OPERATIONAL TRAINING

OPERATIONALTRAINING LTC François PETIT

OPERATIONAL TRAINING • MISSION: • Providing the CHOD with units perfectly trained for the theatres of engagement. • AIM: • Givingthe Army’s units tailor-made preparation solutions  DIVERSITY and DIFFERENCES between the various theatres. • Placing them in the best possible conditions for success, enabling them to conduct a perfectly targeted and adapted training and giving them sufficient and adequate assets to reach their aim. 2

Overview • An adaptedoperational training • Coherent and efficient assets • Reactive adaptation for operational training: pre-deployment training for Afghanistan

OPERATIONAL TRAINING The CHOD’s strategic triangle adapted to operational training “A WAR” Protection of our fellow-citizens and of our interests “THE WAR” Participation in the fight against instability in the world Brutal aggravation of the international situation

A war: constant « background noise » = the fundamentals + standardised courses THE war: effort (time+assets)  specific training for a given theatre THE PRINCIPLES  AN ADAPTED OPERATIONAL TRAINING

Operational training = Generic operational training + Differentiated pre-deployment training THE PRINCIPLES  AN ADAPTED OPERATIONAL TRAINING

DIFFERENTIATED PRE- DEPLOYMENT TRAINING THE war Pre-deployment training Intervention (Afghanistan) Stabilisation (The Lebanon) Presence forces (Gabon, Senegal) Normalisation (Kosovo) Protection of the national territory Sovereignty forces(Martinique) ACQUISITION AND PRESERVATION OF THE JOB-RELATED SKILLS (in garrisons on the standing fleet) + COMBINED ARMS TRAINING (in the specialised training centres) A war ACQUISITION AND PRESERVATION OF THE SKILLS LINKED TO THE COMMON MISSIONS INITIAL FORMATION (cadres in schools and Enlistees in the Brigade Training Centres)

Standardised paths Alert Certification THE PRINCIPLES ADAPTATION TO THE MISSION Pre-deployment training “the war” Generic OPS training “a war” Projection Projection

THE ASSETS Coherenttools and efficient levers: • The budget • The ammunition • The national training areas • A major tool, the Force Training Centre Command (CCPF) 12

THE ASSETS Training area or complex 17e GA CEITO PÔLE PROVENCE PÔLE CHAMPAGNE 1er RCA CENZUB CEB SISSONNE CEPC CCPF SUIPPES MOURMELON MAILLY CENTAC CNCIA GAM CANJUERS DAO/ AFGHANISTAN LELARZAC

OBJECTIVES • Rationalising:scattering, additional costs, tear and wear, fleet management and employment policy (PEGP) • Harmonising:similar programmes, ensured quality • Implementing the lessons learned:adapting the training programmes within a short loop • Reinforcing realism:terrain, equipment

TARGET • Currently more than 5,000 personnel / year • 2xHQ TF LF, 2xComb Arms TF SUROBI, 2xComb Arms TF KAPISA, 2xLOGBAT, 2xOMLT HQs, 2x6Kandak OMLT • A 6-month pre-deployment training concept which has proved its efficiency • Programmes adapted to the types of training and missions • Comb Arms TF ≠ LOGBAT≠ KANDAK OMLT ≠ HQs ≠ individuals

OPS PRE-DEP TRNG OPS TRNG PRACTICALITIES • PLANNING: • Prerequisite • Objectives to be reached • Allocated resources • Responsabilities • CERTIFICATION: • Control (with figures) • Used resources (cost) • Lessons learned (proposed mesures) • Evaluation by L+1 (subjective) →Upstream planning (M-8) →Report for certification beforedeployment (M-1) Facilitating the lessonslearned and steering + guaranteeing the certifiedlevel

PRACTICALITIES M-8 M-6 M-1 M M+2 M+6 M+12 Designations Planning Pre-dep trng Pre-dep trng Adjust PROJECTION Resumption OPS cycle + support C F T Design° leaders M-12 IPC M-8 Directive M-7 Lessons Learned L+1 Adaptation programme L + 2 CONTROL + TRACKING PRE-DEP TRNG B R I G A D E LL 2 months M+2 Result PE M-7 REP PE M-6 Result PE M-8 CR Certif° M-1 REP M+6 Testimonies M+8 to M+11 C P F Advising the brigades, short loop dissemination of Lessons Learned • Constant steering and updating of Lessons Learned • Using experience (detachment of mentors)

