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Maj. Gen. John B. Richardson IV, commanding general, 1st Cavalry Division provides his vision and guidance during a targeting decision board with division staff and subordinate commanders during the Warfighter 23-04 exercise. During the nine days of training, 1CD leaders and Troopers honed their capability to fight in a large-scale combat operation while operating in multiple domains.
(Photo Credit: Spc. Cheyne Hanoski)VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –
Maj. Huw Miller, 1st Cavalry Division current operations officer from the 3 (United Kingdom) Division, tracks and synchronizes current operations on the battlefield during the Warfighter 23-04 exercise. During this exercise, 1CD fully integrated all Mission Command Integration Systems including the Command Post Computing Environment (CPCE) to synchronize units across the Division battlespace.
(Photo Credit: Lt. Col. Jennifer Bocanegra)VIEW ORIGINAL
The U.S. Army III Armored Corps partnered with the Mission Command Training Program to conduct a multinational warfighter exercise over nine days, April 19-27, at Fort Hood and Fort Bliss, Texas.
It involved the corps leading three combat divisions, the 1st Cavalry Division, 1st Armored Division, and the 3rd (United Kingdom) Division, through a large-scale combat operation scenario under a North Atlantic Treaty Organization command structure.
The exercise featured significant evolutions in the training environment. MCTP rolled out a more dynamic scenario and opposing force and additional training stimulus for information-related capabilities.
“We’re constantly finding ways to increase the sophistication of the warfighter exercise,” said Col. Bryan Babich, MCTP Commander. “We want to simulate a realistic and rigorous environment that matches the operational environments the Joint force must be prepared to operate.”
“Warfighter exercises are the premier capstone training events where corps and divisions advance the Army’s understanding of multi-domain operations at scale while providing a critical developmental experience for future senior leaders.”
The Chief of Staff of the Army, Gen. James McConville, visited Fort Hood to observe the training event where he suggested the importance of the training’s modernizations.
“We spent the last 20-plus years doing counterinsurgency, counterterrorism, and irregular warfare,” said McConville. “We believe the next battle—seen unfold in Ukraine — is going to be large-scale combat operations.”
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U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. James C. McConville recognizes the hard work and dedication of the leaders of the 3rd (United Kingdom) Division and servicemembers from other NATO countries during Warfighter 23-4 at Fort Hood, Texas, April 20, 2023. Warfighter 23-4 is a Department of Defense directed multi-echelon, multi-national exercise with III Armored Corps, 1st Armored Division, 1st Cavalry Division, 13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, 36th Engineer Brigade, 75th Field Artillery Brigade, and 89th Military Police Brigade participating as primary training units. The exercise is designed to enhance lethality, readiness, and allied interoperability. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Luis Santiago)
(Photo Credit: Sgt. Luis Santiago)VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 3Show Caption +Hide Caption –
U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. James C. McConville stands with the leaders of the 3rd (United Kingdom) Division during Warfighter 23-4 at Fort Hood, Texas, April 20, 2023. Warfighter 23-4 is a Department of Defense directed multi-echelon, multi-national exercise with III Armored Corps, 1st Armored Division, 1st Cavalry Division, 13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, 36th Engineer Brigade, 75th Field Artillery Brigade, and 89th Military Police Brigade participating as primary training units. The exercise is designed to enhance lethality, readiness, and allied interoperability. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Luis Santiago)
(Photo Credit: Sgt. Luis Santiago)VIEW ORIGINAL3 / 3Show Caption +Hide Caption –
Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, Gen. Randy A. George, visits with Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, during Warfighter 23-4 at Fort Hood, Texas, April 24, 2023. George's visit included stops at the 1st Cav. Div. Command Post, Mission Training Complex, 1-12 Cav. Cavalry motor pool, First Army Division West Headquarters, and more. Warfighter 23-4 is a Department of Defense directed multi-echelon, multi-national exercise with III Armored Corps, 1st Armored Division, 1st Cavalry Division, 13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, 36th Engineer Brigade, 75th Field Artillery Brigade, 89th Military Police Brigade, and NATO allies including 3rd (United Kingdom) Division. The exercise is designed to enhance lethality, readiness, and allied interoperability. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. LaShic Patterson).
(Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. LaShic Patterson)VIEW ORIGINAL
MCTP instituted a new LSCO scenario for III AC to enable more dynamic decision-making and intel analysis to support those decisions from the start. Normally, corps and divisions face an opposing force in a deliberate defense after invading an allied country. Enemy positions in the areas of operation are typically known, and their courses of action are relatively limited.
The new scenario postured NATO forces as ready to respond to the crisis before the invasion. Once the adversary’s provocation was significant enough to invoke NATO’s Article 5 mutual defense principle, its forces were at the line of departure, ready to confront the OPFOR.
Yet, the response speed introduced more significant unknowns, such as where the adversary would likely attack. Like a grand-chess match, it involved a race by both forces for positioning and key terrain while contesting one another along the way.