We're always training for the last fight. With limited training time you must decide what'll best benefit the platoon and company in the next two years. I'd rather my guys fail land navigation but be proficient at first aid. We don't spend enough time shooting and when we do, realistic training is denied thanks to risk mitigation and the design of the range. We practice way too much room clearing for MOUT as opposed to long range threat identification and movement through urban streets, where you have less immediate control over your men. Not that I'm a fan of hand signals, but yelling and overreliance on intersquad commo has become the norm.
I've been running a Mounted/Dismounted "Fight" Lane up at Drum since June. Theres some MOUT, but we have been emphasizing Movements, Casevac, Target engagement, React to Direct/Indirect, IED, Detainee ops. Be running it again late Nov. There is an Overemphasis on Enter/Clear Room to the Detriment on Getting to the Building in the first place Lately, but we're trying to adapt the syllabus.
