By Maj John Liston
The Army is examining its training requirements to better prepare soldiers for conflict in the 21st century.
CA Lt-Gen Peter Leahy has endorsed an independent review of all aspects of training that develop the Army’s all-corps soldier.

It will analyse the All Corps Soldier Training Continuum (ACSTC) up to the private (P) level to determine the standard of training required for an all-corps soldier and where this training will be conducted.

The all-corps skills are those that all soldiers are expected to perform across all arms and services rather than trade and specialist corps training and includes marksmanship, weapons proficiency, drill, tactics, field craft, first aid, ratel, military law, leadership and defensive operations.

The review is in response to training validations that indicate some soldiers are not retaining the all-corps soldier skills and knowledge learnt during recruit and initial employment training by the time they are posted to high readiness units.

Recent operational experience has shown a need to re-examine how to best adapt training of the ‘basic soldier skills’ to meet the Army’s current and future needs and further develop the all-corps soldier.

Commander Training Command – Army Maj-Gen Ian Gordon said the changing shape of technology meant that the modern soldier needed to master new and complex skills now relevant to combat on the modern battlefield.

“The review will determine the common skills we want all our soldiers to master regardless of what corps they are serving with so that the Army is ready for all spectrums of conflict in the 21st century,” he said.

The terms of reference for the review will also consider all-corps soldier competency requirements, Common Recruit Training, new soldier ‘socialisation’, absorption of Army ethos and values, the recruit training tempo, physical fitness standards, and the effect on training of emerging initiatives such as the Combat Force Sustainment Model.

An options paper will be presented to the Army Capability Management Committee on July 25.

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