Combined Arms Training Strategy Executive Summaries: The Commander’s Tool for Planning Unit Training

We are all pressed for time, especially Army commanders and trainers. Training has to meet the many constraints that beset units, as well as provide collective training in a crawl-walk-run fashion, using live-virtual-constructive environments. With the continuing edict of, “do more with less,” comes the executive summary (EXSUM) for the Combined Arms Training Strategy (CATS) to streamline and facilitate the planning process. EXSUMs of armor and cavalry unit CATS are now available, and can be downloaded from Army Knowledge Online (AKO) at https://www.us.army.mil. The EXSUM provides a user-friendly management tool that will assist in developing the unit’straining path. CATS in a Nutshell CATS establishes unit, soldier, and leader training requirements, and describes how the Army will train and sustain the desired band of excellence (BOE).1 CATS consists of three integrated strategies: unit; individual; and self-development.2 This article focuses on unit strategies. A unit CATS is a descriptive unit collective training strategy for reaching and sustaining the training readiness within the BOE, and serves as a training management tool for commanders and unit trainers.3 CATS is a flexible system that does not limit leaders. Unit CATS are doctrinal training and resource templates that armor/cavalry commanders use to develop unit training guidance, training strategies, and calendars.4 Unit CATS also drive Headquarters, Department of the Army, training resource allocations of operational tempo (OPTEMPO), ammunition, ranges, facilities, and training aids, devices, simulators, and simulations (TADSS).5 The U. S. Army Armor Center, Directorate of Training, Doctrine, and Combat Development (TDCD), Fort Knox, Kentucky, examines current doctrine and organization, and designs unit CATS based on training requirements units should conduct annually to sustain combat readiness.6 Unit CATS defines a sequence of events for con ducting collective training, using live-virtual-constructive training do mains.7 These CATS enable the commander to com pare the unit’straining strategy with the unit’s mission essential task list (METL), readiness training level, and training constraints, such as OPTEMPO, available training time, and training resources, to determine and manage unit training.8 CATS construction follows regulatory guidance established in U. S. Army Regulation (AR) 350-1, Army Training and Education; U. S. Army Field Manual (FM) 7–0, Training the Force; FM 7-1, Battle Focused Training; U. S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Regulation 350-70, Systems Approach To Train ing Management Processes and Products; and applicable training analysis data, to include visits to units in the field. Additionally, AR 220-1, Unit Status Reporting (USR), provides guidance to commanders on using CATS when assessing training readiness.9 Origin of the CATS EXSUM Initially, the primary delivery method for CATS was, Special Text 17-12-7-1/2/3, Task-Based, Event-Driven Combined Arms Training Strategy: Armor (CATS), a massive paper-based document. These paper-based CATS evolved into the automated documents now resident on the Reimer Digital Library (RDL). During 2002, the U. S. Army’s Deputy Chief of 44 —

Operations and Training directed TRADOC to develop a more effective and efficient automated CATS delivery tool. In response, TRADOC developed a prototype EXSUM, which later was approved by the Training and Leader Development General Officer Steering Committee. Subsequently, a total of 115 EXSUMs were developed for all Army proponents, 13 of which are armor/cavalry units, and are posted on AKO for review. Locating Armor/Cavalry EXSUMS Access AKO at https://www.us.army. mil — you may have to subscribe to sub-folders not already existing within your communities.  Select “MACOMS” under “Army Organizations.”  Select “TRADOC.”  Select “CATS.”  Select “Go to the CATS Knowledge Centers” beside cabinet/filebox in center of screen. If you are not subscribed, a subscription screen will appear. Check the box to left of CATS cabinet/filebox in middle of screen under “Knowledge Centers.” When box is checked, a toolbar on top of the screen will change. Select “Subscribe.” You should receive a notification message, select “Finish.”  Choose CATS cabinet/filebox in the center of screen.  Choose “CATS – Executive Summaries” folder.  Choose “Armor” folder.  Locate and choose desired unit type; this will open a file download dialogue window from which you can either open or save to your computer. Benefit to Commanders and Trainers CATS EXSUMs provide the means for unit commanders and trainers to easily navigate through the detailed unit CATS using hyperlinks. These strategies account for personnel turbulence, skill decay, and the training of complex tasks.10 CATS EXSUMs provide commanders and trainers with a concise snapshot of doctrine-based training strategies, including tasks, training events, gates, and resources from which they can plan and manage training. CATS EXSUMs identify a mix of live training and simulation resources for conducting training, and addressing training for staff sections, staff groups, and the full staff. The CATS EXSUM organizes collective tasks into groups within training events, which allow commanders and trainers to focus on armor and cavalry core competencies, such as capabilities and tasks that a unit is organized and equipped to perform in any type of warfare environment, and identifies appropriate training events. Other information provided includes the training audience, the frequency of training, appropriate TADSS, suggested duration of training events, training gates, multiechelon training, class III (petroleum) and class V (ammunition) resource requirements, and considerations for training, planning, and execution. Armor/Cavalry EXSUM Design The armor/cavalry CATS EXSUM depicts unit training for a notional year in both calendar and table format for brigade and below level training. The EXSUM of fers an understandable view of the training path over a one-year period. By clicking on hyperlinks, the user can “drill down” and access a greater level of detail about particular task groups and training events, and all associated elements of the primary units. EXSUM Navigation The tank battalion EXSUM is used as an example for navigating hyperlinks to CATS data. For the purpose of this article, we will use the tank company core competency, “Conduct a Company Defense,” which identifies eight supporting tasks and three types of training events. Clicking on any of the event hyperlinks on the calendar pro vides access to a greater level detail about the selected event, taking you directly to the appropriate page within the strategy. In this example, Tank Company Situational Training Exercise (STX) (L[ive]) is selected; (7) indicates the number of STXs with in this training event. (See Figure 1) The user is then taken to an intermediate page that identifies tank company core competencies. The various live STXs, attack by fire, support by fire, conduct a company defense, assault an enemy position, and breach an obstacle, — 45

