U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) anticipates new opportunities this year to improve unit readiness, master warfighting fundamentals, strengthen leader development, and care for Soldiers, Army civilians, and Families. As FORSCOM units operate in today's complex global security environment and compelling realities, our vision remains unchanged: develop combat ready and globally responsive units that are well led, disciplined, trained, and expeditionary that will win in a complex world. Readiness is, and will continue to be, our #1 priority.
The 216,000 Regular Army Soldiers of FORSCOM are teamed with the Nation's 325,000 Army National Guard (ARNG) and 195,000 U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) Soldiers to remain the most powerful land force in the world. FORSCOM, as the Army's force provider, prepares units from all three components to accomplish a wide range of missions. FORSCOM is building on the accomplishments of 2016 to win against the most lethal threats in the toughest conditions we might face.
READINESS IN 2016
Our training focus is clear: we prepare for combined arms maneuver over extended distances involving complicated Sustainment and Mission Command within complex operational environments against larger, near-peer, hybrid threats. From integration of fires--organic artillery and joint precision fires--to making live fire exercises routine and conducting mission command on the move, FORSCOM training is
reaching levels not experienced in the past decade. In 2016, we had a 32% increase in training ammunition expenditures and returned to pre-2001, full execution of our mandatory live fire gate training strategy. The number of battalion level live fire exercises, an important benchmark for combat arms units, is increasing each quarter.
Our gated training strategy is a model that logically outlines training from individual Soldier and crew level through collective training at the squad, platoon, company and battalion qualifications to ensure standards are met prior to progressing to the next level.
Similarly, we are routinely integrating special operations forces (SOF) into our training. Doing so benefits all units, conventional and SOF, and offers increased opportunities for leader development. Importantly, we are institutionalizing how we include partner nation forces, U.S. governmental agencies, and other services' warfighting capabilities as part of training events at brigade level and above with the intent of sustaining our proficiency in wide area security tasks.
We are expanding and adding rigor to the Army's Warfighter Exercise (WFX) program, which is the combined post exercise designed to train corps and division commanders and staff. These enhancements include incorporating cyber electromagnetic activities, SOF, Air Force combat air support, mission command on the move, and Functional/Multi-functional Brigade participation. In the future, new terrain, and shorter planning horizons will provide a training crucible for corps and division commanders and staff.
THE TOTAL ARMY
To completely fulfill the Nation's need for land forces to conduct missions around the world requires the Army Total Force. Units of the ARNG and USAR are mobilized, integrated with Regular Army units, and deployed. Collectively, we refer to these three components as the Army Total Force. Preparation of the Total Force begins well before deployment and involves support from all parts of the Army. In order to ensure full integration of these forces, commanders capitalize on a number of initiatives and programs that impact training in positive ways.
First, we have established two important arrangements between the Regular Army, ARNG, and USAR: the Total Force Partnership Program and the Associated Unit Pilot. The Total Force Partnership Program, between Regular Army, ARNG, and USAR units establishes partnerships promoting informal leader development, sharing training opportunities, fostering integrated training and sharing lessons learned, is paying readiness dividends. Our vision for the program is that units achieve a level of partnership that causes delineation between components to become indistinguishable at the Partner-Unit level.
This year, the Total Force Partnership Program leveraged component-neutral use of training resources and equipment. One example is the training exercise at Fort Hood, Texas this summer for 155th ABCT, Mississippi ARNG. Instead of shipping its M- 1 tanks, Bradley fighting vehicles, and support equipment to Texas for the training, it used those of a 1st Cavalry Division ABCT that was deployed to Korea. This approach saved $3.5 million in transportation expenses, strengthened trust and understanding between units of two components, and demonstrated the validity of our Army Total Force approach.
Ten FORSCOM units are participating in the much more formal Associated Unit Pilot beginning this year. This pilot is a multi-year test of effectiveness in employing an associated unit strategy to increase readiness in Regular Army, ARNG, and USAR formations while promoting better total force integration. The key to success for the pilot is the relationship of the associated unit to the gaining unit who will now review and approve their training program and all readiness reports. There are other innovative features of the Associated Unit pilot, such as increasing the number of annual training days and combat training center (CTC) rotations for these select ARNG units and personnel exchanges. We are identifying other opportunities to maximize leader development and integrate training between the components.
