British Army Preparation for Operations

Major Joe Carnegie R ANGLIAN British Peace Support Team (South Africa)

Format of the Presentation

British Army model of operational training MATTS and CT Levels Force Operations and Readiness Mechanism Operational Support Group and Operational Training and Advisory Group (OPTAG) The Challenges Questions
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British Army Model of Operational Training

British Army Training run by the Land Warfare Centre (LWC) Split into 3 component parts, designed to cover a war, the war, the future war However; TRAINING IS A COMMAND RESPONSIBILITY
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Mandatory Annual Training Tests (MATTS)

Every soldier in the British Army is expected to complete his/her MATTS annually Series of lectures and tests designed to maintain a base skill set Includes fitness, shooting, LOAC, medical etc The first building block of operational training

Collective Training Levels

CT6 CT5 CT4 CT3 CT2 CT1

Divisional sized formation training Brigade sized formation training Task organised unit or BG training conducted in a combined arms formation context Sub -unit training in a task organised unit or combined arms BG context Collective skills training at sub unit level Collective skills training at up to troop / platoon level
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Force Operations and Readiness Mechanism (FORM) - The Theory

CT 1&2

CT 3&4

CT 5&6

PDT CT 1&2
HR Ops

30 months

Force Operations and Readiness Mechanism (FORM) - The Practice

CT 1&2
Recuperation

CT 3&4

CT 5&6

PDT CT 1&2
PDT PDT Ops

Force Preparation

30 months

Operational Support Group

Training for and support to current operations
Mission: To provide operational support in order to contribute to the preparation and support of force elements for the conduct of operations.

Operational Support Group

Msn Sp Branch Mission Support Group OPTAG Operational Training and Advisory Group SCIAD(L) Scientific Adviser (Land) Branch Provision of scientific and analytical advice OPLAW Operational Law Branch Provision of legal mission support Reserves Training and Mobilisation Centre
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Operational Training & Advisory Group

Pre Deployment Training Train the Trainers Individual to Sub Unit Specialist Support to MRX Cultural Awareness

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GENERIC OPTAG CYCLE

Recce, Coord Conf

All Train Ranks The Brief Trainer

Cascade Training

Confirmatory Training

Mission Rehearsal

Best Prepared

OPTAG Visits

Unit Post Training Report

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The Challenges Identify units early enough for operational duty in order to allow them sufficient preparation time (TIME) Integration of reinforcements (ADMINISTRATION / TRAINING) Realistic and sufficient training standards (CASH) Move with the times (LESSONS) Have a model that copes with the unexpected (FLEXIBILITY)
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Key challenge
How do we balance our need to prepare for Stability Operations

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while maintaining our ability to conduct Major Combat Operations at readiness?

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Questions?
Thank You