Progression Towards BCTP Full Spectrum Exercises

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Progression Towards BCTP Full Spectrum Exercises
BATTLE COMMAND TRAINING PROGRAM DECISIVE
VICTORY OCT 1986 - OCT 2009
COL Mark E. McKnight Commander, BCTP
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Agenda

• Battle Command Significant Observations
• Emerging Full Spectrum Training Requirements
• Warfighter Exercise
• Full Spectrum Exercise Concept
• Brigade Full Spectrum Exercise

DECISIVE VICTORY
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Significant Battle Command ObservationsDivision
and Above

• DECISION MAKING
• Recognition of Emerging Transitions that require
  Decisions Formations are not identifying or
  anticipating emerging transitions which require
  decisions. Staffs are not anticipating
  transitions and developing COAs for Commanders
  approval in order to set the conditions for
  subordinate formations mission accomplishment.
• Recommendation
• Coach commanders to provide a clear
  visualization and description of Division vs the
  BCT fights within their intent
• Coach commanders on clearly identifying the
  decisive operation and weighting of the main
  effort
• Improve Knowledge Management SOPS and training
  in order to improve Understanding and
  Visualization
• Identification of Adjustment Decisions
  Commanders and staffs continue to struggle with
  the identification of adjustment decisions which
  modify the plan to respond to opportunities and
  threats.
• Recommendation
• Use of running estimates and systems which not
  only address threats but identify opportunities
• Development and evolution of CCIR which focus
  collection efforts toward anticipated decisions
• Establishing a sustainable focused battle rhythm
  which updates and reports changes to running
  estimates/decisions
• Understanding of Acceptable Risk within Decisions
  in support of Decisive Operations Commanders
  and staffs do not develop a shared understanding
  and visualization where risk can be assumed in
  decisions in order to accomplish the decisive
  operation.
• Recommendation
• Inclusion of commanders acceptable risk in
  initial planning guidance and commanders Intent
• Clear, readily understood mission orders that
  identify where risk is being accepted
• Instill within subordinate commanders the
  initiative to make decisions that assume risk in
  support of task accomplishment

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Significant Battle Command ObservationsDivision
and Above
DECISION MAKING AND FULL SPECTRUM
OPERATIONS SPECTRUM of CONFLICT
STAB
DEF
DEF
OFF
OFF
STAB

• Recognition of Emerging Transitions during Full
  Spectrum Operations
• Identification of Adjustment Decisions
• Understanding of Acceptable Risk within Decisions

DECISIVE VICTORY
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BCTP Emerging Training Requirements

• Revising Warfighter Exercise to meet Full
  Spectrum Exercise (FSX) requirements
• Addressing atrophied Offense and Defense skills
• Increasing to a 5-2-5 model
• Researching what is the right resourcing for
  JIIM in a FSX
• Integration of the Hybrid Threat
• Developing future Full Spectrum Battle Command
  Seminars
• Integrate Design into future Battle Command
  Seminars and Exercises
• Develop example training objectives that support
  the One Full Spectrum METL
• Address additional and emerging training
  requirements in support of MBA-SFA

We cannot simply pile more good ideas on top of
old proven methods as we work through how we
train, educate, and develop leaders for
full-spectrum operations. We must innovate and
adapt as we transform training and leader
development to achieve our goals. GEN CASEY
,CSA . ATLG 2010-11
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The Warfighter Exercise
Goal The purpose of the WFX is to assist in the
training of Corps, Division and Brigade
Commanders and their staffs in the execution of
Battle Command. The WFX is focused on training a
unit on a set of mission essential tasks
identified by the EXDIR and the training unit
commander.

• Issues
• WFX scenarios to date have been primarily focused
  on Offense and Defense with Stability added as an
  additional mission
• Mission sets are sequential in nature
• 5-7 days of CPX is not enough to allow for the
  detailed planning and simultaneous execution of
  Offense, Defense and Stability Operations
• Adequate time for a unit to conduct assessments
  is not available

• Exercise Construct
• 5-7 day CPX for Division and Corps preceded by a
  5-day BCS (within six months)
• 9-12 day model for BCT includes a 5-day BCS and
  MDMP in conjunction with the CPX
• Seeks to replicate Unified Actions in a full
  spectrum COE with a free playing OPFOR
• Relies primarily on the interaction of BLUFOR and
  OPFOR in the simulation to create the challenges
  required for training

Generalized Division Model
Problem the current WFX model does not
adequately support the training of Full Spectrum
Operations.
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The Full Spectrum Exercise
Goal FSX is to assists in the training of Corps,
Division and Brigade Commanders and their staffs
in the execution of Battle Command along the
spectrum of conflict. The FSX is focused on
training a unit on a set of mission essential
tasks. Specifically, a unit can work on
re-bluing the atrophied skills associated with
offense and defense without neglecting the skills
required to execute stability operations.

• Exercise Construct
• 4-2-4 CPX for Division and Corps preceded by a
  5-day BCS (within six months)
• Additional time sufficient to portray the
  complexity of a full spectrum environment
  includes hybrid threat
• Additional training days prevents focus on just
  the Offense-Defense fight
• Already in execution at the BCT level with
  Operations Group C

Army forces combine offensive, defensive, and
stability or civil support operations
simultaneously as part of an interdependent
joint force to seize, retain, and exploit the
initiative, accepting prudent risk to create
opportunities to achieve decisive results. FM
3-0 dtd FEB 09
Generalized Division Model Concept
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BCTP Brigade Full Spectrum Exercise
Goal Exercise the core competencies that set the
foundation for the other CTCs to build upon
(Battle Command, MDMP, Targeting, Knowledge
Management, Command Post Operations)
101
501
301
201
401
BCSoSIT Individual ABCS Operator Training
JRTC/NTC/ JMRC LTP
JRTC/NTC/ JMRC MRE
Discussing a nested scenario for execution with
JMRC
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Sustainment Multi-Functional BDEs
Goal In partnership with 1st Army and COEs,
provide each deploying unit a Culminating
Training Event
CTE Construct
BCTP Role
36TH, 90TH, 96TH SBs PoP
135TH ESC PoP
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Progression Towards BCTP Full Spectrum Exercises
BATTLE COMMAND TRAINING PROGRAM DECISIVE
VICTORY OCT 1986 - OCT 2009
COL Mark E. McKnight Commander, BCTP