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.

Figure 11: BCT SYNCMAT for BN LFX and CALFEX. Battalions conduct Platoon STX and LFX in a waterfall. The training progression continues with a BN STX (Wet Gap Crossing) that transitions directly into Company STX and CALFEX

The first events during this progression are platoon STX and LFX. Battalions have the responsibility for planning and executing platoon STX and LFX. The BCT remains responsible for budgeting time and resources for this training, but must synchronize these events to meet support requirements for the Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise (CALFEX). The BCT must synchronize artillery platoons to support platoon LFXs and CALFEX while building in space for them to complete Artillery Table XV (AT XV). In accordance with TC 3-20.0, Integrated Weapons Training Strategy, “During the unit training plan, the tables are typically executed in sequence; however, commanders have the flexibility to execute tables in a varying sequence based on their training need, accessibility to resources, and other synchronization requirements.”

For Platoon LFX certification, the squadron and three CABs will each need seven to nine days to rotate their platoons through training. If all three platoons in a company proceed through LFX in a single day the battalion will need seven days. If only two platoons execute LFX per day, the battalion will need nine days. Regardless of throughput, each platoon should have at least two days of STX, one day for TLPs, and one day for dry and live runs of the LFX. The platoons then have one day to conduct any necessary retraining and two days to conduct training support, such as range details or serving as Observer Controllers (OCs).

Figure 12: SYNCMAT for waterfalling platoons through Platoon STX and Platoon LFX (Formerly Gunnery Table XII). This example requires nine days as two platoons execute LFX per day.

Platoon STX and Platoon LFX

While executing Platoon LFXs, each battalion deploys their C2 and sustainment nodes to the field to support the training. Just like crew gunnery, the brigade organizes under their National Training Center (NTC) or deployment task organization. Sapper platoons train as part of their CABs. With a focus on reconnaissance, the cavalry squadron is well suited to take ownership of the Electronic Warfare / SIGINT platoon and employ them in a modified platoon LFX. While battalions are responsible for the overall design of their platoon STX and LFX, best practices are listed below:

The motor pool serves as the Division Support Area (DSA). Companies and platoons issue an OPORD articulating an enemy threat (Special Purpose Forces) that requires continuous security posture prior to their deployment. Once the platoon leaves the DSA, there are no “administrative moves.” Movement, maneuver, planning, preparation, and execution happen in a tactical environment. The battalion’s Higher Command (HICOM) and EXCON (led by the battalion S3) ensure subsequent OPORD and FRAGOs reflect this reality to keep the platoon properly engaged. The brigade resources battalions with ranges that support combined arms breaches including the use of artillery and mortars that impact on the range to support maneuver against the templated enemy. Adjacent training areas should provide enough maneuver space for platoons to conduct STX nearby.

As platoons deploy to the field for their STX, they rotate to a series of lanes where they receive an FM, JCR, or written FRAGO. The battalion develops and resources the training; the battalion commander defines the training objectives; and company leaders run the STX lanes while a leader in the battalion Top 5 oversees STX as a whole. The STX lanes take place in a nearby training area with platoons rotating through lanes. CAB STX lanes include changing movement techniques and movement formations, movement to contact, attack, hasty defense, and battle handoff. Cavalry platoons conduct zone reconnaissance, route reconnaissance, and reconnaissance handoff. CAB commanders give their battalion scouts a second repetition with the cavalry squadron, so platoons and troops gain familiarity working with each other. Each type of platoon should have slightly different tasks and STX lane design to support their METs. The overall structure of the STX lanes remains similar between platoons as units “waterfall” through the training. Allocate time for hotwashes between STX lanes as well as time for retraining tasks and skills that platoons struggle with each day. This pays tremendous dividends and prepares the platoons for their LFX.