HMMWV Gnry I-X

HMMWV Gnry I-VIII

STAFFEX/LOGEX (Monthly)

Sergeant’s Time (Weekly) Class/Rock Drill (Monthly) Class (BSTS)

Tank Gunnery Screening - VIII Tank Gunnery Screening - VIII

AGTS/UCOFT (Monthly)

Sergeant’s Time (Weekly) Command Maintenance Vehicle Services Class

1st Period 2d Period 3d Period 4th Period Tank Battalion Training Strategy Figure 1 Continued on Page 48 the appropriate page in the CATS that provides detailed information of the training event. Information includes the training audience, means (event) (TADSS), estimated duration, replication of conditions (A-D), multiecheloned training opportunities, critical training gates, the purpose, outcome, and execution guidance of the training, and estimated class III and class V requirements. To view the eight associated supporting tasks, the user can scroll directly up one page, from this template, to the “Task: Conduct a Company Defense” template. For more information on armor proponent CATS, please telephone DSN: 464- 5656, or commercial: (502) 624-5656, or email TDDTDCD@knox.army.mil. For more information on collective training and proponent CATS, please email charles.larsen@leavenworth.army.mil or telephone DSN: 552-7613, or commercial: (913) 684-7613. Notes 1U. S. Army Regulation (AR) 350-1, Army Training and Education, U. S. Government Printing Office (GPO), Washington, D. C., 9 April 2003, paragraph 1-10. 2U. S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Regulation (TR) 350-70, Systems Approach To Training Management Processes and Products, GPO, Washington, D. C., 9 March 1999, Chapter IV-2. 3FM 7-1, Battle Focused Training, GPO, Washington, D. C., 15 September 2003, pp. 4-30. 4Ibid.; and Department of the Army Training Strategy – Army Training Strategy Guidance, Headquarters, Department of the Army, Washington, D. C., 27 August 2004, Section 1. 5TR 350-70, Chap IV-2-7. 6AR 350-1, paragraph 1-10. 7FM 7-1, pp. 4-33. 8AR 350-1, paragraph 1-10. 9AR 350-1; FM 7-0, Training the Force, GPO, Washington, D. C., 22 October 2002; FM 7-1; TR 350-70; and AR 220-1, Unit Status Reporting (USR), GPO, Washington, D. C., 10 June 2003. 10FM 7-1, p. 4-30. Ann Meyers works for the New Systems Training Development Division at the Directorate of Training, Doctrine, and Combat Development, Fort Knox, KY. CATS EXSUM from Page 45 Army transformation and the operational tempo of the force have made it increasingly difficult to fairly administer the small-unit level Wickliffe P. Draper Award and provide parity across the armor force. As a result, the U. S. Army Armor Center has made the decision to temporarily suspend the program. The suspension of the program will also encompass a recall of all Goodrich Riding Trophies. This is only the second time the unit competition has been suspended. The first was during World War II from 1941 to 1946. At the end of the war, the competition resumed. The Draper Armor Leadership Award has been recognizing excellence in cavalry and armor since 1924 when Lieutenant Colonel Wickliffe P. Draper established the award to test the leadership of small cavalry units. The short-term suspension will ensure the long-term prestige and value of the program. Recalling the Goodrich Riding Trophies will provide the opportunity to service the trophies and maintain accountability of this valuable asset while the Army realigns, transforms, and potentially moves headquarters elements. The temporary suspension will also allow the Draper Council to relook current policy and present a revised award criterion that more fairly supports the restructured Army and the combined-arms formations. The suspension will not affect Individual Student Draper Armor Leadership awards or the Commander/Command Sergeant Major Draper Armor Leadership Awards, which recognize armor officers selected for command of a command selection list position and armor noncommissioned officers appointed as command sergeants major. The Armor Center is committed to maintaining the history and dignity of this great program, which was Colonel Drap-er’s intent when he established the program over 80 years ago. The central focus of any revision to the program will be recognizing and supporting excellence in armor and cavalry combat leadership. Comments on revising the unit award and any questions concerning the Draper Armor Leadership Award are appreciated. These can be directed to the Draper Custodian at: commercial (502) 624- 1439; DSN: 464-1439; or e-mail: draper @knox.army.mil.