Appendix H
TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM
The success of the TOW training program depends on trainers who are competent and well prepared. This appendix provides information to assist the TOW unit's chain of command in preparing and implementing an effective train-the-trainer program.
H-1. OBJECTIVES
The train-the-trainer program has specific objectives. Its purpose is to develop in every TOW trainer the skills, confidence, and willingness to train 11H soldiers to be proficient with their weapon system and effective in combat. An effective trainer must be able to--
- Set up and operate training equipment.
- Perform all 11H individual and collective tasks.
- Effectively coach a gunner during tracking training.
- Accurately assess the training strengths and weaknesses of individuals and crews.
- Plan and conduct training that will correct training weaknesses.
- Instill confidence in the individuals and crews he trains.
H-2. MISSION-ESSENTIAL TASK LIST
Each commander of a TOW unit should carefully examine his unit's wartime mission and develop a METL. He then organizes a unit sustainment training program that supports that METL. The TOW Training Program consists of quarterly and semiannual mandatory training events. That does not mean that no TOW training should be done in the interval between these events. The commander is responsible for assessing his wartime mission and his unit's current training status and then devising a unit sustainment training program. That program should both support his METL and prepare his unit for the next round of TOW gunnery tables.
H-3. TRAINER ASSESSMENT
Trainers in a TOW unit are normally the squad and section leaders and the platoon sergeants. The trainers are not chosen by their proficiency but by their duty position. Therefore, assessing the abilities of all element leaders is critical. Any shortcomings must be corrected. This assessment is primarily the responsibility of the commander and the platoon leaders and sergeants. This can be accomplished in several ways.
- Conduct periodic leader's tests, both written and hands on.
- Have all leaders perform all the tasks that their subordinates are required to take in the quarterly and semiannual mandatory training events (Gunner's Skill Test and TOW Gunnery Tables).
- Hold a competitive skill test each month with the winner being named trainer of the month.
Any of these methods, or any other the commander deems appropriate, are acceptable as long as they provide an accurate assessment. Trainers should be thoroughly refreshed in the skills they are deficient in before they are allowed to train and test subordinates. A soldier must know his superiors are more skilled than he is in order to have confidence in those superiors.
H-4. COMMAND BENEFITS
If a train-the-trainer program is conducted aggressively and regularly, the benefits to the unit are considerable.
a. The base of trainer expertise will remain solid and gradually spread through the unit.
b. Maintaining this base is easier than periodically recreating it.
c. Overall unit proficiency and esprit de corps will steadily rise.
d. A well-trained and proficient unit requires less time for sustainment training and leaves more time for other unit missions.
H-5. TRAINING TASKS
To be successful, the trainer must be thoroughly familiar with the operation of his training devices. All trainers must be able to correctly perform the following tasks:
a. TOW Gunnery Trainer.
TASK: Assemble the TGT.
CONDITIONS: Indoors, given a TOW tripod, traversing unit, and launch tube and all components of the TGT.
STANDARDS: Correctly assemble all components of the TGT IAW TM 9-6920-452-10, pages 2-11 through 2-36.
TASK: Prepare the TGT for operation.
CONDITIONS: Indoors, given a fully assembled and operational TGT.
STANDARDS: Correctly power on and warm up the TGT, and perform the operational checkout of the TGT IAW TM 9-6920-452-10, pages 2-39 through 2-54.
TASK: Conduct pre-operational procedures for the TGT.
CONDITIONS: Indoors, given an operational and fully assembled TGT.
STANDARDS: Correctly load the videodisc, program disk, and the data disk IAW TM 9-6920-452-10, pages 2-55 through 2-60.
TASK: Edit a planned group.
CONDITIONS: Indoors, given a fully assembled, operational TGT and matching data and videodiscs.
STANDARDS: Correctly edit a planned group to match the desired conditions in the mission IAW TM 9-6920-452-10, pages 2-60 through 2-66.
TASK: Perform operational procedures for the TGT.
CONDITIONS: Indoors, given an assembled, fully operational TGT with matching video and data disks and an edited planned group.
STANDARDS: Correctly brief the student and conduct a mission from the planned group IAW TM 9-6920-452-10, pages 2-72 through 2-83.
b. MILES.
