35th Infantry Division prepares to exercise full spectrum operations

Col. William A. Ward (left), commander of the 110th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade in Kansas City, checks in with Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Hall, 35th Infantry Division intelligence sergeant, for the Mission Command Seminar at the Battle Command Training Center in Fort Leavenworth, Kan. The seminar prepared attendees for the upcoming Full Spectrum Exercise to be held in September. (Photo by Lt. Col. Rick Peat, 35th ID Public Affairs)

By Lt. Col. Rick Peat, 35th Infantry Division
Ngmo.pao@US.ARMY.MIL

LEAVENWORTH - For nearly 10 years, the Army has been fighting the War on Terrorism.

The operational tempo of fighting two campaigns simultaneously has been high the entire time, requiring the Army to focus its limited training time and resources on low-intensity conflict and stability operations. Yet, conventional threats from countries with established militaries continue to exist in the world today.

Some of the knowledge and skills required for this type of fight has been atrophied to some extent.

"One of the Army's concerns... is getting back to training for high intensity situations -- a capability vitally important to deter aggression and shape behavior of other nations," said Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates. "One of the principle challenges the Army faces is to regain the traditional edge of fighting conventional wars."

The Army's realization of the need to reinvigorate training for conventional wars, while sustaining competence in low-intensity conflict and stability operations is the impetus for a new type of exercise developed by the Battle Command Training Program at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. The new Full-Spectrum Exercise, or FSX, is the upgrade to, and replacement for, the Warfighter Exercise that many Soldiers are familiar with.

"The goal of all those involved ... is to harness the lessons learned of 10 years of persistent conflict, combined with key aspects from our Warfighter Exercises of the past, to make the FSX truly a value-added training event," said Col. Michael McGuire, chief of the program's operations group. "We believe the FSX focus falls in line with the recently published Army training strategy. Training will be realistic, tough, demanding and fast-paced against a hybrid threats."

The 35th Infantry Division, headquartered in Fort Leavenworth, Kan., will be the first Army division to be exercised under the new methodology.

"The FSX rotation is a great opportunity for all of us in the division, and the brigades participating with us, to learn and practice our craft," said Maj. Gen. John Davoren, commander of the 35th. "The emphasis of the exercise is for units to understand the current and emerging doctrine and to practice warfighting skills that have atrophied in recent years."

A Mission Command Seminar was held Feb. 14-18 at the division headquarters to learn the latest doctrine for mission command, establish relationships with the other units involved in the exercise and to analyze the mission assigned to the 35th within the upcoming exercise.

The Missouri National Guard's 110th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade based in Kansas City also took part in the seminar and plans to team up with the 35th in September for the opportunity to simulate its deployed missions and measure the effectiveness of the current brigade leadership.

"The 2011 Full Spectrum Exercise will be an opportunity to not only exercise current Army doctrine, but to pave the way for future exercises and ultimately how the Army conducts Full Spectrum Operations," said Maj. Rutledge McClain, 110th plans officer.

The 110th MEB will provide about 40 key individuals from its headquarters to work with the 35th in September, McClain said. Training will take place in fictional countries where all the exercise conditions -- friendly and enemy forces, road networks, population centers, key infrastructure, etc. -- will be loaded into a computer.

Military operations will then be conducted as the headquarters elements give directions to their units by having computer operators execute the orders while moving military forces on the computer screen. The computer simulator will produce realistic outcomes, based on the execution orders and what the enemy forces do in response.

"This method of training will allow U.S. commanders to understand the effects, and consequences, of their actions on the battlefield," said McClain. "After major combat operations are complete, information will be provided to explain what the current conditions are in the countries where the fighting took place. The units will then have to transition into operations that create a stable and peaceful environment in the effected countries."

According to Gen. Martin Dempsey, Commanding General of the Army's Training and Doctrine Command, Mission Command is a new concept. Earlier models such as 'Battle Command' and 'Command and Control' did not adequately address the increasing need for the commander to frequently frame and reframe the mission in an environment with ill-structured problems, and to gain the context of operations by continuously challenging assumptions both before and during execution. Mission Command employs the art of command and the science of control to enable commanders, supported by staffs, to integrate all warfighting functions and enable agile and adaptive commanders, leaders and organizations.

The following units participated in the Mission Command Seminar and will participate in the FSX with the 35th ID in September: 110th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (Mo.), 142nd Fires Brigade (Ark.), 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Ill.), 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team (Pa.), 287th Sustainment Brigade (Kan.), 155th Heavy Brigade Combat Team (Tenn.), 297th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade (Alaska), and the 238th Air Support Operations Squadron (Miss.). In addition, the 38th Infantry Division (Ind.) will participate as the higher headquarters, replicating a corps level headquarters.

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