FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (Oct. 22, 2009) - This month marks the 23rd anniversary of the Battle Command Training Program, the only deployable Combat Training Center for the Army.
BCTP traces its roots back to the mid-1980s as computer simulations became more and more important to the Army in its training just as the on the ground training at the National Training Center of the battalions and brigades. The need was identified to train the division and Corps headquarters and as such, simulations were seen as the way to fill the gap.
At that time, then-TRADOC Commander Gen. Carl E. Vuono saw a need for simulation supported exercises to train the division and corps headquarters whose leadership would be employing the battalions and brigades below them. Vuono directed Lt. Gen. Gerald T. Bartlett, Combined Arms Center commander from July 1986 to July 1988, to develop and establish the needed organization and capabilities.
According to Bartlett, he arrived at Fort Leavenworth in 1986 with the idea of transferring the magic of the NTC experience to the division and corps level. With the advent of the growth of simulations and high speed computers of the time, this ability was recognized and on Oct. 1, 1986, Bartlett approved the initial concept creating BCTP.
The requirements were for BCTP to be mobile, going to the units to conduct the training instead of the units going to the other CTCs. The capabilities of the simulations helped pave the way for the command post exercises to become what were known for many years as "warfigher" exercises.
Initially, BCTP consisted of a mobile team of about 35 individuals and over the years has grown to what it is today. BCTP is now staffed by almost 300 military members, more than 50 Department of the Army civilians and more than 400 contractors, working in seven operations groups and a headquarters detachment.
Operation Groups Alpha and Delta focus on division and higher organizations. Operations Groups Bravo and Charlie concentrate on brigade combat teams. Operation Groups Foxtrot and Sierra focus on multifunctional and functional brigades. Operations Group Contemporary Operating Environment focuses on all providing the scenario development for the exercises. HHD provides the command and control, as well as all administrative functions for BCTP.
Since 1986, there have been 14 commanders of BCTP starting with Col. David Blodgett, who assumed primary responsibility for the project in 1986, to the present commander, Col. Mark E. McKnight, who assumed command in July 2008. Each of the 14 commanders has had unique roles and responsibilities over the years as the Army has changed and BCTP changed at the same time to meet the Army's needs.
BCTP continues to be ready and relevant to today's Army, the ever-changing future of the Army and the training requirements yet to be determined. Nowhere else in the Army can the art of battle command at the brigade, division, corps and Army service component command staffs be exercised than with BCTP.
To ensure those who are assigned to BCTP provide the most up-to-date information available to the training units, observer/trainers remain current on all doctrine within their specialty, conduct frequent video teleconferences with deployed units to ensure understanding of the contemporary operating environment, learn best practices from both deployed and training units, go with deploying units on pre-deployment surveys, provide feedback to the Center for Army Lessons Learned, and provide subject matter experts to various seminars and conferences.
Officers and noncommissioned officers assigned to BCTP are at the forefront of training the Army's current and future leaders. In a typical tour of duty with BCTP, officers and NCOs are exposed to almost every brigade combat team, multifunctional and functional brigade, division/corps and ASCC leader and staff, as well as six senior mentors who are retired three- and four-star general officers, to hear and see the art of battle command.
Nowhere else in the Army can officers and NCOs see and experience how information is gathered, synthesized, presented to the leaders, guidance given and then executed. BCTP partnered with the training units before deployments to two combat zones, the Korean peninsula and it support of homeland defense.
In its own right, BCTP in its 23rd year of service to the Army and the nation is also growing and mentoring the future leaders of the Army. We stand proud on the shoulders of those who have gone before us and continue in their proud traditions of service to our nation and our Army. Decisive Victory!
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