OCT Academy: Building the backbone of the Combat Training Center

Photo By Staff Sgt. Anthony Jones | A Ukrainian soldier and student at the Yavoriv Combat Training Center's Observer Controller Trainer Academy ensures other students' weapons are clear after a situational training exercise at the CTC on the International Peacekeeping and Security Center, near Yavoriv, Ukraine, on April 20. Students at the Academy took turns as OCTs during the training lanes and were mentored by Ukrainian and U.S. Soldiers assigned to the Joint Multinational Training Group - Ukraine. JMTG-U's mission is to help built the CTC's capabilities and promote professionalism within the Ukrainian military. (Photo by Sgt. Anthony Jones, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team)  

YAVORIV, UKRAINE

04.25.2017

Story by 1st Lt. Kayla Christopher 

45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team

Today, the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine graduated 14 Ukrainian soldiers from the Observer Controller Trainer Academy at the Combat Training Center near Yavoriv, Ukraine.

“The course teaches the Ukrainian instructors the basic functions of an OCT team and familiarizes them with NATO training standards,” said Maj. Khalid Hussein, the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team’s CTC development officer in charge.

Two main goals of JMTG-U are to establish a CTC and to professionalize the Ukrainian army – the OCT academy works to accomplish both.

Military units go to combat training centers, such as the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California or the Joint Multinational Readiness Center at Hohenfels, Germany, to evaluate their readiness for combat.

But, training and evaluation do not just happen.

Before a unit ever arrives at a training center, OCTs create the training scenario, establish exercise parameters, conduct rehearsals, identify hazards, and implement control measures to mitigate unnecessary risk, explained Hussein.

During the training rotation, he continued, OCTs observe and evaluate the rotational unit’s actions. After the rotation is complete, OCTs analyze the unit’s performance, identify areas that need improvement, and capture lessons-learned through a process known as the after-action-review.

The academy, which began as a U.S.-led program, prepares the Ukrainian instructors to take on all these responsibilities.

Currently, both U.S. and Ukrainian cadre teach the 12-day leadership course, but by the end of the year it is expected that the program will be entirely Ukrainian-led.

Ukrainian instructors taught three out of 11 classes the first time the academy was held, now they have the personnel and the experience to teach eight of the classes and chip-in during the others, said Staff Sgt. Kevin Lawson, the 45th IBCT’s OCT development noncommissioned officer in charge.

Establishing a strong OCT team is key to the success of the CTC.

“The OCTs are like the backbone of the CTC,” said Lawson. “The OCTs are mentoring and coaching the rotational unit; the other half of the equation is the [opposing force role players]. Without OCTs and OPFOR the CTC cannot exist.”

Lawson explained that OCTs and OPFOR work together to ensure the rotational units have the opportunity to work on mission essential tasks they need training on.

“You’ll get an OCT assigned to the OPFOR and OCTs assigned to the rotational unit,” said Lawson. “Both the OPFOR and the OCTs have to understand the commander’s intent. Then, both can get together at the end of the day and ask each other, ‘How did they look from your perspective?’”

The biggest challenge, he said, is making it sustainable for Ukraine, but despite logistical obstacles, the academy is succeeding in producing quality OCTs who can develop, coach, mentor, and build scenarios.

“The Ukrainian instructors are stepping up and really owning their role and taking pride in it,” said Lawson. “That’s the biggest thing, empowering the Ukrainians.”

• Date Taken: 04.25.2017
• Date Posted: 04.25.2017 14:37
• Story ID: 231499
• Location: YAVORIV, UA