FORT BLISS, Texas – In support of First Army’s realignment, the 402nd Field Artillery Brigade provided First Army Mission Command Exercise Planning training Sept. 8-12, here.
Leaders from the newly formed Plans and Exercise Cell participated in this critical event. The PLEX Cell is a new First Army exercise structure that will design, develop, plan, and execute culminating training exercises for deploying Reserve units.
PLEX personnel gained the required knowledge to properly perform their duties as CTE planners through the MCEP training. Clyde Williams, First Army Chief of Operations, conducted the MCEP training and highlighted that the importance of this training is to “improve and standardize constructive exercise design, development, planning, and execution. Additionally, leaders will enhance their ability to integrate Live, Virtual, Constructive / Gaming enablers into RC Pre-mobilization training events."
Williams and David Rugger, First Army plans and operations officer, are training three First Army Mission Training Center personnel on MCEP to establish standardization across First Army.
Lt. Col. Santiago Archuleta, future PLEX director, sees the MCEP training as an exceptional educational opportunity that provides the PLEX Cell quality understanding on new planning roles.
“Now we know what right looks like according to First Army's new standard,” Santiago said.
The training provided an opportunity to build, develop and empower leaders as the 402nd continues to advise, assist, and train Reserve Component formations to achieve readiness during both pre- and post- mobilization training. The 402nd postures to assume its role as First Army and Division West transition to meet new mission requirements and challenges.