View source for TC 7-101 Exercise Design

[[Category:TC|7-101-00]]

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==Introduction==
This training circular (TC) outlines a methodology for designing and executing training exercises. It describes planning procedures and methodologies, responsibilities, and analysis for those who plan and control Army exercises intended as culminating collective training events that critically assess unit-training status. The objective of exercise design is to structure a training event that establishes the conditions to facilitate performance- oriented training on properly selected, directed, and mission essential training objectives.

The references section of this TC contains a listing of publications pertaining and relating to this publication. The glossary contains abbreviations and special terms used in this TC.

This TC is a planning and design tool that significantly enhances an exercise planner’s ability to produce an operational environment (OE) that achieves desired unit training objectives while fielding a challenging opposing force (OPFOR) consistent with Hybrid Threat OPFOR doctrine as described in the TC 7-100 series. This TC provides the exercise planner with a backbone methodology for scenario development and establishment of the exercise OE. The approach to exercise design and analysis is sequential and structured to get the planner to the “bottom-line” as quickly as possible.

Figure 1 shows the tools necessary and available for the design of a training exercise. While the process is sequential, many of the steps and procedures are developed concurrently and may overlap (see chapter 2). This TC is meant to be used in conjunction with the 7-100 series as well as the other publications listed in figure 1. These tools can be found at <nowiki>https://www.us.army.mil/suite/files/14705412</nowiki>. Together, these tools outline an OPFOR than can cover the full spectrum of military and paramilitary capabilities against which the Army must train to ensure success in the types of OEs it can expect to encounter now and in the clearly foreseeable future.
[[File:Figure 1. Exercise design tools.png|alt=Figure 1. Exercise design tools|center|thumb|600x600px|'''Figure 1. Exercise design tools''']]

The processes described in this TC are applicable to any number of exercise venues to include field training exercises, command post exercises, and simulations. They can also be used in the development of mission rehearsal exercises (MRXs). The operational variables (political, military, economic, social, information, infra- structure, physical environment, and time [PMESII-PT]) and the settings for their subvariables, as described in chapter 3, can be used to develop OEs for exercises or for describing actual OEs portrayed in MRXs.

Each chapter of the TC covers a specific aspect of exercise design. The exercise planner should become familiar with each chapter.

In order to train against a realistic threat and in a realistic OE, the OE must be dynamic. By using the PMESII- PT variables and incorporating them into every aspect of the scenario, the training unit will experience a realistic and challenging exercise every time. This TC describes the roles and responsibilities of the senior trainer, exercise director, and exercise planner; the importance of quality training objectives, the steps to designing an exercise; and the theory behind exercise design. The bottom line is that this TC gives planners the tools to provide the correct exercise conditions for the training unit’s training objectives, resulting in effective training.
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==Chapter 1: Responsibilities==
{{Main article|Chapter 1: Responsibilities}}
This chapter establishes the responsibilities for exercise development. The senior trainer, the exercise director and the exercise planner are the individuals primarily responsible for exercise development and execution. Table 1-1 provides an example of how a unit can determine who will be the senior trainer, exercise director, and exercise planner for various levels of organizations.

==Chapter 2: Exercise Design Sequence==
{{Main article|Chapter 2: Exercise Design Sequence}}
There are four phases the exercise planner goes through to develop a collective training event that critically assesses unit training status at any level. The exercise design sequence takes the exercise planner from the initial determination of exercise parameters, through countertask and operational environment (OE) development, and concludes with orders production.

==Chapter 3: Operational Variables==
{{Main article|Chapter 3: Operational Variables}}
As discussed in chapter 2, the operational variables provide key design considerations for the exercise planner. Together, these variables comprise all the conditions, circumstances, and influences that affect any military operation or any training exercise. They provide a comprehensive view of an operational environment (OE), real or simulated, that realistically challenges the training unit, its leaders, and Soldiers in the execution of their missions and tasks. This chapter describes the variables, subvariables, and linkages that can be used to develop comprehensive OE conditions for training exercises.