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I just returned from a ride along with the 11th ACR at the NTC and Fort Irwin. What are some good lessons learned from your experience at the NTC?
Lessons Learned
Advice
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 12
I learned during my time there (1997-2000), as part of the OPFOR, that when BLUFOR units would return....more often than not the new Leaders and Commanders would make the same mistakes as their predecessors. It seemed that AAR's were never read or information/experience was never passed on the the replacement Commanders.
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Understand you are in a tank company but something's to consider
- LTC (Join to see) has some good advice for you.
- ensure your TMDE, especially for your Maintenace team, won't drop out of calibration during NTC. Your unit calibration coordinator can pull your units listing from the TMDE lab and check this. Don't dump it all the week before.
- take special care on your 1750s for containers in case something is lost in transit.
- two gunneries (if they still do them) are important, what used to be the STAMIS gunnery for the sustainment systems and MILES gunnery. If you don't zero your miles you won't hit anything.
- who,ever is doing your LOGSTAT: it is critical that it is right and on time. You will basically need fuel every twelve hours.
- if your unit task organizes and they split up your tank platoons, don't forget that maintainer expertise and spares/parts need to be cross attached too. Same goes for when you recieve bradleys.
- SOPs. Use them. Capture the things that could stand to be SOPs that aren't.
- pre combat checks, pre combat inspections.
- the unit that wins the counter recon fight is the one that usually is successful. I am unsure how the OPFOR is using recon assets in the contemporary DA rotations, but the terrain lends itself to the whole kit bag of recon. The terrain is generally canalized to the passes. There is little to obscure day and night observation and targeting. Dismounted Recon Teams (affectionately referred to as Dirts) are hard to find and they are very effective if resupplied or operating off caches. Popular scout sets are pieces of high ground that cover multiple pieces of key terrain and avenues. They tend to be employed in overlapping sets in case some are compromised. The wadis and goat paths are prime for sneaking wheeled and tracked Recon elements with little visible or audible signature.
- there was a tendency way back when for units to be hyper focused on the breach in the offense. A TTP was to build a very elaborate defense at a random spot just to get a unit to breach...for no apparent reason. Can you easily bypass and not break your momentum?
- recovery is going to be very important. Ensure your crews are prepared for recovery. Turning your equipment at the unit maintenance collection point will be critical.
- Most Hooah thing I ever heard about was a UMCP about to be over run, quickly towed tanks up into a firing position and Got them turret power so they could fight. Might be worth having the conversation with the BMT.
- pay special care and have your leaders validate the transition between force on force and live fire. Nothing is a bigger distractor than validating all the training/sim ammo is turned in and the live is issued and vice versa once live ammo turns up in the wrong spot.
- LTC (Join to see) has some good advice for you.
- ensure your TMDE, especially for your Maintenace team, won't drop out of calibration during NTC. Your unit calibration coordinator can pull your units listing from the TMDE lab and check this. Don't dump it all the week before.
- take special care on your 1750s for containers in case something is lost in transit.
- two gunneries (if they still do them) are important, what used to be the STAMIS gunnery for the sustainment systems and MILES gunnery. If you don't zero your miles you won't hit anything.
- who,ever is doing your LOGSTAT: it is critical that it is right and on time. You will basically need fuel every twelve hours.
- if your unit task organizes and they split up your tank platoons, don't forget that maintainer expertise and spares/parts need to be cross attached too. Same goes for when you recieve bradleys.
- SOPs. Use them. Capture the things that could stand to be SOPs that aren't.
- pre combat checks, pre combat inspections.
- the unit that wins the counter recon fight is the one that usually is successful. I am unsure how the OPFOR is using recon assets in the contemporary DA rotations, but the terrain lends itself to the whole kit bag of recon. The terrain is generally canalized to the passes. There is little to obscure day and night observation and targeting. Dismounted Recon Teams (affectionately referred to as Dirts) are hard to find and they are very effective if resupplied or operating off caches. Popular scout sets are pieces of high ground that cover multiple pieces of key terrain and avenues. They tend to be employed in overlapping sets in case some are compromised. The wadis and goat paths are prime for sneaking wheeled and tracked Recon elements with little visible or audible signature.
- there was a tendency way back when for units to be hyper focused on the breach in the offense. A TTP was to build a very elaborate defense at a random spot just to get a unit to breach...for no apparent reason. Can you easily bypass and not break your momentum?
