Step 1—Plan the training.
Planning the training starts with the unit METL. Leaders
assess the unit performance to evaluate its proficiency.
Units focus their training by developing a METL and establish
long-range training plans that describe events and resources
required to increase METL proficiency. Units plan
backwards to prepare for deployments or other significant
training events. These plans reflect the commander’s intent
and end state, with more refined training agendas developed
in cyclic or quarterly training briefings. The most important
thing a small-unit leader can do in this step is to identify
critical items that must be trained and to explicitly accept
risk in other areas where training does not occur. This helps
leaders focus their time and effort on training the important
tasks identified by the commander.