Posted on Oct 24, 2014
How should Basic Training be changed to adapt to the new Army Operating Concept?
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The Army has issued a new Army Operating Concept, titled "Win in a Complex World". This concept focuses more on developing Soldiers than it does on developing technology. Critical thinking, creativity, adaptability, and the ability to operate in the human domain has replaced some of the concepts on how we train to fight.
With that in mind, I wrote an article, from my perspective as an Infantry OSUT Commander, on how to adapt Basic Training to this new doctrine.
What do you think should be done in Basic Training to begin the development of tomorrows warrior leaders?
With that in mind, I wrote an article, from my perspective as an Infantry OSUT Commander, on how to adapt Basic Training to this new doctrine.
What do you think should be done in Basic Training to begin the development of tomorrows warrior leaders?
Basic Training
Army
Training
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 3
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CPT (Join to see), your article resonates with me. Some great ideas!! And it reminded me of something I read just yesterday. The Military Intelligence Readiness Command (MIRC) recently held a senior leader conference. MG Robert Ashley, CG, U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence, spoke about these topics, which should sound very familiar to you:
- Discussed the “Big Five” for the next generation, and the importance of maintaining a cognitive edge:
- Optimized human performance
- Revolution in realistic training
- Global land power network
- Mission command
- Agile institutions
It seems to me that the Army really is trying to move to a smarter force. I remember that was one of my frustrations, as a product of Infantry OSUT (in 1975) and then as an infantryman in the 82d Airborne Division: It seemed I was an automaton, a body filling a billet, and there was no thinking involved ... almost none allowed. And that was one of my motivations to leave the Infantry and move over to MI, where I hoped I would be able to apply myself in a way not possible in the Infantry.
That's what makes this apparent shift in the focus of training very interesting, almost exciting, to me. Thanks for your post and for sharing your article.
- Discussed the “Big Five” for the next generation, and the importance of maintaining a cognitive edge:
- Optimized human performance
- Revolution in realistic training
- Global land power network
- Mission command
- Agile institutions
It seems to me that the Army really is trying to move to a smarter force. I remember that was one of my frustrations, as a product of Infantry OSUT (in 1975) and then as an infantryman in the 82d Airborne Division: It seemed I was an automaton, a body filling a billet, and there was no thinking involved ... almost none allowed. And that was one of my motivations to leave the Infantry and move over to MI, where I hoped I would be able to apply myself in a way not possible in the Infantry.
That's what makes this apparent shift in the focus of training very interesting, almost exciting, to me. Thanks for your post and for sharing your article.
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I came into the Army under One Stop Unit Training (OSUT), that was in 1982. It was a good concept, to be in one unit through basic and AIT. What I would add to that. Drivers Training, no soldier should leave AIT without being licensed on basic army equipment organic to their MOS and the Units they would be expected to go to. This concept of dumping everything on the receiving unit, harkens back to a time frame when most of the army moved by boot. That is not the case anymore. If we are going to preach safety, we need to start it at that the earliest point possible, from professional drivers trainers, not by someone who may or may not know the correct method. Does anyone really think the ARNG and AR can adequately train some one to handle tank? A Semi, Wrecker, recovery vehicle properly without the right school for it? We all know it is not supposed to happen, but how many units are put in a situation where they bend a rule because they won't get a slot for a wrecker operator anytime soon? Better yet, why not send wrecker recovery part of the Mechanics AIT? How many of us get Cooks who can't set up a Containerized Kitchen? Why do we have an AIT program if we get them and they can't do the function we need them to. The whole learn this at your next duty station is and will be a farce. I am impressed with the British concept of having soldiers in a school for 6 months or longer before sending them out to a unit.
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CPT (Join to see)
We still have OSUT for the combat MOS. I was an Infantry OSUT Commander. The one issue I see with the driver training being added to Infantry OSUT I'd that trainees from any given class are going to twenty different units, all with different vehicles. There could be some value in a follow-on course after OSUT for trainees based on the unit. We send trainees with assignment orders to airborne units to airborne school. A similar course could be valuable for Stryker and Bradley, but my philosophy has been that there is some value in a new Private getting that hands on training from their Team Leader in their unit. Additionally, licensing is done by unit, for various reasons, and under current system would need to be retested at the unit.
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