Integrated Weapons Training Strategy (Continued)

We are continuing our discussion on how to resource training utilizing the Integrated Weapons Training Strategy. The reference for this post is TC 3-20.0 dated July 2015.

at T-4, the instructors need to be certified, the prerequisite training for them needs to be conducted (e.g. Location Of Miss And Hits (LOMAH)/ Tower operations certification). If dummy rounds are being used for Table III, it needs to be drawn from the Training Aid SC at this time.

At T-3 Rehearsals for the conduct of the range will be held, these should consist of a Terrain walk of the ranges being used, and key leaders talking through their points. For some ranges on Fort Bragg, this needs to be conducted no later than T-4, as the Range Manager needs to see the concept of operations and verify that it can be done on the facility. An example of a range like this on Fort Bragg would be Range 62.

At T-2, the administrative support requirements should be finalized. The Deliberate Risk Assessment Worksheet ( the DRAW is the replacement of the Risk Assessment, the form is: DD 2977) should be updated and signed by the appropriate approval authority. The Intermediate Planning Review (IPR) should be conducted, and changes briefed to all personnel conducting the training.

At T-1 Pre-Combat Checks and Pre-Combat Inspections should be carried out of both the Paratrooper and their weapon. By T-1 all Paratroopers need to have completed Tables I-III. These are not ‘check the block’ requirements, but have to be completed as outlined. If not, the Paratrooper will not be successful in Tables IV-VI, because they were not educated in how to self-assess their problems with weapons mastery. Any supplies needed to conduct the training (e.g. nine-hole barricades, Iron Maidens) would be drawn at this time.

T-week is summed up by the TC nicely:

‘T-week lasts for the duration of the training event. Units execute the training plan, re-training plan, and other tasks developed during the previous 21 weeks (12 months for RC). During execution, the unit training SME maintains the current training executed for each crew, maintains and monitors ammunition expenditures on each training facility, and provides quality assurance and quality checks on all live-fire related documentation.’

In other words, there has to be a Subject-Matter Expert present to ensure that the training is conducted to standard.

If at any point between T-12 and T-1, units know that they are not going to do training at either a virtual or Live-fire range, they need to cancel the RFMSS request as soon as possible. This frees up the range for opportunity training by other units and gives Range Operations a more refined picture of what training is actually going to be conducted.

So to sum up: The IWTS is driven by the Unit Training Plan. The UTP consists of the Commanders’ assessment, METL analysis, Warfighting skills analysis of the individual Paratrooper, and a simulation assessment for conducting the training. The UTP consists of the Training Horizon with checklists for weeks T-21 to T-1 before the ranges being conducted. Tables I-III (PMI, TADSS, and Drills) be done at T-6 through T-1, and all three must be completed by T-1 (before the range being conducted). At T-4, Instructors need to be certified, at T-3 Terrain walks are conducted (post-dependent, Fort Bragg is T-4), At T-2 admin requirements are finalized, and the DRAW Is signed, at T-1 PCC’s and PCI’s are conducted, and T-1, the SME monitors training.

We will continue our discussion of the IWTS, as we discuss what the qualification standards are based off Chapter 4.