Army Training Management
12 December 2008 FM 7-0 4-19
TRAINING EVENTS
4-98. Commanders link training strategies to training plans by designing and scheduling training events.
Training events are building blocks that support an integrated set of training requirements related to the
METL. During long-range planning, commanders and staffs broadly assess the number, type, and duration
of training events required to complete METL training. Included in long-range training plans, these events
form the resource allocation framework. They also provide early planning guidance to subordinate com-
manders and staffs. In the subsequent development of short-range training plans, senior commanders de-
scribe training events in terms of METL-based training objectives, scenarios, resources, and coordinating
instructions. Typical training events include joint training exercises, situational training exercises, live-fire
exercises, and combat training center (CTC) exercises. (For a complete listing, see CATSs.)
4-99. Effective training events are well-coordinated and use mission-focused scenarios. They focus the en-
tire organization on one or more mission-essential tasks or task groups. Leaders concentrate on supporting
collective tasks and subordinate unit mission-essential tasks. Well-developed events incorporate conditions
replicating the anticipated operational environment. As appropriate, they place Soldiers and leaders in am-
biguous, uncertain, and rapidly changing conditions. Commanders can do this during the run and even in
the walk phase. (See paragraphs 4-180 through 4-184.) Training should include events that require leaders
and units to make quick transitions between offensive, defensive, and stability or civil support operations
within the limits of the applicable METL.
4-100. Training events require training areas and facilities. Some events may require opposing forces
(OPFORs), observer-controller/trainers, and role players. Other events may need training support system
products and services, such as instrumentation and training aids, devices, simulators, and simulations
(TADSS). Finally, a training event itself is only a tool to meet and sustain METL proficiency. All training
events should be evaluated for their contribution to readiness.
4-101. As much as possible, commanders and leaders at all echelons make the training environment as
close to the anticipated operational environment as possible. They include the appropriate level of com-
bined arms, unified action capabilities, and special operations forces capabilities in all training events. A
combination of live, virtual, constructive, and gaming training enablers can make the training environment
approximate an actual operational environment. By complementing the live environment with virtual and
constructive training enablers, commanders can increase the effective size of the training area, incorporate
joint capabilities, and increase the realism of the training environment. CATSs can assist commanders in
developing training events, including mission rehearsals.
4-102. Large-scale, multiechelon training events should be centrally planned so that senior commanders
can exercise and integrate warfighting functions into coordinated combined arms training. For example,
BCTs can integrate warfighting functions while their battalions exercise their core capabilities. Although
events are centrally planned, training objectives and scenarios should be developed collaboratively by
leaders of the levels to be trained. This collaboration helps all units meet their training objectives and fo-
cuses training on the right echelons. It also minimizes training overhead.
4-103. Externally supported events, including evaluations, allow units to focus on executing training.
Higher headquarters usually provide the following support: scenarios derived from the unit’s METL and
commander-derived training objectives, an OPFOR, observer-controller/trainers, role players, and evalua-
tion support. The maneuver CTCs and Battle Command Training Program are examples of externally sup-
ported training opportunities that provide combined arms, mission-focused training. Maneuver CTC and
Battle Command Training Program events provide training events based on each participating unit’s train-
ing objectives. These events are performed under realistic, stressful conditions.
4-104. Sequential training programs successively train each echelon from lower to higher. However, li-
mited resources (such as time) often prevent using sequential training programs. Therefore, commanders
structure each training event to take full advantage of multiechelon and concurrent training.