TASK: Install MILES on the TOW weapon system.
CONDITIONS: Outdoors, given a TOW traversing unit, tripod, nightsight, and launch tube and a TOW MILES tracker head, ATWESS tube, and MGS simulator.
STANDARDS: Correctly assemble, install, and test the TOW weapon system with TOW MILES IAW TM 9-1265-368-10-2, pages 20 through 22 (tasks 9 through 12).
TASK: Test the assembled TOW MILES.
CONDITIONS: Outdoors, given an assembled TOW weapon system with TOW MILES installed.
STANDARDS: Correctly test the TOW MILES IAW TM 9-1265-368-10-2, pages 23 through 26 (task 13).
TASK: Fire TOW and ATWESS.
CONDITIONS: Outdoors, given an assembled, tested, and operational TOW MILES system.
STANDARDS: Correctly and safely fire TOW MILES with ATWESS IAW TM 9-1265-368-10-2, pages 28 through 30 (task 15).
TASK: Reset MWLD and TOW MILES.
CONDITIONS: Outdoors, given an MWLD, an assembled, tested, and operational TOW MILES system, and a controller key.
STANDARDS: Correctly reset the MWLD and TOW MILES after they have been "killed" IAW TM 9-1265-368-10-2, page 32 (task 17).
c. TOW Field Tactical Trainer.
TASK: Assemble the TFTT and install the retroreflector.
CONDITIONS: Outdoors, given a complete TOW system and a complete TFTT with retroreflector.
STANDARDS: Correctly install the TFTT and retroreflector IAW TM 9-6920-453-10 (M966) or TM 9-6920-707-10 (M901), pages 2-1 through 2-15.
TASK: Power up the TFTT and align the laser to the retroreflector.
CONDITIONS: Outdoors, given an assembled TFTT and an installed retroreflector.
STANDARDS: Correctly power up the TFTT and align the laser to the retroreflector IAW TM 9-6920-453-10 (M966) or TM 9-6920-707-10 (M901), pages 2-24 through 2-29.
TASK: Conduct operational procedures for the TFTT.
CONDITIONS: Outdoors, given an assembled, operational, aligned TFTT, and an installed retroreflector.
STANDARDS: Correctly conduct operational procedures for the TFTT to included setting target size and obscuration time, loading the M80 blast simulator, and preparing the TFTT for firing IAW TM 9-6920-453-10 (M966) or TM 9-6920-707-10 (M901), pages 2-31 through 2-42.
TASK: Conduct system checks and test procedures for the TFTT.
CONDITIONS: Outdoors, given an assembled, operational, and aligned TFTT.
STANDARDS: Correctly perform all system checks and test procedures for the TFTT to include visual checks, cable checks, power checks, computer checks, alignment checks, and system and operational checks IAW TM 9-6920-453-10 (M966) or TM 9-6920-707-10 (M901), pages 2-43 through 2-51.
H-6. TRAINER CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
The commander may choose whatever method he thinks best to assess trainers, but he must include the following elements in a trainer certification program:
a. Program Orientation. When a new trainer first enters the unit, he must be briefed on the unit's instructor certification program so that he understands what is expected of him.
b. Testing of 11H Individual Soldier Tasks. Each trainer must be tested on each individual 11H task at least annually. Testing every trainer on every task more frequently is impractical. A more workable method is to conduct monthly or quarterly testing events where some portion of these tasks are tested, and over the course of a year all tasks are included.
c. Testing of 11H Collective Tasks. Trainers should be tested in all 11H collective tasks annually. Testing events should be spread out in partial monthly or quarterly events.
d. Testing of Training Equipment Tasks. This should be conducted in the same manner as the individual and collective tasks. The testable training equipment tasks are listed in paragraph H-5. These tasks are not found in the soldier's manual. The appropriate TMs must be referenced for the performance measures.
e. Formal Records Keeping. Formal records should be carefully maintained. If a trainer fails a particular task, he should be retrained and retested until he receives a go on it and all other tested tasks. No one should be allowed to train troops who has not received a go on all tasks tested to date. The soldiers' full confidence in the abilities of their trainers and leaders is critical to morale.
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