Topic: Drill and Training
Realistic Combat Training; and How to Conduct It
By Robert B. Rigg, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army; Military Service Publishing Company, 1955.
Remember this when you put your unit into a realistic training exercise: tell your men what is coming dangerwise. Don't give away your gimmicks and surprises. Suspense is part of the job—but warn them that—
- There is danger from explosives.
- The chips are down for a real workout.
Realistic training … requires several things before you can conduct it—
- First, an imaginative CO who approves;
- Second, topflight safety and control officers;
- Third, extra labor.
Rules of Realism for Small-Unit Training Exercises
1. Provide grim, rugged scenery and surroundings.
2. Inject the maximum amount of explosives, smoke, fire, and noise into the exercise.
3. Project problems into full reality of situation and objective.
4. Frame all exercises in logical sequences.
5. Utilize all possible devices of pressure and suspense.
6. Insure the Aggressors are "lean and mean."
7. Delay, disrupt, divert, and surprise all units.
8. Stress competition between opposing sides.
9. Declare sudden and lasting casualties in men and vehicles on both sides.
10. Make medics and aid men take active part in all actions of combat nature.
11. Allow no attacks against well-prepared positions until the attacker has good information.
12. Insist on a high standard for all gunnery.
13. Train consistently and proportionately at night.
14. Integrate CBR and intelligence into all problems.
15. Pose constant and positive Aggressor threat.
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