The Total Army trains, deploys, and fights together as one team. For example, this year a Regular Army ABCT, ARNG infantry brigade combat team (IBCT), and a Regular Army combat aviation brigade are missioned for the NATO Response Force. These Total Force capabilities have reinforced EUCOM's assigned forces to expand partner nation capacity, reassure allies, and deter aggression. In yet another example of Total Force employment, elements of a Regular Army and ARNG IBCT continue to accomplish the Kosovo Force (KFOR) mission in the Balkans. We continue to seek other opportunities to leverage the Total Force integration in support of COCOMs.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR 2017
To meet the requirements of training for the conduct of operations in the future, we are implementing a number of important enhancements. We have developed a balanced training strategy with strong linkage between home station, the CTCs at Fort Irwin, California and Fort Polk, Louisiana, and joint exercises within the U.S. and in other countries. This strategy provides our units the opportunity to hone the warfighting skills necessary to fight and win in combat. An example is the first sea emergency deployment exercise in fifteen years that featured a BCT from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) completing its home station training and then deploying for its CTC rotation. The BCT deployed its equipment from the U.S. east coast, conducting reception, staging, and onward movement of the brigade from a Texas port into the Joint Readiness Training Center in Louisiana, and seamlessly engaging the world-class opposing force in a successful training experience.
The realities brought about by the reduction in number of Army Soldiers and accompanying force structure, coupled with the necessity of making every training dollar count, requires a mindset change within our units. It is no longer acceptable for a unit that is deployed for missions other than combat to return in a degraded readiness posture. Preservation of readiness while deployed allows units to achieve required readiness quickly for follow-on missions or contingencies.
At our installations, we are investing in training enablers that create the most realistic and relevant training possible despite reduced budgets. By incorporating the latest virtual, constructive, and gaming technologies and coupling them with live training, our units are achieving the required level of readiness to accomplish missions across the full range of military operations. Units are regaining their operational expertise in combined arms maneuver, the most important tenet in our doctrine and the most complicated to master.
Even as we continue to develop ready and responsive forces today to meet the Nation's requirements, FORSCOM is forging a strong partnership with U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command to support planning for the Army of 2025 and preparing for the readiness demands of tomorrow. This partnership includes codifying mechanisms and processes to ensure the voice of the operational commanders in the field are heard in matters such as developing operational concepts, establishing operational requirements for materiel acquisition, and writing doctrine.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FUTURE
FORSCOM's Soldiers and Army civilians are implementing policies that support and enable sustainable readiness, and applying and promulgating the lessons learned over the last eighteen months. Sustainable readiness is resulting in increased efficiency while simultaneously supporting our training focus and strategy. It is not about being ready for a specific time; it is about being ready all the time. Every part of the Army-- institutional, industrial, and operational, including the Army Service Component Commands--have major roles in ensuring the success of sustainable readiness and maximizing readiness in units.
In 2017 we will build on our effort to advance the readiness of our Army Total Force. This includes training integration through the Partnership program, effective pre- mobilization training, and efficient post-mobilization training of RC units. We have work to do in partnering all of our functional and multifunctional brigades, while continuing to promote success within the combat and enabling formations. We will intensely manage the Associated Unit Pilot to produce the data and lessons learned needed to make a decision in 2018 or 2019 on how to adapt, codify and possibly expand the program. We will increase the total number of CTC rotations; implement Objective "T"; sustain the focus on fundamentals; and leverage exercises to sustain readiness.
The outstanding men and women who defend our nation and the families that support them remain America's most valuable asset. They remain resilient and dedicated to accomplishing whatever mission they are given. While many challenges remain, our effort ensures that FORSCOM will continue to provide the world's best led, trained and ready Soldiers, supported by caring Families, to accomplish the mission as a Total Force in support of the Nation.
Ready Today while Preparing for Tomorrow, FORSCOM Remains … Freedom's Guardian!
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