, and leader oversight. Subordinate leaders back brief their plans and friction points prior to executing recovery. Staff track the completion of recovery tasks and commanders supervise the process.

Figure 10: All units conduct recovery following each major training event and report completion of tasks to the BCT. Recovery is its own operation and requires planning, resourcing, and commander/staff oversight

Like recovery, services must have a plan more comprehensive than a banner on the long-range training calendar. Battalions align resources to support required services while company commanders and platoon leaders back brief their plans to execute services. The battalion maintenance control section tracks the progress of services and the commander receives a services out brief upon completion.

This 1-3 month window allows the brigade to take on limited red cycle or installation support tasks for the division and installation while subunits train individuals, teams, and squads. The red, amber, green tasking cycle must be managed at all echelons. Any unit designated to take red cycle should absorb all taskings for the BCT so that other units can effectively train. The red cycle unit will have difficulty for the month they are in red cycle but will enjoy protection from training detractors for all other months.

Squad LFXs in the cavalry squadron requires the employment of the BFV with the scout team and require qualified BFV crews to support the training to fight as designed in ATP 3-20.98, Scout Platoon. This means the cavalry squadron cannot certify squads prior to crew gunnery. Whereas, the organization of scout squads enables the incorporation of Vehicle Drop Offs (VDOs), dismounted infiltration, dismounted reconnaissance of Named Areas of Interest (NAIs), establishing Observation Posts (OPs), and understanding engagement criteria/disengagement criteria. Cavalry squad LFXs are great opportunities for scouts to practice Call for Fire (CFF) training and employ the troop’s organic mortar section. Even though infantry squads do not technically require the incorporation of BFVs to meet TC 3-20.0 standards, incorporating a VDO and BFV support by fire with battalion mortar targets provides better training realism for the ABCT infantry squad and should occur in this timeframe.

All dismounted training should incorporate squad load plans for Anti-Tank (AT) systems, crew-served weapons, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) equipment, long-range optics, batteries, FM and HF communications, pyrotechnics, and grenades. Additionally, teams and squads must train on land navigation using a map and compass, execution of select battle drills, trench and obstacle marking procedures, and long-range movement. Several of these training objectives can be incorporated into the Team and Squad STX design, but Squad LFXs should reinforce combined arms maneuver. The SITEMP given to squad leaders should include consideration of the effective range of enemy AT systems. BFVs should maneuver to a point where the enemy AT threat increases, where the conduct a VDO of dismounts to maneuver to destroy the enemy in complex terrain, a trench, or a bunker system and pull the BFV forward into a new Support by Fire (SBF) or Attack by Fire (ABF) position.

Ultimately, the design and execution of team and squad LFX is up to battalion and company leaders, but the brigade has the responsibility to resource the training with ammunition, land, time, and training dollars.

Disclaimer

This series is a fusion of doctrine and regulations with the authors’ experience in training and warfighting. It does not constitute the official position of FORSCOM, TRADOC, the Army, or the Department of Defense.

COL Michael Schoenfeldt is the Commander of the IRONHORSE Brigade Combat Team (1ABCT, 1CD) with 23 years of experience as an Army Officer including Tank Platoon Leader, Tank Company Commander, Cavalry Squadron Executive Officer, Brigade Executive Officer, and Combined Arms Battalion Commander. He can be reached at michael.d.schoenfeldt.mil@mail.mil.

MAJ Patrick Stallings is currently the Cavalry Squadron Operations Trainer at the National Training Center and was the Brigade S3 for the IRONHORSE Brigade Combat Team (1ABCT, 1CD) with 15 years of experience as an Army Officer including Armored Reconnaissance Platoon Leader, Stryker Reconnaissance Troop Commander, and Cavalry Squadron Executive Officer. He can be reached at michael.p.stallings4.mil@mail.mil.

Continue the conversation on Twitter or Facebook with more articles to follow!

The full paper and files below are available at https://www.milsuite.mil/book/groups/abct-training

• Embedded Charts (includes full page slides of each figure in this paper)
• IRONHORSE Playbook
• 1CD Brigade Training Model Information Paper.docx
• DA Big 12
• Crew Gunnery Administrative OPORD (IRONHORSE Smoothbore)

5A) Crew Gunnery Administrative OPORD Brief (IRONHORSE Smoothbore)

• Platoon LFX and CALFEX Administrative OPORD (IRONHORSE Fury)
• Wet Gap Crossing Tactical OPORD (IRONHORSE Fury Phase 0)
• CALFEX Tactical OPORD (IRONHORSE Fury Phase I – IV)
• CALFEX OC Packet Example
• FCX Tactical OPORD (IRONHORSE Fury 2.0)
• Brigade FTX Administrative OPORD