Tuesday, January 5, 2016
What is it?
U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command’s Mission Command Training Program (MCTP) remains a premier combat training center to train brigades, divisions, corps and Army Service Component Command-level headquarters. It supports the collective training of Army units as directed by the chief of staff of the Army. Training provides leaders and commanders the opportunity to hone their Mission Essential Task List skills, while facing a near-peer threat in a decisive action environment.
MCTP is a deployable combat training center comprised of eight operation groups with professional observers, coaches and trainers, and highly qualified senior mentors along with the U.S. Air Force 505th Command and Control Wing, Detachment 1 supporting them. Units are scheduled for training at locations worldwide by U.S. Forces Command in accordance with the Sustainment Readiness Model.
What has the Army done?
The Army has given MCTP the responsibility to conduct training that focuses on developing units’ warfighting functions. The Army has provided the Decisive Action Training Environment, or DATE scenario for corps, division and brigades as condition-based training. The DATE is the common environment found in all Army combat training centers. The Army programs these exercises to consist of multiechelon, total Army force (active, Guard and Reserve components) and stresses Special Operations Forces integration.
What does the Army have planned for the future?
During fiscal year 2016, MCTP will support five corps and division-level warfighter exercises, five ASCC exercises and six brigade combat team warfighters. Each exercise generally requires a year of planning. The future focus of these exercises will remain on training corps, division, functional/multifunctional brigade and brigade combat teams to develop their core warfighting competencies.
The Army will continue to schedule warfighter exercises that support the Sustainable Readiness Model and increase the Army’s readiness.
Why is this important to the Army?
MCTP helps brigade, division, corps and ASCC-level headquarters assess their readiness on their METL in a decisive action environment. Units habitually struggle to provide mission command over extended distances and time, synchronize maneuver with fires, and sustain and maintain combat power in austere environments. MCTP provides commanders and leaders daily feedback from observers, coaches and trainers, and senior mentors. Units also receive a detailed final exercise report to improve their mission command skills.
Additionally, MCTP provides a trained, world-class opposing force consisting of Soldiers and contractors to portray a free-thinking, near-peer, hybrid threat.
Resources:
Subscribe to STAND-TO! to learn about the U.S. Army initiatives.