Figure 13: Platoon STX SYNCMAT and Tasks

Figure 14: Platoon STX Concept

During the LFX, finding ways to safe artillery, mortar fire, bangalores, Mine Clearing Line Charges (MCLCs), TOW missiles, and Javelins on ranges requires dialogue and iterative staff work with range operations personnel. That staff work must begin six months before the execution of the training. Increasing STRAC allocations for Javelins and TOW missiles can greatly improve the training outcomes for platoons and companies by providing additional Soldiers the opportunity to employ these munitions. Requesting additional allocations requires coordination through HQDA G-3 and HQDA G-4 and the process should begin at least three months before the training event begins. Safeing indirect fires and MICLCs on the live-fire range allows units to echelon fires and gain experience with the difficult task of synchronizing the effects of indirect fires, including obscuration, with mounted and dismounted maneuver.

The training value is extremely high for a platoon to receive reports on the reconnaissance of the objective from a Raven, employ the tenants of breaching as they maneuver elements into a support by fire with Army Attack Aviation (AAA), obscure the point of breach from enemy observation, and secure a foothold for the breach. The platoon suppresses the enemy with direct and indirect fires as attached sappers reduce the obstacle, triggering the platoon to assault through and continue the attack as they echelon fires. Tank platoons assault to establish an ABF and destroy additional enemies, while infantry platoons assault through to suppress and clear a trench on the far side of the obstacle. Each platoon should conduct LFX in day and nighttime.

Figure 15: Concept for Platoon FTX and LFX Certification. This training event incorporates Sappers, Mortars, Artillery, a combined arms breach, and support from Army Attack Aviation, and integration of the company’s raven.

When designing the scheme of maneuver for the platoon LFX, the FTX and LFX should flow into one another as a coherent training event. The Platoon Leader receives an OPORD from the battalion S3 or planner and conducts his own TLPs. The platoon uploads ammunition in the training area and transitions from a Weapons Control Status (WCS) of green or amber to red based upon the threat. When the platoon leader crosses a phase line and enters the range, they do so as a part of the tactical scenario and not through administrative commands. Throughout the TLPs and execution of the FTX and LFX, each platoon has an OC to assist the battalion commander in assessing the performance of the platoon.

OCs should be equipped with a packet that gives them an overview of the training and provides metrics for assessment. Objective T training standards and the NTC’s version of the Department of the Army (DA) Big 12 provide an excellent starting point assessment, and the platoon’s lethality score (percentage of targets destroyed) is an important metric to include. Only by reinforcing lethality and violence of action will subordinate leaders understand the ultimate metric of success— achieving the mission by winning in a fight with a peer adversary. During training, the CEMA section should assess each platoon as they train and show the platoon their electromagnetic signature at the AAR.

The design of the FTX and LFX varies between different types of platoons. Tank platoons do not require trenches or dismounted support by fires, so the design should emphasize direct fire employment, violence of action, and shock. Infantry platoons incorporate their dismounts to seize complex terrain, clear bunkers, and clear trenches that support mounted maneuver. Training with live hand grenades as infantry squads assault trench lines requires prerequisite training but provides infantrymen realistic close-quarters feedback. Scout platoon qualifications should not include a breach; however, they should identify, classify, report, and bypass an obstacle. Scouts should conduct reconnaissance through lateral routes in complex terrain using dismounted teams to pull mounted sections forward in a manner that makes sense based on the SITEMP. The battalion’s OPORD tasks scout platoons to observe an NAI that requires the employment of dismounted teams using long-range optics. Additionally, the cavalry squadron trains the CEMA platoon with a specially designed lane that includes detection of emitters and call for fire against those emitters. The brigade must resource the squadron and each CAB with an artillery platoon and ammunition to support the platoon LFX. Each platoon gains invaluable experience by echeloning fires from 155mm to 120mm mortars and then transitioning to direct fire weapons systems in a combined arms fight.

Finally, platoon training presents an opportunity for incorporating enablers, particularly rotary wing support. Infantry platoons train on air assault and air movement operations as part of their STX. Battalions gain experience synchronizing AAA to support the combined arms breach by planning the lateral and vertical de-confliction of artillery, mortars, aviation, and ground direct fires. Only live-fire exercises crystallize the realities of employing combined arms effects in a manner that doctrine and force-on-force training cannot.

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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