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We are all pressed for time, especially Army commanders and trainers. Training has to meet the many constraints that beset units, as well as provide collective training in a crawl-walk-run fashion, using live-virtual-constructive environments. With the continuing edict of, "do more with less," comes the executive summary (EXSUM) for the Combined Arms Training Strategy (CATS) to streamline and facilitate the planning process. EXSUMs of armor and cavalry unit CATS are now available, and can be downloaded from Army Knowledge Online (AKO) at https://www.us.army.mil. The EXSUM provides a user-friendly management tool that will assist in developing the unit's training path.
CATS in a Nutshell
CATS establishes unit, soldier, and leader training requirements, and describes how the Army will train and sustain the desired band of excellence (BOE).1 CATS consists of three integrated strategies: unit; individual; and self-development.2 This article focuses on unit strategies. A unit CATS is a descriptive unit collective training strategy for reaching and sustaining the training readiness within the BOE, and serves as a training management tool for commanders and unit trainers.3 CATS is a flexible system that does not limit leaders.
Unit CATS are doctrinal training and resource templates that armor/cavalry commanders use to develop unit training guidance, training strategies, and calendars.4 Unit CATS also drive Headquarters, Department of the Army, training resource allocations of operational tempo (OPTEMPO), ammunition, ranges, facilities, and training aids, devices, simulators, and simulations (TADSS).5
The U.S. Army Armor Center, Directorate of Training, Doctrine, and Combat Development (TDCD), Fort Knox, Kentucky, examines current doctrine and organization, and designs unit CATS based on training requirements units should conduct annually to sustain combat readiness.6 Unit CATS defines a sequence of events for conducting collective training, using live-virtual-constructive training domains.7 These CATS enable the commander to compare the unit's training strategy with the unit's mission essential task list (METL), readiness training level, and training constraints, such as OPTEMPO, available training time, and training resources, to determine and manage unit training.8
CATS construction follows regulatory guidance established in U.S. Army Regulation (AR) 350-1, Army Training and Education; U.S....