- recovery is going to be very important. Ensure your crews are prepared for recovery. Turning your equipment at the unit maintenance collection point will be critical.
- Most Hooah thing I ever heard about was a UMCP about to be over run, quickly towed tanks up into a firing position and Got them turret power so they could fight. Might be worth having the conversation with the BMT.
- pay special care and have your leaders validate the transition between force on force and live fire. Nothing is a bigger distractor than validating all the training/sim ammo is turned in and the live is issued and vice versa once live ammo turns up in the wrong spot.
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LTC (Join to see)
The cross organization is a great point. I never observed a unit do this right; from the task org in the order, to who accounts and reports the personnel, by Command relationship OPCON, TACON, whatevercon where the unit was in maintenance, supply, Class I, III, V.
Another note for the Company CDR is CLIII P, tanks consume a metric shit ton of IIIP and the BN S4/BMO never requisitions a push pkg for RSOI. Turbo shaft comes to mind.
Another note for the Company CDR is CLIII P, tanks consume a metric shit ton of IIIP and the BN S4/BMO never requisitions a push pkg for RSOI. Turbo shaft comes to mind.
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As a Army Reserve Company Commander I went to NTC in 2013 to support a AD BCT. My advice is to include reserve enablers in all aspects of the training event, particularly the LTP. I personally got the most benefit from the LTP, as far as establishing connections with the BCT staff and get an idea from the BCT Commander on what they expected from me and my Soldiers.
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Deserts can get really cold at night in January.
Also, sand sticks to the chapstick on your lips.
Also, sand sticks to the chapstick on your lips.
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MAJ (Join to see) For some reason, painted rock looks different as if units have painted over other units rocks. Any ways, while I was there at NTC as OPFOR, we would always see units drop their guard especially at night. I can't count the times that we would sneak up and walk right up to their vehicles and write "OPFOR was here" with white chalk. Our scouts found radio guards sleeping on their shifts and unsecure gear and weapons at times. Our OC would pass this information along to the BLUFOR OCs so that the companies will defend their AOs much tighter and learn from simple mistakes that could cost lives in theater.
AARs are just as important. This is where you learn from mistakes to become more proficient at your MOS. Never under estimate the enemy either. When the BLUFOR thought they secured the area on "Move to Contact" mission, along came another MRB that literally overran them from avenues of approach not scanned by gunners or a gap in the defense.
AARs are just as important. This is where you learn from mistakes to become more proficient at your MOS. Never under estimate the enemy either. When the BLUFOR thought they secured the area on "Move to Contact" mission, along came another MRB that literally overran them from avenues of approach not scanned by gunners or a gap in the defense.
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MAJ (Join to see)
You could probably take pictures from 20 different angles at painted rock now, it's huge. Thanks for the advice!
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CPT Jacob Swartout
MAJ (Join to see) - It's been so long since I was last out at NTC. We had a great time though. I can only imagine how much it has grown since 2001.
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I learned how often HMMWV Tires pop and how much caffeine my 1SG takes in on an hourly basis. Good times always at NTC. Also just had my first rotation in the summer there and that sucked. August is a miserable time there.
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MSG (Join to see)
MAJ (Join to see) They make units get ice there now so coolers was good to have . Our logpacs always had us request 12 bags per platoon each day. It was worth it.
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From and enlisted standpoint. Did 3 rotations Jan 1999, Mar 2000, Sept 2001. TOC and position security are a must, OC's have CS canisters and are NOT afraid to use them especially at night. Check Check and recheck that everyone has their gear secured at all times. Guys seem to always under pack. The desert is cold at night. Any bad habit you have double what you think you need and add 10. If you dont smoke or chew take a cartoon or log along for trade. Cigs are gold about day 10. Finally post guards on your vehicles in the turn in motor pool. People will steal the tires off your 5 tons and road wheels from your Bradleys, people will steal anything to get their vehicle turned in and get the hell out of there. Oh ya, the Ravens and coyotes both know MRE's are food and will steal them from where ever you have them stashed. For tactical data you will need to try someone else!
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my 1st trip was very educating and very specific to my job 38b civil affairs, the bct we operated with understood our mission and integrated it to they're mission, my 2nd was a wtf moment, we were not integrated and spent most of our time sitting in our vics not doing our jobs, 25th id, they were still in the door kicking and ass taking mode, my team had zero support while there, we actually ended up making our own missions with the help of ODA(SF), our grader did little to support us as CA asset, left a really bad taste in my mouth
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Do not reach for the ground.
