Category Archives: TDGs

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Rearm and Refuel (ABCT Logistics)

The Company Leader TDG 19-10

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The radio squawks in your combat trains command post (CTCP) as you listen in on the battalion net. “DREADNAUGHT 6 this is ORPHANS 6, we low on fuel.” One by one, the company commanders report in that they are low on Class III. Your battalion, 2-34 Armor, 1st ABCT, 1st ID, has been engaged in a continuous decisive action fight for the previous 72 hours. There have been lulls, but the last 24 hours just outside of Razish along the central corridor wasn’t one of them. As the battalion commander says “Break, Break, Break,” over the radio, you know what is going to come next. Logistics are taking center-stage and operations can’t continue without more fuel–you reach for the radio as your mind starts turning over for a plan.

“Thumbs up” means fuel it up. 1st CAV Sustainment Brigade controls the flow of fuel during Refuel on the Move (ROM) in support of 2nd ABCT during Pegasus Forge IV on Fort Hood, Texas, Feb. 2, 2019. Refueling operations enable maneuver units longer operational reach and provides combatant commanders battlefield endurance during long-distance movements. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Ashleigh E. Torres)
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Clearing Al-Baqqah (ABCT Urban Attack)

The Company Leader TDG 19-09

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“We really need to develop a better urban training facility,” you thought as you reviewed the imagery of the city. These weren’t connexes back on Fort Benning. Your armored company team has been in Erbyk, a NATO allied partner nation that was invaded by hostile Sermania, for the past three-months. And while you’ve been clearing small urban villages, you are now on the outskirts of Al-Baqqah, a dense urban environment in the heart of Erbyk. The OSRVT feed continues to provide real-time activity in Al-Baqqah as your company headquarters observes patterns of life. ”Chaos 6, this is Cottonbaler 6–change of mission to follow, prepare to copy.”

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Comms Down (IBCT PLT Attack)

The Company Leader TDG 19-08

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It’s dark and humid; sweat drips down your face as you collect your thoughts and reach for your RTO. Your platoon landed at the proper DZ; your squad leaders and platoon sergeant are establishing security. But for the last 15 minutes you haven’t been able to reach anyone on the radio. Comms are down. You and your platoon are behind enemy lines with just the equipment you jumped-in. “Sir, 100% accountability confirmed and security is set. We have to start moving; what’s the call?”

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U.S. Army soldiers prepare to jump from a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft during a forcible entry exercise over Fort Bragg, N.C., April 29, 2010. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jason Robertson.
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Defend the Pass (SBCT BN Defense)

The Company Leader TDG 19-07

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You are the Battalion AS-3 (Assistant Operations Officer) in 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment (SBCT). Your battalion recently seized Ujen and established security in the city. But before you can transition authority to the Atropian Government, your Brigade S2 reports enemy massing north of Granite Pass. The 111th BTG is amassing forces and preparing for a counter-attack after your brigade’s successful operations in the central corridor. Your battalion commander and S3 return from the Brigade OPORD Brief having conducted a reconnaissance of the objective and with the mission: defend. They are ready to give you your planning guidance. Prepare to copy.

Soldiers from 111th Infantry, 56th SBCT, conduct a night live-fire during Exercise Decisive Strike 2019 at the Training Support Centre, Krivolak, North Macedonia, June 11, 2019. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Frances Ariele Tejada)
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Tactical Exercises from Across the Pond

A Repository of Australian TDEs from The Junior Tactician

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One of the coolest aspects of engaging in the online professional development space is learning from fellow practitioners I would not otherwise have met. Among these are leaders from our outstanding allies on the other side of the globe. There are too many leaders and forums to mention, but here are a few: Maj. Gen. Mick Ryan, Mick Cook, Tom McDermott, the UK’s Army Leader, and–most recently–the Junior Tactician. Our mutual dedication to the profession of arms unites us—as does our love of a good tactical decision game.

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Not Just for Nerds

Real-Time Military Strategy Games as TDEs

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Real-time strategy computer games are an underused tool for teaching tactics and strategy. Hold your skepticism and hard eye-roll for just a moment. I’m not talking about first person shooters where you look through the eyes of a soldier (although some of these games might have a place when it comes to tactical teamwork and on the spot decision-making). I am referring to tactical strategy games where the gamer control various units against another thinking, human being. They are simulations and they are not perfect, but I believe if you can teach a tactical leader the controls of some of these games you can hit home the complexity of tactical combat.

Wargame, and other such real-time strategy video games, offer another tool to add to our TDG kit. We push LVC-G options at the unit level, why not look to open source, market solutions as well. Image retrieved from YouTube still photo.

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Fight for Information (ABCT PLT Recon)

The Company Leader TDG 19-06

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You are a scout (recon) platoon leader in Apache Troop, 5-7 CAV, 1st ABCT, 3rd ID. You and your troop are conducting a zone reconnaissance in Donovian occupied territory of Atropia, from PL MIAMI (Whale Gap) north to PL BOSTON (the northern wall). Over the previous two weeks, your brigade has traded blows with elements of the 111th Brigade Tactical Group (BTG) in your fight to liberate Atropia. Your squadron has been critical in answering Brigade PIRs and informing the Brigade Commander’s decisions. But now isn’t the time to hit the breaks. As your infantry battalions shift their movement northward, it’s again time for you to cross LD in advance to provide space in time and fight for information.

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Counter-Attack (SBCT PLT Attack)

The Company Leader TDG 19-05

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The war against Donovia to secure Atropian independence rages. Donovian Forces launched another invasion into Atropia in early January in order to seize northern portions of Atropia. The Coalition response to the Donovian invasion was swift and effective, resulting in significant attrition to the invading force. The most forward Donovian elements, the 111th BTG, suffered a high casualty rate, as well as an 85%-90% attrition rate of armored vehicles. Your company will counter-attack along the international border and your platoon is the lead element.

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U.S. Soldier takes part in a training event, showcasing for the SECARMY the skills soldiers acquire at Fort Benning, GA. U.S. Army Photo by Patrick Albright.
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Call for Fire

The Company Leader TDG 19-04

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After a long night supporting your reconnaissance troop’s zone recon mission, you do a final radio check with your Fire Support NCO in his OP on hill 509. The scout platoons are settled in to their positions on the screen line, watching the valley known as the 15 tango for enemy movement. So far, the troop has encountered Skolkan alliance Special Purpose Forces in trucks, as well as wheeled recon vehicles from the enemy’s Brigade Tactical Group (BTG) recon company. The troop’s 120mm Mortars are sitting at 60% of their base ammunition load after suppressing those enemy Ops the night before, with 30 rounds of HE between the two tubes. The troop commander is huddled in the CP on his headset, receiving an intel update from the Squadron on the enemy’s anticipated attack. The call concludes, and he looks at you. “You’re going to be busy today”, he says, only half-jokingly.

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The Combined Arms Battalion TDE – Defense

Guest Tactical Decision Game

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One aspect of the National Training Center’s (NTC) mission is to identify training deficiencies for Rotational Training Units (RTU). Simply identifying re-occurring or one-off training shortfalls is not enough to improve the readiness and proficiency of leaders, units, and the Army. To provide feedback on home station training, Operations Group and the National Training Center routinely conducts Outreach to the Force. This set of Tactical Decision Exercises (TDE) is one example of that outreach.