What happened to the Run Phase?

2015-05-14T11:18:34-04:00

I admit I've been in for four years and was taught about training through the "Crawl, Walk, Run" mentality.

Since I've been in, I've only seen a unit get to the "Walk" phase of training only to have to start back at Crawl due to: Too long since last exercise, people changing out, new leadership....etc.

Real life training example:

Our BN / Company will conduct live fire exercises for convoy operations at the single vehicle level, this is the epitome of training. We have never conducted training as a full convoy, recovery operations in an ambush (during live) and so forth.

Is this Army wide? Is this just a failure in leadership? Am I missing something here?

Please Discuss.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2015 11:22 AM

2015-05-14T11:22:01-04:00

There could be many of reasons for this some of which you have mentioned. I would say one is though Leaders not looking back into past training reading AARs and then picking up in the correct sport of crawl walk run instead of starting over.

Response by BG David Fleming III made May 14 at 2015 11:30 AM

2015-05-14T11:30:03-04:00

Given numerous deployment of forces, units have had to accelerate training. I think it will slow down shortly due to a reductions in forces needed for deployment OCONUS.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2015 11:43 AM

2015-05-14T11:43:23-04:00

I have seen this a bit. It takes a let of work just plan let along train for a platoon life fire. A lot of leaders have to balance a lot of tasks. Doing a platoon live fire may not be the most important task that needs to happen. This is why I don't buy "we are all infantry." Infantry units do this often. It is their job to do this. If you are a Quarter Master your unit has a mission. It most likely more focused on their mission set or METL. I wouldn't compare them to an infantry unit as it would be fair. If they want to do one that is great but at times it would be extremely challenging. You would have to have a command that is willing to do such a task. Keep in mind. You are in a support unit. They really don't focus on combat operations as much. They are support. If you want to do that stuff you may want to rebranch. They should focus on still being combat effective but to be as effective as an infantry company isn't something particle to have when you have a support mission.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 14 at 2015 12:12 PM

2015-05-14T12:12:54-04:00

I cant answer you as I am retired. However, if a unit is not doing collective training then they are sadly mistaking training objectives.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2015 12:15 PM

2015-05-14T12:15:55-04:00

CPT Private RallyPoint Member Sir,

Yes, it is a common training problem with all units across the Army. However, the smaller your element, the easier it is to reach that "run" phase associated with being a "T" on a specific task. In my opinion, it boils down to Division and Brigade Command Training Guidance and when it is issued.

When Command Training Guidance isn't issued until SEP for the next Fiscal Year (starting in OCT), it affects all the lower echelons training guidance and planning, which in turn affects training time, land, ammunition, etc. So it sometimes happens that a lower echelon may not even start real training until JAN. Then when normal unit turnover takes place, historically happening at throughout the 3rd QTR, a unit has that much less time to recover and get everybody to at least a "P" by the end of the FY.

A fix would be for Command Training Guidance to be issued to the lowest METL holding element (Company or ODA) NLT the end of the 3rd quarter (JUN), allowing those subordinate commands 4th quarter to resource and plan for the next FY, and start training towards that plan in OCT, not DEC. This will allow them to plan for normal personnel attrition, and for the train-up of new personnel to the unit, bringing everybody to the same level. Since unit METLs don't change (drastically) too often, it would likely take 1-2 years to get a unit as a whole to a "T" level, and then only be working on maintaining that level through proper planning.