Training the Trainers: Mission Analysis and Support for USAR Training Divisions

The ability of the United States Army to mobilize, expand and maintain itself with trained soldiers to meet selected manpower expansion or total war mobilization lies with 12 training divisions, 3 separate training brigades, and 2 separate training battalions, all of whom are United States Army Reserve assets. Likewise the United States Army today cannot train its annual manpower requirement without Reserve Component (RC) support. To fully expand in the event of a national emergency will require every training unit to be available, at full strength. In order to insure that this full, or partial, training surge is met by competent, well trained drill sergeants and well organized and led units, training divisions must receive tough realistic training and must have the proper equipment and training aids to perform the mission. Whether the training is Basic Training (BT), Advanced Individual Training (AIT), or One Station Unit Training (OSUT), units must be challenged and given the opportunity to conduct meaningful training with Initial Entry Training (IET) soldiers in a proper training environment. This paper will analyze current and past training practices, doctrine and missions of these units and will make recommendations for improvement of training opportunities.