Once individuals and units have trained to a required level of proficiency, leaders must structure collective and individual training plans to repeat critical task training at the minimum frequency necessary for sustainment. Sustainment training is often misunderstood, although it is a reasonable, commonsense approach to training. Put simply, sustainment training must sustain skills to high standards often enough to prevent skill decay and to train new people. To use available time and resources most effectively, commanders must simultaneously train individuals, leaders, and units at each echelon in the organization during training events. Multiechelon training is the most efficient way of training and sustaining a diverse number of mission essential tasks within limited periods of training time.
Maintenance is a vital part of every training program.
Maintenance training designed to keep equipment in the fight is of equal importance to soldiers being expert in its use. Soldiers and leaders are responsible for maintaining all assigned equipment in a high state of readiness in support of training or combat employment. The leaders in the chain of command are responsible for the training and performance of their soldiers and units. They are the primary training managers and trainers for their organizations. Identify applicable Army standards.