As a part of the effort to enhance readiness, select units across the Guard will see an increase in training days and combat training center rotations.
The increase in training is a direct realization of ARNG 4.0. It comes as part of the need to increase readiness across all three Army components in order to keep up with the growing demand for Soldiers around the world.
The intent of ARNG 4.0 is to enhance the Guard’s overall readiness, improve the readiness of Soldiers and develop innovative leaders. A large part of accomplishing these goals is increased training, but only for select units. For the majority of Guard Soldiers, the training commitment is expected to remain one weekend per month and two weeks per year.
Combat readiness is currently top priority. In a written statement to lawmakers on the House Armed Services Committee’s readiness subcommittee, LTG Joseph Anderson, the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations (G-3), stated that only about one-third of the Army’s brigade combat teams (BCT), one quarter of its combat aviation brigades, and half of its division headquarters are ready to deploy if needed. The Guard intends to increase combat readiness over time by making changes in organization and culture. ARNG 4.0 will prepare Soldiers to effectively meet the challenges of the 21st century in a prepared and capable fashion.
As part of a four-year cycle that begins in 2018, focused units will be marked for both an increase in training days and training center rotations. The exact amount of additional training will depend on the unit, but the increase will be added to all focused units in a tiered fashion. It is expected that training in the first year will remain at the standard 39 days. A slight increase will occur in the second year, and a more substantial increase will happen in the third and fourth years.
The increase in training will help keep pace with the high demand for Soldiers and assist in growing the Army’s readiness as a Total Force.
“The Army is one Total Force, and Army National Guard and Army Reserve units deploy regularly and are integral for our contingency plans,” said LTG Anderson. “The Army has programmed increased manning, training days and combat training center rotations to enhance Army National Guard and Army Reserve readiness.”
High-demand units like armored and Stryker BCTs will receive more complex, high-level training.
With the increase in training time, the Guard will continue to work not only with Soldiers, but also with Families and civilian employers. The increase will be an adjustment for all, and through proactive and open communication, the Guard will keep Soldiers informed and confident in their ability to properly plan for their duties in both their military and civilian lives.
With successful implementation of increased training, the Army expects to reach a higher level of readiness in its current force by 2023.
By Staff Writer Tatyana White-Jenkins
