EvanL
09-15-2005, 11:30 PM
KINGSTON, Ontario - Collective training is evolving quickly to keep pace with the overall requirements of Army Transformation.
With the acceleration of Army Transformation, many soldiers may be wondering how the Army will conduct collective training after the regeneration period ends February 2006.
How often will they train? Where will they train? What is the Army doing to better prepare them for the complex contemporary operating environment?
The main driver of collective training in the future will be the Army's new Managed Readiness System (MRS).
The MRS will provide structure and predictability for all activities within the Army, whether individual and collective training, personnel management, equipment management, operational tasks, or support tasks. This will ensure that the Land Force always has a minimum of two combined arms task forces deployed or ready to deploy on operations anywhere in the world for six-month periods (for a total of four per year).
The Land Force must also have a deployable brigade headquarters and signal squadron, as well as a number of other smaller mission elements at various levels of readiness. These too will be incorporated into the Managed Readiness System.
As part of this mandate, Army task forces must be capable of conducting simultaneous combat, stability, peace support and humanitarian operations in all operating environments, including densely populated urban areas. Consequently, many elements of collective training that are currently viewed as theatre and mission specific training (TMST) will be incorporated directly into all training standards and scenarios, from top to bottom. The Directorate of Army Training is currently reviewing collective training battle task standards to ensure that these requirements are built into all aspects of training.
The three-year cycle
Land Force units and sub-units will be assigned to task forces on a rotating three-year cycle. A task force's 36-month cycle will start after redeployment from an operational mission.
Reconstitution phase
Task force elements will be given sufficient time to recover and regenerate their basic capabilities. A key objective during this 12-month period will be the requirement to conduct individual and low-level collective training to regenerate basic skills.
Reserve and support phase
This period will be primarily focused on supporting overall Army objectives and activities. It will last between 6 and 12 months. Task force elements will conduct continuation training or be tasked in support of the training system. This latter requirement will take on increased importance as the Canadian Forces expansion programme goes into full swing next year. Some units may also have to provide elements at short notice for specific operational contingencies such as non-combatant evacuation operations. For those elements, training will be more demanding and may involve participation in national and international exercises.
Equipment upgrades allow soldiers and teams to train on the same equipment as on operations
Equipment upgrades allow soldiers and teams to train on the same equipment as on operations.
Training phase
A task force will form at least 12 months before it is set to enter high readiness. It will receive the latest equipment upgrades to allow soldiers and teams to train on the same equipment as on operations. This may involve some low-level retraining, and both time and resources will be earmarked for these activities. The task force will also be topped up in personnel, and turnover will be kept to a minimum until the end of its high readiness period or deployment. This is also the period when augmentation by Army Reserve personnel and organizations will begin.
Once soldiers are familiar with their new kit and any other organizational or doctrinal changes, the task force's sub-units will focus exclusively on collective training. This could start as early 9 or 10 months before the unit is scheduled to be in high readiness. The key outcome during this time is that the task force must build cohesive combat-capable teams from section and crew level right up to sub-unit level.
This collective training will most likely occur in home garrisons. As a consequence, the Army is currently investing heavily in training support capabilities in order to facilitate and improve the quality of collective training across Canada. A key initiative concerns the purchase of weapons effects simulators (WES) for dismounted infantry-type training. Company-size WES suites will be distributed to all Land Force areas where they will be available for collective training of all units and task forces, including Army Reserve elements.
.The Army is buying weapons effects simulators (WES) for dismounted infantry-type training.
The Army is buying weapons effects simulators (WES) for dismounted infantry-type training.
Major investment in urban operations training facilities is also going to occur on all bases so that soldiers can practise individual and section-level urban operations skills and tactics. There will be an urban assault course on each of the bases for dry training; a "shoot-house" for live-fire training in an urban context; and live-fire breach facilities, to practise mechanical, ballistic and explosive breaching of walls and buildings.
The overall Urban Operations Development Plan incorporates many other capabilities for training to fight in urban or built-up areas. Of particular note is that Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre (CMTC) will have a number of "villages" to allow realistic force-on-force and live-fire training. These villages and other facilities at CMTC will simulate the typical physical environment that prevails in the failed and failing states where Army task forces are expected to operate. Amongst other things, there are also plans to develop a terraced village, farm compounds, and a cave complex in Wainwright.
