Exercise and Mission Command provides a unique approach to training operations

Photo By Staff Sgt. John Todd | Lithuanian forces Capt. Marija Povilionyte, assigned as liason officer for Griffin Brigade, works at the Exercises and Mission Command, Joint Multinational Readiness Center during the Combined Resolve XV exercise at Hohenfels Training Area, Germany, Feb. 21, 2021. The exercise is a joint operation amongst NATO allies demonstrating their interoperability. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. John W. Todd)  

HOHENFELS, BY, GERMANY

02.21.2021

Story by Sgt. John Todd 

Joint Multinational Readiness Center

HOHENFELS, Germany – The Exercise and Mission Command (EMC) of the Joint Multinational Readiness Center have a unique approach that promotes training on a simulated battlefield.

During a training event, the EMC’s focus is to keep the flow of the training smooth, whereas the situational scenarios known as CBI’s are specific events and actions that contribute to the overall training exercise and operational environment.

“During training in partnered countries, the EMC can take events and scenarios for U.S. and/or multinational militaries to train in different terrain and environments,” said Cpt. Joshua Hetzel, battle captain of ‘Spielmeister Team’ for the EMC. “CBI’s are used to introduce some of these events that are [military occupational specialty] MOS specific that we can’t replicate.”

While the EMC oversees exercise events, it also ensures that the CBI’s are resourced and coordinated properly, so obstacles can be navigated and the training can be accomplished.

“EMC helps to facilitate fixing of problems in the training that others can’t fix,” said EMC deputy director Bret Mellot. “The EMC is vital to the success of the exercise control, from the start of the training, all the way through the end of the exercise.”

Facilitating division level operations, in addition to managing the exercise control behind the scenes is what we do, said Mellot. However, when units require exposure to scenarios during the event, the CBI can come into play.

The situational scenarios (CBI’s) that encompass participant training or exposure in various areas depend on the needs of the leadership responsible for those personnel. They are modeled after real-life examples of combat, preparing the participants for specific threats in that area of operation during training and in their real-world missions.

“The CBI itself is built on training objectives identified by the unit and the OC [Observer/Controller] team, and coordinates internal resources in JMRC,” said Travis Burke, JMRC operational environment current operations lead.

“I think CBIs are an important part of the training,” said Burke. “We're all on the same team with the goal of providing the best training environment possible.”

The EMC’s objective is to train certain skills across the echelon in space and time and the CBI allows for that to happen.

“CBI's are the chocolate chips of the cookie that is the rotational training exercise”, said Sgt. 1st Class Darryl Queen, JMRC Operations NCO. “CBI's are created scenarios that are designed or developed to facilitate training objectives.”

In the JMRC environment, the success (or non-success) in the handling of a CBI provides opportunity for growth, refinement, and verification of choices made. Additional training objectives are contained within the CBI’s that may not be met with the training event, or it forces some type of reaction for growth and knowledge from the participants.

The unit’s leadership, specialty teams, and even the Observers/Controllers partake in the development of CBI’s, depending on the event. These custom tailored scenarios can create an opportunity for training, or exposure to something that is vital.

“The EMC ensures that an approved CBI can happen, and is tracked in its entirety,” said Queen. “The CBI event has a scoring system that’s basically a go, no-go, or needs additional training.”

However, as a CBI event unfolds, it can create a potential delay in the schedule that the EMC tries to maintain. The EMC continues to work behind the scenes to keep the training cycle on schedule.

Because they target specific events or information, CBI’s do not conflict with the EMC, said Hetzel.

“The EMC’s role is that when a unit does a CBI, it doesn’t disrupt the mission,” said Mellot. “When a CBI occurs, we do a sync every day, working to make sure that a planned CBI doesn’t desynchronize the objective.”

“Working within the EMC provides a person with the opportunity to see the ‘Big Picture,’ said Queen. “It gives a grander understanding of all the intricate pieces it takes to make a successful operation or mission, happen.”

Leaders can appreciate the view the EMC provides, said Mellot

• Date Taken: 02.21.2021
• Date Posted: 02.24.2021 11:53
• Story ID: 389506
• Location: HOHENFELS, BY, DE