PRACTICALITIES Budget and ammunition Pre-allocated training budget (1000 € / p) Additional allocations (1000 c 5,56 / p) Specialised camps and centres Pre-programmed DAO/A, CENTAC et CEPC Priority (camps and training fleet) Literature and various publications Memos (counter-rebellion, terminology) Documentation Lessons Learned (DVD, …) Procedures and concrete cases (→ DAO)

PRACTICALITIES • ONE DETACHMENT (DAO) at the 1er RCA: • Learning and disseminating LL in short loop • Advising the brigades throughout the pre-deployment training • Coordinating and steering the detachments and experts • DETACHMENTS manned by units coming back from the theatre: • Supporting the brigades • Sharing their “live” experience • OCCASIONAL REINFORCEMENTS by specialists: • - Experts in a domaine (lead brigade and specialised organisations)

LOCATION OF THE DETACHMENT • Optimising the available resources • Structure of the 1er RCA • Combined arms and joint firing ranges • Synergy with the schools (Infantry, Artillery) • Adapted and realistic manœuvre grounds • Special fleet for pre-deployment training (armoured fleet + reactive adaptation kits) • CONCENTRATION OF EFFORTS

PRE-DEPL. TRNG: OVERALL SCHEME CONTROL + TRACKING M-4 M-2 M-1 M M-6 Indiv. training Collective training Validation CFT meeting Certification Objective Contrat Detachment Training course Initial sequence Theatre recce Exercise JANUS Synthesis exercise Corrective measures + leaves Induction Course Individual training courses Rotation CENTAC Period in a camp)/or CEITO NATO courses Best option

PRE-DEPL. TRNG FOR INDIVIDUALS • 1-week vital pack (DAO/A) • For personnel on a short mission (reinforcements, individuals, embedded), whose work will participate in the action of the Force • Limiting casualties • Firing training (on-board weapons + ISTC), CSAR and CIED, movement, overall security, awareness of the theatre • Day at the121ème RT: • For personnel on a short mission whose activity does not participate in the main mission of the Force, and whose protection is ensured by the Force • Not to be a burden on the theatre • Awareness about CSAR and CIED, firing with pistol and FAMAS

Concern n°1 = COHESION • Integration of the reinforcements (MN and joint) for collective phases and syntheses • EARLY DESIGNATIONS • PLACING AT DISPOSAL (TACON) • Employment of specific modules (GENDARMERIE, INTEL, AAVn, air support, CIMIC) • COHERENCE OF THE RELIEVES • ADDITION OF EXPERIMENTAL FORCE PACKAGES

Concern n°2 = REALISM • Real theater procedures • ACCESS TO LITERATURE + DISSEMINATION • FR-NATO TRAINING POLICY • Framework of employment of the units / chains of command • REINFORCEMENTS FOR EXERCISE CONTROL • EARLY ANTICIPATION AND ORIENTATION

CONCERNS • A major risk: • Preparing for A war = that could be the suppressed elements when choices have to be made. • A deliberate choice and an obligation: • Preserving at all costs the preparation for THE war  impossible to skip it (DAO/A). 27

CONCLUSION • Positive evolutions: • Higher coherence in the conduct and steering of ops trng; • Sufficient assets; • Clearly defined priorities; • Strong policy to constantly adapt  short loop LL; • Coherence between assets and efforts  optimisation of the tool. • Some difficulties: • Vehicles (PSP, PE)  major problem for units despite the efforts of the Materiel Command; • Strong operation pressure (domestic ops, ops outside the national territory). • A risk: • Preparing for A war. • A need: • The will of all the stakeholders to participate in the reduction of the burden weighing on the units  Operational training is the business of the entire Army. 28

OPERATIONAL TRAINING QUESTIONS?

OPERATIONAL TRAINING