High readiness phase
It is expected that the task force's sub-units will have completed their initial collective training approximately six months prior to high readiness or deployment. Towards the end of the preliminary training phase, a refresher of all-arms tactics and procedures will occur to help prepare the task force for training at CMTC. It will involve tactical exercises without troops (TEWT) and computer-assisted exercises. The task force will also conduct some form of combined arms dry training in its home garrison. Once all of this is completed, the task force will "graduate" to CMTC for its final pre-deployment training.
Training at CMTC will be tactically challenging and physically demanding. Scenarios will be based on a realistic appraisal of the task force's most likely missions and tasks, but the focus will remain on combat operations in failed and failing states. As part of that focus, combined arms teams will be put through their paces in challenging live-fire training at the beginning of their rotation through CMTC.
Following the live-fire training the task force will conduct force-on-force training using simulators. All tactical engagements will use high-performance WES suites for force-on-force training against a tough opposing force (OPFOR). The WES systems at CMTC are based on the latest generation laser engagement technology, similar to what has been used by the U.S. and British armies for a number of years. Each soldier and vehicle will also have a GPS receiver and be connected to a computerized network. Apart from providing high fidelity training, this will allow the conduct of detailed after-action reviews with playback of engagements for maximum learning.
It is expected that a Brigade Training Event (BTE) will be conducted at CMTC using state-of-the-art facilities.
It is expected that a Brigade Training Event (BTE) will be conducted at CMTC using state-of-the-art facilities.
The OPFOR at CMTC will be a very tough opponent. It will be based on a permanent cadre of officers, NCOs and soldiers who will know the equipment and facilities inside out. When suitably reinforced, the OPFOR will be capable of simulating all types of forces, belligerents, and bystanders that the Army expects to encounter on operations. Moreover, this will be a thinking enemy, ready to exploit weaknesses, and able to function in a number of different tactical scenarios.
It is also expected that a Brigade Training Event (BTE) will be conducted at CMTC on an annual basis using part of the state-of-the-art facilities it offers. The BTE may also incorporate one or more task forces, either as part of a CMTC serial, or with elements brought in from lower readiness units. This brigade-level training will be critical, as it will allow the confirmation of brigade HQs and signal squadrons that are themselves proceeding on operations or into high readiness. It will also provide a forum for maintaining the ability to operate at formation-level within the Canadian Army.
Article by Major Richard Martin
Photos by Caporals Bill Gomm, Philip Cheung, Grant Rivalin and Master Corporal Robert Bottrill
With the acceleration of Army Transformation, many soldiers may be wondering how the Army will conduct collective training after the regeneration period ends February 2006.
How often will they train? Where will they train? What is the Army doing to better prepare them for the complex contemporary operating environment?
The main driver of collective training in the future will be the Army's new Managed Readiness System (MRS).
The MRS will provide structure and predictability for all activities within the Army, whether individual and collective training, personnel management, equipment management, operational tasks, or support tasks. This will ensure that the Land Force always has a minimum of two combined arms task forces deployed or ready to deploy on operations anywhere in the world for six-month periods (for a total of four per year).
The Land Force must also have a deployable brigade headquarters and signal squadron, as well as a number of other smaller mission elements at various levels of readiness. These too will be incorporated into the Managed Readiness System.
As part of this mandate, Army task forces must be capable of conducting simultaneous combat, stability, peace support and humanitarian operations in all operating environments, including densely populated urban areas. Consequently, many elements of collective training that are currently viewed as theatre and mission specific training (TMST) will be incorporated directly into all training standards and scenarios, from top to bottom. The Directorate of Army Training is currently reviewing collective training battle task standards to ensure that these requirements are built into all aspects of training.
The three-year cycle
Land Force units and sub-units will be assigned to task forces on a rotating three-year cycle. A task force's 36-month cycle will start after redeployment from an operational mission.
Reconstitution phase
Task force elements will be given sufficient time to recover and regenerate their basic capabilities. A key objective during this 12-month period will be the requirement to conduct individual and low-level collective training to regenerate basic skills.
Reserve and support phase
This period will be primarily focused on supporting overall Army objectives and activities. It will last between 6 and 12 months. Task force elements will conduct continuation training or be tasked in support of the training system. This latter requirement will take on increased importance as the Canadian Forces expansion programme goes into full swing next year. Some units may also have to provide elements at short notice for specific operational contingencies such as non-combatant evacuation operations. For those elements, training will be more demanding and may involve participation in national and international exercises.
Equipment upgrades allow soldiers and teams to train on the same equipment as on operations
Equipment upgrades allow soldiers and teams to train on the same equipment as on operations.
