Improving the Training of Infantry Units Before Deployment
Abstract
The high operational tempo of Marine infantry battalions over the last four years has severely shortened the amount of time each infantry battalion has to train its Marines for the next deployment. Upon returning from a deployment, infantry battalions generally discharge or transfer nearly half of their personnel. The battalion then must recoup this loss of personnel from the School of Infantry (SOI), integrate the new Marines, and prepare them for deployment. In addition to this high turnover in personnel, the Department of Defense and the Marine Corps have recently fielded a large number of new and improved radios, optics, vehicles and weapons to deploying Marines that they must learn how to use effectively and efficiently. The increasingly complicated equipment, the large diversity of missions across the spectrum of conflict, and the high operational tempo threaten to overwhelm young Marines and prevent them from doing their jobs as well as they can. In order to increase operational efficiency in small units, the Marine Corps should assign Marines within each unit as subject matter experts to accomplish certain individual and unit tasks in depth.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA503347
Entities
People
- Patrick Faye
Organizations
- Marine Corps University