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The Battalion Training Session Like a good football team, every infantry squad must have two or three pre-rehearsed techniques for each category of attack (counterambush, chance contact, daylight, night, urban, and short-range infiltration) and category of defense (ambush, urban, and perimeter). Otherwise, they will be too predictable in combat. Most squads are already familiar with the single attrition warfare guideline for each in the manuals, so this session will provide a well-tested “maneuver warfare” variation. More importantly, it will show companies how to develop their own “state-of-the-art” squad techniques through a new style of training. Because a training shortfall at any echelon — whether individual, buddy team, fire team, squad, or platoon — can invalidate an otherwise valid tactical decision, dynamic unit training must necessarily involve continually reassessing subunit capabilities. Moreover, it must generate initiative and tactical-decision making ability at every echelon. Commanders must choose combat scenarios to be solved (worst-case are the most productive) and then let their NCO’s develop composite techniques with which to solve those scenarios at least cost. Group opinions won’t guarantee worthwhile methods; only casualty assessment can do that. Company grade officers must influence the action indirectly through short-stopping competing requirements, picking specific situations to be solved (and arranging required training support), providing techniques from history, monitoring casualty assessment, and recording what has been learned. The NCO’s then conduct their training during delays in already busy schedules. Session attendees will experience an abbreviated but complete company training cycle. After a classroom discussions on the latest tactical trends and training techniques, they will participate in a planning conference, a series of 20-minute battledrills and situational stations, a tactical demonstration, a free-play exercise, and a lessons-learned field day. So far, thirty eight battalions, nine schools and seven special operations units have received the training. For Marine units, travel costs have been funded so far by the Marine Corps University.
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