The Eight-Step Training Model

Abstract : The U.S. Army has adapted extremely well to repeated deployments in the last 10 years. All things come with tradeoffs though, and one relative weakness that has resulted from a decade of frequent deployments is the lessened ability of the Army's junior leaders to prepare for and conduct training. The Army needs to look at ways to train leaders to conduct training, and the eight-step training model is a proven and effective method to accomplish this. The Army's primary role is to fight and win the Nation's wars. During peacetime, the Army's role is to train for this wartime mission. As the Army draws down in Iraq and Afghanistan, training will be increasingly important. However, there will also be fewer resources available to conduct training, which means that leaders need to be more effective--especially at the small-unit level. A simple improvement would be to emphasize the Army's eight-step training model. Developed by U.S. Army Europe in the mid- 1990s, this technique is a proven method of preparation for units and leaders. Unfortunately, many junior leaders are unfamiliar with it. It is not a formal part of the Army's doctrine, but it is worth reviewing, using FM 7-0, Training Units and Developing Leaders for Full Spectrum Operations, as a doctrinal anchor.