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Training Management: Learning the New Doctrine

By Training Management DirectorateNovember 1, 2021

Changes in Army doctrine often results in changes to the processes and procedures units follow to accomplish the mission. The publication of the new Field Manual 7-0, Training in June 2021, has prompted changes to the way the Army conducts training management. One of the most notable changes is the transition from the operations process to the Training Management Cycle.

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The Training Management Directorate (TMD) provides learning products and services across the institutional, operational, and self-development domains to assist in integrating these training management changes across the Army. The resources include in-person and virtual learning, lesson plans, and tutorials and are available through the Army Training Network (ATN) at https://atn.army.mil.

Integrating the new training management doctrine into the Army begins with educating leaders as part of their Professional Military Education (PME) in the institutional domain. Since the publication of FM 7-0, Mobile Training Teams (MTT) have visited all TRADOC Centers of Excellence (CoE) and Schools to assist instructors and training developers in understanding the new concepts and provide products to assist in educating leaders. In concert with this effort, TMD is developing new Unit Training Management (UTM) lesson plans that support PME for non-commissioned officers, warrant officers, and officers based on the skills required at each grade level. Once approved, the CoEs integrate the lesson plans within their institutional courses to prepare Soldiers for assignments in the operational force.

In the operational domain, the MTTs are preparing visits to units at the Division and below to inform leaders on the new doctrine and assist with training for their subordinate units. In addition, individual units in the active and reserve components can request UTM and Combined Arms Training Strategy (CATS) assistance to better understand and implement the concepts in FM 7-0. The UTM MTT and the CATS Team provide doctrinally based on-site and virtual seminars tailored to the unit’s needs.

UTM training emphasizes the Training Management Cycle as the core framework found in FM 7-0 and provides examples of how to conduct UTM using the tools available through the Army Training Management System. These tools include the Digital Training Management System (DTMS), the Digital Job Book, the Small Unit Leader Tool, and how to use CATS to develop training plans. In addition, units and individuals can download the briefings and lessons for use as part of internal training and professional development. Units can request training and download briefings and lessons from the Unit Training Management page, DTMS Knowledge Base, and CATS Knowledge Base on ATN.

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ATN contains numerous online self-help resources to assist learning in the self-development domain that assist leaders and units in learning and understanding how to apply training doctrine and utilize training management tools. The FM 7-0 page on ATN includes a direct link to FM 7-0 on the Army Publishing Directorate website and a summary of the major doctrinal changes. In addition, the Unit Training Management page provides access to the new FM, other training policy and doctrinal publications, as well as lessons to support individual learning, leader development, and unit education courses. Examples of the lessons available include “ATMS Overview,” “Develop a Long Range Training Plan,” “Manage Unit Training,” and “Plan a Training Event.” There are also UTM videos that serve as examples on how to execute tasks.

New doctrine can present challenges to units. The ability to implement new concepts and procedures requires learning and understanding and the Army provides a variety of resources to assist individuals and units in this process. Institutional courses provide foundational learning for leaders. In-person and virtual training opportunities expand on doctrinal concepts and assist with understanding available tools. Lessons, tutorials, and the ATMS Help Desk provide self-development opportunities. Taking advantage of the available resources will help individuals and units learn to implement the new training doctrine more effectively and efficiently.