FORT RILEY, Kan. — The 35th Infantry Division conducted a combined command post exercise with the 1st Infantry Division at the Mission Training Center on Fort Riley, August 9-23, 2024. Key components to a successful training event include the interoperability of not only the warfighting function’s fighting systems but also the training partners that help facilitate an environment that is conducive for learning and growing as a staff. The Army National Guard’s Mission Command Training Support Program and observers from 1st Army were two partners who assisted with the 35th Inf. Div. commander’s training guidance.
The Mission Command Training Support Program, or MCTSP, provides units with mission command training collectively up to a division level entity. This training aids commanders in achieving their mission command objective requirements through doctrinal academics, training development, information system operator training, and simulation-supported exercises for staff, communication, command post and field training.
“[MCTSP] is a Guard Bureau program that enables the training of really the entire national guard,” said Robert Marshall, MCTSP training partner and subject matter expert in fires, fire support planning, and fires execution. “So, it brings a variety of capabilities that are available for commanders to integrate into their training.”
Marshall explained that “one of the objectives of this CPX was to give the division staff the opportunity to increase their doctrinal knowledge with the use of the MDMP process, which is important to practice frequently because it is a perishable skill. Another goal was to give the 35th Inf. Div. an opportunity to conduct a CPX with another division headquarters.”
In fact, this CPX — at the division level between components 1 and 2 of the United States Army — is historical for 35th Inf. Div. The United States Army is composed of three components: COMPO 1 — the regular Army; COMPO 2 — the Army National Guard; and COMPO 3 — the Army Reserves. Typically, the Army plans training for divisions on a singular, rotational schedule. So this CPX is rare not only because two divisions are training together, but because those two divisions are from different Army components and from the same state.
In addition to MTCSP, another training partner, 1st Army East, observed the CPX. Col. Reginald Williams, commander of 177 Armor Brigade, 1st Army, observed training during the course of action development brief during the MDMP process with 35th Inf. Div. staff members.
“I was taken aback … really blown away and impressed,” said Williams “We talk about total Army and partnership training and execute real world missions. It was the first time in my Army career in where I’ve seen a training event, without being dictated by Army Forces Command, where you have two divisions that mutually agreed to support one another in a CPX.”
First Army Division East partners with, advises, and assists the reserve components to establish the conditions for generating total Army readiness.
“This CPX serves a dual purpose: It allows your staff to look over the shoulder in side-by-side training with the 1st Inf. Div. in order to develop a relationship as well as develop your own staff, and it is an opportunity to test some of the systems that [the 35th Inf. Div.] will use in your future CPXs,” said Williams. “At the conclusion of this CPX, the key takeaway that the commander should have is where the staff is. It should set a foundation and set an azimuth or a glidepath going forward.”
For two weeks, 35th Inf. Div. staff conducted operations using the military decision-making process to include a combined arms rehearsal with elements from 1st. Inf. Div. Then, through digital simulations, conducted joint decisive operations from their command post.
As the 35th Inf. Div. completes this first of its kind training with 1st Inf. Div., the staff will update their tactical standard operating procedures based on the lessons learned from this exercise. The many partners, like MCTSP and 1st Army, continue to help build readiness at the state and national level for a total Army force.
Social Sharing