4th Battalion, 1st Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division prepare to qualify on M240/249 Montana Range in South Korea. Jan 25, 2019.

Screen shot of cover of FM 7-0 Training Manual

The U.S. Army delivered its new training doctrine publication, Field Manual (FM) 7-0, Training, on the Army’s 246th birthday, June 14, 2021. The timing is significant because 242 years ago, Baron von Steuben published the first official training manual of the United States Army in 1779, after the Continental Army’s crucible training at Valley Forge.

Von Steuben’s manual and the readiness it produced yielded a force capable of defeating some of the finest infantry in the world. Nearly two and half centuries later, the Army’s newest field manual has the same objective — produce trained and ready forces that can compete and win in any operational environment.

Training Transformation

The new FM 7-0 represents a transformation of the Army’s approach to training doctrine, introducing several changes from the previous edition. It is written in clear and concise language so leaders and Soldiers at all levels can understand and implement the doctrine.

U.S. Air Force and Army medics hoist a medical manikin onto a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., July 2, 2018.

Training Management Cycle

One of the most significant changes is the reintroduction of the Training Management Cycle as the core framework for unit training. It replaces the complex operations/planning processes and Mission Command Philosophy as the Army’s training mechanism. The Training Management Cycle is the process of identifying training requirements by Planning and Preparation, Execution, and the Evaluation and Assessment of training.

Screen Shoot and Manual and Training Management Cycle

Leader Roles in Training Process

FM 7-0 also emphasizes the vital role of senior leaders and non-commissioned officers in the training process. Senior leaders develop and publish training guidance to focus the training efforts of their subordinates and provide the resources necessary to meet training requirements.

Commanders retain the responsibility as the primary trainers of their units. Non-commissioned officers give input to the development of training guidance, the prioritization of tasks, and the development of training schedules. NCOs also prioritize individual and collective tasks for training.

The command sergeant major for the 173rd Airborne Brigade outlines why their training is so tough as the paratroopers look on with enthusiasm at the next challenge. Paratroopers complete a 2.2 mile full combat load run for morning physical training.

Training and Leader Development

Finally, FM 7-0 emphasizes the inextricable link between training and leader development. Leaders must invest time and resources to train subordinates. At the same time, training provides one of the best avenues to develop leaders. The experiences gained and lessons learned during training form a solid foundation for effective leadership.

The changes FM 7-0 introduced were all based on lessons learned and the needs of the Army. It marks a path forward for the Army to continue to strengthen readiness. The Army’s long-tradition of training —first established at Valley Forge in 1778— endures and remains focused on building capability to meet the demands in today’s complex and evolving operational environments.

Trainees of Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry regiment low crawl toward the finish line of the "Fit To Win" endurance course during week 2 of basic combat training at Fort Jackson, SC. The installation trains 50 percent of the U.S. Army's basic combat training load and more than 60 percent of all women entering the Army each year.

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The new FM 7-0 can be downloaded here.

Also check out the Army Training Network (ATN). It is an excellent tool to identify training and leader development resources. It provides a single secure gateway to access information, tools, and education to make training and training management more efficient.

Screenshot of ATN Website