I broke my foot there jumping into the "box." It was the jump for my Senior Parachutist wings in 2002. I remember that jump every time I exit an aircraft.
I broke my foot there jumping into the "box." It was the jump for my Senior Parachutist wings in 2002. I remember that jump every time I exit an aircraft.
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I've always managed to some how miss those rotations because either the unit I arrived at just got back or the unit left right after I did. Darn...
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MAJ (Join to see)
Yeah I've been in that boat for 5 years. Finally on my way there in August as a company commander in my current unit.
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SSG (Join to see)
With my luck my first trip to a Training Center with be JRTC.. given my proximity.. I'd rather go to the desert.
Hope everyone stays safe and watch out for snakes in the tracks.
Hope everyone stays safe and watch out for snakes in the tracks.
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SSG Laurie Mullen
I did at least five rotations during my career. Summer and winter rotations both suck.
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Don't be assigned to 11th ACR. OPS GRP is where it's at. NTC is like a karate class vs a real fight. Pay attention and hopefully you take something good away from it. I hope you learned that you cannot ever control a situation. You just have to react accordingly.
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LTC (Join to see)
MAJ (Join to see) - Thanks. Let me know what you are looking for and I will see what data I have on file about NTC. But, for starters,
I. Home Station Prep: Maintenance is key. If you take your tanks or draw them you need to look at your maintenance and your CL IX spares.... road wheels, idler arms, shocks, look at whatever has broken on all your stuff and see if anyone has it handy. Look at your weapons maintenance, when were they last gauged? Need spare barrels. Look at your NVGs and get them purged before NTC. Comms- have your comms smart folks run through all your gear to include your JCR, FBCB2, BFT, etc Your FSC can support all of this.
Supply- Figure out what you need and don't need. I saw 22 units bring conex after cones and leave half their it in the RUBA because no one had an inventory of where is was. Batteries, bring them for everything. Look at your CL VIII requirements; combat lifesaver bags and re-order all expired supplies.
II. Wargame NTC: while at home station you need your NCOs to discuss day by day, hour by hour actions during RSOI. There is simply too much to do during this 96 hrs and most units just survive it rather than own it. You should know who is tasked with waking up everyone, who is drawing vehicles, miles gear, commo, CL III P, CL V, ect. You will need an area to track all this movement as well, I used a field desk, paper in document protectors and dry erase markers. Develop your rest/sleep plan before NTC and enforce it. Too many units smoke themselves during RSOI then conduct a 6-8 hr roll-out and are not ready on TD-01.
Contact the Scorpion and Tarantula Teams and ask them for their Lessons Learned. They can get into specifics on reviewing your SOPs and TTPs, updating your Battle Drills, gunnery prep for live fire, ect.
Have a Great Rotation as well. Don't dread NTC, own it!
I. Home Station Prep: Maintenance is key. If you take your tanks or draw them you need to look at your maintenance and your CL IX spares.... road wheels, idler arms, shocks, look at whatever has broken on all your stuff and see if anyone has it handy. Look at your weapons maintenance, when were they last gauged? Need spare barrels. Look at your NVGs and get them purged before NTC. Comms- have your comms smart folks run through all your gear to include your JCR, FBCB2, BFT, etc Your FSC can support all of this.
Supply- Figure out what you need and don't need. I saw 22 units bring conex after cones and leave half their it in the RUBA because no one had an inventory of where is was. Batteries, bring them for everything. Look at your CL VIII requirements; combat lifesaver bags and re-order all expired supplies.
II. Wargame NTC: while at home station you need your NCOs to discuss day by day, hour by hour actions during RSOI. There is simply too much to do during this 96 hrs and most units just survive it rather than own it. You should know who is tasked with waking up everyone, who is drawing vehicles, miles gear, commo, CL III P, CL V, ect. You will need an area to track all this movement as well, I used a field desk, paper in document protectors and dry erase markers. Develop your rest/sleep plan before NTC and enforce it. Too many units smoke themselves during RSOI then conduct a 6-8 hr roll-out and are not ready on TD-01.
Contact the Scorpion and Tarantula Teams and ask them for their Lessons Learned. They can get into specifics on reviewing your SOPs and TTPs, updating your Battle Drills, gunnery prep for live fire, ect.
Have a Great Rotation as well. Don't dread NTC, own it!
