The 11C community plays a vital role in the U.S. Army’s indirect fire capabilities, and as such, it is essential to stay informed about the latest developments and updates in doctrine, training, and equipment. The Department of Training, Tactics, and Doctrine (DOTTD) at Fort Benning, GA, serves as the central hub for the 11C community, providing substantial resources and expertise to support the U.S. Army Infantry and Armor schools. This article aims to provide an overview of the five key teams within DOTTD that support the mortar community, highlight recent updates to doctrine, and introduce new initiatives aimed at enhancing the qualification and training of mortar crews.
Teams that Support the Mortar Community
DOTTD is comprised of five teams that work together to support the mortar community: Weapons and Gunnery, Task Development, NCO Education System (NCOES), Initial Entry Training (IET), and Systems. Each team plays a critical role in ensuring that the 11C community has access to the latest training materials, equipment, and expertise.
- Weapons and Gunnery Team: This team is responsible for developing and maintaining instructional materials for Infantry School training courses, including Training Circular (TC) 3-22.90, Mortars, and TC 3-22.91, Mortar Fire Direction Procedures. Team members also serve as the proponent for the Mortars Microsoft Teams page and MilSuite Mortar Square page, which provide a direct line of communication for 11C talent managers, career counselors, and the broader mortar community.
- Task Development Team: Task developers (TDs) are subject matter experts who travel to verify technical manuals (TMs) for new equipment and weapon systems. They develop new tasks or modify existing ones to ensure they are relevant, measurable, and achievable. TDs also validate tasks to ensure they are accurate, relevant, and aligned with Army doctrine and regulations.
- NCOES Team: This team focuses on program of instruction (POI) management for the Active Component (AC) and Reserve Component (RC) Maneuver Senior Leaders Course (M-SLC) and Advanced Leaders Course (ALC). They utilize the ADDIE (analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation) model to develop and revise lesson plans, ensuring that training materials are current and compliant with U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) regulations.
- IET Team: The IET Team specifically focuses on One Station Unit Training (OSUT) and the Basic Officer Leaders Course (BOLC). Team members review, revise, and create lesson plans for current doctrine and resource requirements, ensuring that training materials are TRADOC compliant.
- Systems Team: This team primarily focuses on the integration of mortar equipment, creating system training plans as well as reviewing and assisting with the revision of training requirements and TMs to ensure accuracy.
Updates to Doctrine and Training
Recent updates to doctrine and training include the introduction of the “math method” in TC 3-22.91, which provides a verification technique for mortar fire direction procedures by calculating range and azimuth to the target. The publication also introduces Graphical Training Aid (GTA) 07-01-029, Training Plotting Board, which can be used to assist in training and increase knowledge prior to attendance at the Infantry Mortar Leaders Course (IMLC) and used as a resource to test Table 1-B in TC 3-20.33, Training Qualification and Mortars. Additionally, the GTA is available for order through most installation Training Aids, Devices, Simulators, and Simulations (TADSS) offices (see Figure 1).
TC 3-20.33 is grounded in Army Doctrine Publication (ADP) 7-0, Training, and is constructed from TC 3-20.0, Integrated Training Weapons Strategy (IWTS). The information introduced in this publication will assist and streamline the qualification of mortars by introducing mortar platoon-specific Department of the Army (DA) forms. Battalion commanders now have a new means by which to assess their intent/mission-essential task list (METL) with their leaders and external evaluators (EXEVALs). The DA forms being introduced in this publication are:
• DA Form 7880, Mortar Crew Section Fire Mission Scoresheet
• DA Form 7881, Mortar Crew Platoon Fire Mission Scoresheet
• DA Form 7882, Mortar Crew Platoon Roll-up
• DA Form 7883, Mortar Crew Section Roll-up
These forms are intended to replace historically used memorandums for record, thereby minimizing the packet size used for tracking and at combat training centers (CTCs) to create an easier understanding for leaders and commanders. This publication will also introduce the mortar “clasp” which is authorized for wear and includes the criteria for earning it. This can be added to each individual’s Soldier Talent Profile (STP). This publication will also introduce the fire direction center scoring as grading criteria for leaders and EXEVALs during the qualification of mortars; it will also give leaders an idea of how to grade their Soldiers prior to Table 1-B and attendance at IMLC.
Future Prerequisites for IMLC
IMLC will soon require a prerequisite for attendance, which will be administered through a CAC-enabled MilUniversity website. The prerequisite test will be controlled through the same source, providing a knowledge base for students as they arrive at IMLC. This course is projected to be taught similarly to IMLC (with actions on the plotting board on full screen) and will provide the schoolhouse with better-prepared Soldiers, increasing graduation rates and overall knowledge across the indirect fire community.
Conclusion
The 11C community, advisors, leaders, and commanders must stay informed about the latest updates and developments in doctrine, training, and equipment. The DOTTD teams play a critical role in supporting the mortar community, and it is essential to leverage these resources to ensure that mortar crews are properly trained and equipped to perform their duties. By staying informed and engaged, the 11C community can continue to provide effective and efficient indirect fire support to the U.S. Army.
Staff Sgt. Brady Smith currently serves as the senior training developer/writer for the 11C community. He previously served as a drill sergeant in 197th Infantry Brigade.
Staff Sgt. Ruben Garces currently serves a training developer/writer for the 11C community. He previously served as a drill sergeant in 198th Infantry Brigade.
Sgt. 1st Class Adam Weaver currently serves as the Infantry Mortar Leader Course platoon sergeant. He previously served as the Drill Sergeant of the Year for the 198th Infantry Brigade.
This article appeared in the Spring 2025 issue of Infantry. Read more articles from the professional bulletin of the U.S. Army Infantry at https://www.benning.army.mil/Infantry/Magazine/ or https://www.lineofdeparture.army.mil/Journals/Infantry/.
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