Warrior Ethos, Tasks, and Drills Spiral Into Initial-Entry Training: What's in it for the Regiment?

Deriving operational lessons learned almost on a daily basis, the primary focus in the institutional training base and initial-entry training IET has shifted dramatically within the past 12 months. Given the harsh demands of campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan and the complex terrain, IET graduates must be competent and confident immediately upon graduation. Bottom line All soldiers must be warriors first, technical experts second. Toward this end, the training base has been directed to increase rigor and implement a training strategy that inculcates the Warrior Ethos, and as resources are made available, spiral in the warrior tasks and battle drills. As the term spiral implies, each training cycle of one-station unit training OSUT and advanced individual training AIT will advance to a higher level until IET produces soldiers who can perform successfully in combat.