Chapter 4
4-34 FM 7-0 12 December 2008
ing meetings. Commanders develop tentative plans, including requirements for preparatory training, mul-
tiechelon training, concurrent training, and training resources. Often these plans take the form of verbal
guidance issued during training meetings. When necessary, commanders prepare a written event training
plan. All training plans include time and other resources necessary for retraining.
SELECTING AND PREPARING TRAINERS
4-166. Trainers include leaders, evaluators, observer-controller/trainers, OPFOR personnel, and role
players. These people are identified, trained to standard, and rehearsed before training events begin. Ex-
ecuting challenging, doctrinally correct, and professional training requires preparing leaders and trainers
beforehand. This involves coaching them on how to train, giving them time to prepare, and rehearsing
them. Commanders ensure that trainers and evaluators are tactically and technically competent on their
training tasks. Commanders also make sure these people understand how the training relates to the unit
METL and training objectives. Properly prepared trainers, evaluators, and leaders project confidence and
enthusiasm to those being trained.
4-167. Training the trainers is a critical step in preparation for training. Leaders, evaluators, observer-
controller/trainers, and OPFOR personnel involved in any training event must know, understand, and be
proficient on the standard for each task. All leaders are trainers, but all trainers are not necessarily leaders.
A junior Soldier or subject matter expert may be the best person to train a particular collective or individual
task. Subordinate leaders may be the trainer as well as the leader of an element conducting collective training.
EVENT TRAINING PLANS
4-168. A complex training event may require a formal event training plan. Commanders issue the event
training plan as early as possible. They do this after completing a training site reconnaissance and identify-
ing additional training support requirements with their subordinate leaders and trainers. This plan guides
the organization in completing the training event. It identifies elements necessary for the unit to conduct
the training to standard. It may be in the form of an operation order, or it may be oral guidance given in the
weekly training meeting. Trainers coordinate to obtain the equipment, products, and ammunition needed to
support training, based on the site reconnaissance and event training plan. Formal event training plans in-
clude the following:
z Confirmed training areas and locations.
z Training ammunition allocations.
z TADSS that have been coordinated for.
z Confirmed transportation resources.
z Soldier support items that have been coordinated.
z Risk management analysis.
z Designation of trainers.
z Final coordination requirements.
INSPECTIONS
4-169. Preparing for training requires inspections to ensure the needed resources are available. Inspec-
tions can be as simple as pretraining checks for a training event. Alternatively, they can be as complex as
an organizational inspection program that scrutinizes the unit’s entire training program. Inspections also
aim to ensure equipment is ready and serviceable, trainers are prepared, resources are available, and safety
is a priority. Inspections help leaders ensure the following:
z Their organizations have what they need to conduct quality training.
z Their organizations conduct training to standard.
z Training time is optimized.
z Training is focused on the METL.
z Training objectives are achievable.
z Individual skills and knowledge are improved.