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LTC (Join to see)
MAJ (Join to see) - CPT Jordan- Here is a list of questions that you can edit and provide to your BN XO to give to his FSC Cdr for a follow-on discussion. Your FSC and Staff, will make or break you at NTC and training the CBT/Field Trains in LOGPAC operations will be as critical as your Table XII Gunnery. No fuel= No tanks.
(Just replace higher echelon names with lower).
Distribution Process: How does your brigade manage the distribution process? Walk your process thru commodities reception from the CSSB, LNOs at the SSA, communication procedures, Walk Thru Process, Hi-Pri Parts, expedited movement, reception of commodities at the BSA, and from the BSA to conducting LRP operations. Explain the standardized process at Brigade TOC, TAC, or BSB TOC, for LOGPAC operations with both the FTCPs and the CTCPs.
Battle Rhythm: Look at the sustainment battle rhythm. It needs to be nested with the
916th Sustainment Brigade. They are 96 hours ahead of your timeline. So
if your SPO can only see requirements 24 hrs out he will never get in the
Sustainment Brigade's Battle Rhythm. What is your LOG Reporting process and how is it conducted, by whom, to whom, and times?
Reports: How does the BSB receive reports and when. Do the Battalion
(S-4) use the LRT. Are they on NIPR or SIPR. When do we convert from the
NIPR LRT to the SIPR BCS3 report?
Sustainment Synchronization: do we synchronize sustainment at the BSB level
and do we include the FTCPs and the CTCPs? Is the SPO in charge of coordinating FSCs convoys from the BSA to the maneuver units? Or is that controlled by the maneuver XOs and if so how is that coordinated? How do we show at echelon all
the movements in time and space to clearly see all the friction points of
the distribution process? Is Protection of these movements discussed and who has the responsibility for this process?
Medical: Have we defined all the roles and responsibilities of the medical
system from the point of injury to self and buddy aid; use of non standard
evac equipment Back to Role I. Has each MAS and BAS defined what a MASCAL
is for them and established triggers with Role II for evacuation? Have we
defined the roles of who is authorized for launch authority of our MEDEVAC
aircraft? Have we clearly defined the role of the BCT Surgeon and the BCT
MEDO? Do these two have an IT system to use or do they just sit in the back of the BDE TOC? Do all the medical players understand the PACE plan from lower to
higher? Do we have an activation plan for AXPs? Are they manned or unmanned
and have we set triggers for the establishment of triggers for AXPs?
Do we truly understand air corridors for the MEDEVAC platform and have we
develop a plan for the Cavalry troopers? Is our AXP accessible to the
MEDEVAC aircraft or is too far forward that we will need to utilize M113s or
M997s to another AXP? Do we have established BFT role names and FM Call
signs for our evacuation platoons? Who synchronizes all the medical
evacuation assets and maintains the COP at the BCT level?
Personnel: Have we defined where the BCT 1 will be and the location of the
PHA? Do we have the infrastructure to hold Soldiers at the BSA and how do
we transfer those Soldiers back to their parent units?
BCT 4 and SPO: Have we clearly articulated the roles and responsibilities
of the BCT 4 and the SPO. The BCT 4 receives the LOGSTATs daily from the BN
S-4s (the What) and provides the BCT LOGSTAT to the SPO to determine (The
How) the plan to distribute commodities to the FSCs? Have we developed a
FSC and BSB relation and so that the SPO can receive the FSC Commander's
Concept of Support and the synchronize the support structure? Or is each
FSC under the control of a BN XO that will provide centralized control of
their execution according to the BSB Commanders plan?
BSA: have we developed a BSA concept for the BCT. Do we know the size of
the BCT and how to properly defend it. Have we giving guidance to the FSCs
or Field Trains on the BSA and their responsibly to defend the perimeter.
Have we defined the Roles of the BSB S-2 who now becomes the BSA S-2 and
rear area S-2. Are we using digital systems to be collaborative and
preparing products for the Distribution Company and the FSCs for TCOs are do
we let them depart the BSA without a S-2 de-brief? Do we collaborate with
the CSSB S-2 and track and monitor their TCOs or do we let them drive thru
our battle space with no knowledge of the tactical plan and rear area
threats?
Those are my initial comments. Please let me know where I can assist in the
train up for NTC. Get in some reps driving the team at night. Working 24
hrs or working one shift one day and another shift on the next. Have orders
production timed events to see how fast staff can crank out an order.
