The Army’s primary role is to fight and win the Nation’s
wars. During peacetime, the Army’s role is to train
for this wartime mission. As the Army draws down in Iraq
and Afghanistan, training will be increasingly important.
However, there will also be fewer resources available to conduct
training, which means that leaders need to be more
effective—especially at the small-unit level. A simple improvement
would be to emphasize the Army’s eight-step
training model. Developed by U.S. Army Europe in the mid-
1990s, this technique is a proven method of preparation for
units and leaders.1, 2 Unfortunately, many junior leaders are unfamiliar with it. It is not a formal part of the Army’s
doctrine, but it is worth reviewing, using FM 7-0, Training
Units and Developing Leaders for Full Spectrum Operations,
as a doctrinal anchor