Training phase
A task force will form at least 12 months before it is set to enter high readiness. It will receive the latest equipment upgrades to allow soldiers and teams to train on the same equipment as on operations. This may involve some low-level retraining, and both time and resources will be earmarked for these activities. The task force will also be topped up in personnel, and turnover will be kept to a minimum until the end of its high readiness period or deployment. This is also the period when augmentation by Army Reserve personnel and organizations will begin.
Once soldiers are familiar with their new kit and any other organizational or doctrinal changes, the task force's sub-units will focus exclusively on collective training. This could start as early 9 or 10 months before the unit is scheduled to be in high readiness. The key outcome during this time is that the task force must build cohesive combat-capable teams from section and crew level right up to sub-unit level.
This collective training will most likely occur in home garrisons. As a consequence, the Army is currently investing heavily in training support capabilities in order to facilitate and improve the quality of collective training across Canada. A key initiative concerns the purchase of weapons effects simulators (WES) for dismounted infantry-type training. Company-size WES suites will be distributed to all Land Force areas where they will be available for collective training of all units and task forces, including Army Reserve elements.
.The Army is buying weapons effects simulators (WES) for dismounted infantry-type training.
The Army is buying weapons effects simulators (WES) for dismounted infantry-type training.
Major investment in urban operations training facilities is also going to occur on all bases so that soldiers can practise individual and section-level urban operations skills and tactics. There will be an urban assault course on each of the bases for dry training; a "shoot-house" for live-fire training in an urban context; and live-fire breach facilities, to practise mechanical, ballistic and explosive breaching of walls and buildings.
The overall Urban Operations Development Plan incorporates many other capabilities for training to fight in urban or built-up areas. Of particular note is that Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre (CMTC) will have a number of "villages" to allow realistic force-on-force and live-fire training. These villages and other facilities at CMTC will simulate the typical physical environment that prevails in the failed and failing states where Army task forces are expected to operate. Amongst other things, there are also plans to develop a terraced village, farm compounds, and a cave complex in Wainwright.
High readiness phase
It is expected that the task force's sub-units will have completed their initial collective training approximately six months prior to high readiness or deployment. Towards the end of the preliminary training phase, a refresher of all-arms tactics and procedures will occur to help prepare the task force for training at CMTC. It will involve tactical exercises without troops (TEWT) and computer-assisted exercises. The task force will also conduct some form of combined arms dry training in its home garrison. Once all of this is completed, the task force will "graduate" to CMTC for its final pre-deployment training.
Training at CMTC will be tactically challenging and physically demanding. Scenarios will be based on a realistic appraisal of the task force's most likely missions and tasks, but the focus will remain on combat operations in failed and failing states. As part of that focus, combined arms teams will be put through their paces in challenging live-fire training at the beginning of their rotation through CMTC.
Following the live-fire training the task force will conduct force-on-force training using simulators. All tactical engagements will use high-performance WES suites for force-on-force training against a tough opposing force (OPFOR). The WES systems at CMTC are based on the latest generation laser engagement technology, similar to what has been used by the U.S. and British armies for a number of years. Each soldier and vehicle will also have a GPS receiver and be connected to a computerized network. Apart from providing high fidelity training, this will allow the conduct of detailed after-action reviews with playback of engagements for maximum learning.
It is expected that a Brigade Training Event (BTE) will be conducted at CMTC using state-of-the-art facilities.
It is expected that a Brigade Training Event (BTE) will be conducted at CMTC using state-of-the-art facilities.
The OPFOR at CMTC will be a very tough opponent. It will be based on a permanent cadre of officers, NCOs and soldiers who will know the equipment and facilities inside out. When suitably reinforced, the OPFOR will be capable of simulating all types of forces, belligerents, and bystanders that the Army expects to encounter on operations. Moreover, this will be a thinking enemy, ready to exploit weaknesses, and able to function in a number of different tactical scenarios.
It is also expected that a Brigade Training Event (BTE) will be conducted at CMTC on an annual basis using part of the state-of-the-art facilities it offers. The BTE may also incorporate one or more task forces, either as part of a CMTC serial, or with elements brought in from lower readiness units. This brigade-level training will be critical, as it will allow the confirmation of brigade HQs and signal squadrons that are themselves proceeding on operations or into high readiness. It will also provide a forum for maintaining the ability to operate at formation-level within the Canadian Army.
Article by Major Richard Martin
Photos by Caporals Bill Gomm, Philip Cheung, Grant Rivalin and Master Corporal Robert Bottrill