Army Training

Recent world events, such as the reunification of Germany, the demise of the Warsaw Pact, and the breakup of the Soviet Union, have changed the types of threats the United States will face in the future. The Army is reviewing its recent assessment of the changed threat's impact on its training strategy for combat forces. Although the review is not yet complete, the Army does not expect major revisions to its training strategy. Army combat units are now structured and trained to respond to various threats ranging from special operations to a large-scale war. The Army will continue to train combat forces to meet a Soviet threat. It also trains forces to meet other threats, however, and the Army can adjust its training to depict virtually any type of threat scenario.

GAO found that the Army: (1) is reviewing the results of its recent assessment of the changed threat's impact on its training strategy; (2) does not anticipate any major revisions to its training strategy and believes that its current strategy is adequate to respond to a wide variety of threats; (3) will continue to train combat forces to meet a Soviet threat and can adjust its training to depict virtually any type of threat scenario; and (4) is revising its classroom training curricula in response to the changed threat.