Army Times Article
October 17, 2006
Warrior tasks, battle drills now tested yearly
By Gina Cavallaro
Common Task Testing, the annual mandatory skills test for junior officers and
enlisted soldiers, has officially been replaced by Army Warrior Training, a
grouping of warrior tasks and battle drills developed from lessons learned on
the battlefield.
The message was disseminated throughout the Army last week and directs unit
leaders to replace CTT with AWT as an annual training event for all active
component soldiers in the grade of E-7 and below, warrant officers 1-2, and
first and second lieutenants. Reserve component soldiers are required to do
AWT every three years.
"Army warrior training is designed to maintain a soldier's proficiency in the
performance of warrior tasks and battle drills that support the unit mission
essential task list. The WTBD are based on relevant tasks which are conducted
today in the contemporary operating environment, incorporating tasks
developed through lessons learned when appropriate," said the Army message.
Soldiers are expected to be able to fight and complete their mission while
applying and staying proficient in the tasks and battle drills including
individual tasks such as shooting, moving, communicating, urban operations,
first aid, chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and battle drills.
The warrior tasks and battle drills were developed through a task force that
convened starting in 2003 at Fort Benning, Ga., to review initial entry
training. The task force reviewed more than 400 tasks and through a selection
process narrowed it down to the Army Warrior Training, which became effective
Oct. 1.