Develop an order for every phase of NTC starting with homestation prep;
load; leave; RSOI, STX, FOF, REGEN, Unload, BSB AAR and home station
training plan after NTC.
(Just replace higher echelon names with lower).
Distribution Process: How does your brigade manage the distribution process? Walk your process thru commodities reception from the CSSB, LNOs at the SSA, communication procedures, Walk Thru Process, Hi-Pri Parts, expedited movement, reception of commodities at the BSA, and from the BSA to conducting LRP operations. Explain the standardized process at Brigade TOC, TAC, or BSB TOC, for LOGPAC operations with both the FTCPs and the CTCPs.
Battle Rhythm: Look at the sustainment battle rhythm. It needs to be nested with the
916th Sustainment Brigade. They are 96 hours ahead of your timeline. So
if your SPO can only see requirements 24 hrs out he will never get in the
Sustainment Brigade's Battle Rhythm. What is your LOG Reporting process and how is it conducted, by whom, to whom, and times?
Reports: How does the BSB receive reports and when. Do the Battalion
(S-4) use the LRT. Are they on NIPR or SIPR. When do we convert from the
NIPR LRT to the SIPR BCS3 report?
Sustainment Synchronization: do we synchronize sustainment at the BSB level
and do we include the FTCPs and the CTCPs? Is the SPO in charge of coordinating FSCs convoys from the BSA to the maneuver units? Or is that controlled by the maneuver XOs and if so how is that coordinated? How do we show at echelon all
the movements in time and space to clearly see all the friction points of
the distribution process? Is Protection of these movements discussed and who has the responsibility for this process?
Medical: Have we defined all the roles and responsibilities of the medical
system from the point of injury to self and buddy aid; use of non standard
evac equipment Back to Role I. Has each MAS and BAS defined what a MASCAL
is for them and established triggers with Role II for evacuation? Have we
defined the roles of who is authorized for launch authority of our MEDEVAC
aircraft? Have we clearly defined the role of the BCT Surgeon and the BCT
MEDO? Do these two have an IT system to use or do they just sit in the back of the BDE TOC? Do all the medical players understand the PACE plan from lower to
higher? Do we have an activation plan for AXPs? Are they manned or unmanned
and have we set triggers for the establishment of triggers for AXPs?
Do we truly understand air corridors for the MEDEVAC platform and have we
develop a plan for the Cavalry troopers? Is our AXP accessible to the
MEDEVAC aircraft or is too far forward that we will need to utilize M113s or
M997s to another AXP? Do we have established BFT role names and FM Call
signs for our evacuation platoons? Who synchronizes all the medical
evacuation assets and maintains the COP at the BCT level?
Personnel: Have we defined where the BCT 1 will be and the location of the
PHA? Do we have the infrastructure to hold Soldiers at the BSA and how do
we transfer those Soldiers back to their parent units?
BCT 4 and SPO: Have we clearly articulated the roles and responsibilities
of the BCT 4 and the SPO. The BCT 4 receives the LOGSTATs daily from the BN
S-4s (the What) and provides the BCT LOGSTAT to the SPO to determine (The
How) the plan to distribute commodities to the FSCs? Have we developed a
FSC and BSB relation and so that the SPO can receive the FSC Commander's
Concept of Support and the synchronize the support structure? Or is each
FSC under the control of a BN XO that will provide centralized control of
their execution according to the BSB Commanders plan?
BSA: have we developed a BSA concept for the BCT. Do we know the size of
the BCT and how to properly defend it. Have we giving guidance to the FSCs
or Field Trains on the BSA and their responsibly to defend the perimeter.
Have we defined the Roles of the BSB S-2 who now becomes the BSA S-2 and
rear area S-2. Are we using digital systems to be collaborative and
preparing products for the Distribution Company and the FSCs for TCOs are do
we let them depart the BSA without a S-2 de-brief? Do we collaborate with
the CSSB S-2 and track and monitor their TCOs or do we let them drive thru
our battle space with no knowledge of the tactical plan and rear area
threats?
Those are my initial comments. Please let me know where I can assist in the
train up for NTC. Get in some reps driving the team at night. Working 24
hrs or working one shift one day and another shift on the next. Have orders
production timed events to see how fast staff can crank out an order.
Develop an order for every phase of NTC starting with homestation prep;
load; leave; RSOI, STX, FOF, REGEN, Unload, BSB AAR and home station
training plan after NTC.
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