text: Foundations of Fire Support and the Role of the Field Artillery
  1-44. FA and FS training must be efficiently planned, resourced, and executed. FA and FS training must
  adhere to the operations process (plan, prepare, execute, and assess). Utilizing virtual and constructive
  training resources enables units to enter into live training better prepared. Simulation can build proper muscle
  memory without expending valuable, limited live training resources. Constructive training enables the staff
  to replicate the tempo of targeting and execution in large-scale combat operations. Fully incorporating
  systems such as warfighter simulation (referred to as WARSIM), call for fire trainer (referred to as CFFT),
  training aids, devices, simulators, and simulations (referred to as TADSS), and all the capabilities the combat
  training centers (referred to as CTCs) offer is vital to collective training. Live fire training not only ties this
  all together with a heightened sense of things, but also places the necessary stresses on the platforms and
  systems, validating that these weapons with operators can do what they are designed to do under all
  conditions.
  COMMANDERS ARE THE PRIMARY TRAINERS
  1-45. Commanders and leaders at echelon are responsible and accountable for the training and performance
  of their units. Commanders train and resource training one echelon down and evaluate to two echelons down.
  They are responsible for assessing unit training proficiency and prioritizing unit training. Subordinate unit
  leaders are the primary trainers of their elements. For example, a platoon leader is responsible for the training
  and performance of the platoon.
  1-46. The FA certification and qualification program is a commander's program and is a collaborative effort
  between the institutional and the operational force. FA commanders continuously assesses the unit's
  proficiency and readiness to perform its mission essential tasks. Each commander implements gunnery
  programs to achieve and sustain unit readiness and proficiency in these tasks. The commander uses all the
  resources available to implement an efficient gunnery program, which maximizes the use of ammunition,
  training area availability, and Soldier training time to sustain proficiency. Commanders at echelon are
  required to continuously evaluate readiness within their organizations to ensure their subordinate units are
  prepared for combat. The FA Certification and Qualification program provides everyone between the
  commander and the individual section with an objective means to gain that confidence. Through training,
  education, and experiences, sections, and thereby entire units, proficiency grows in supporting the
  commander's concept of the operation.
  NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS TRAIN INDIVIDUALS, CREWS, AND SMALL TEAMS; ADVISE
  COMMANDERS ON ALL ASPECTS OF TRAINING
  1-47. Noncommissioned officers set the foundation for Army training. They train Soldiers, crews, and small
  teams to be battle-ready. They provide crucial input and advice to the commander on what is trained and how
  it is trained. This ensures the organization trains on its most important tasks down to the individual Soldier.
  Noncommissioned officers:
  * Maintain responsibility for Soldier and small unit training proficiency.
  * Identify and train Soldier, crew, and small-team tasks. Help identify and prioritize unit collective
  tasks that support unit mission-essential tasks.
  * Train and enforce task standards.
  * Continually focus training on sustaining strengths and improving weaknesses.
  * Develop junior non-commissioned officer and help officers develop junior officers.
  * Provide timely and objective training advice to their officers.
  * Assist in planning, resource coordination, support, risk mitigation, supervision, and evaluation of
  training.
  TRAIN USING MULTI-ECHELON TECHNIQUES TO MAXIMIZE TIME AND RESOURCE
  EFFICIENCY
  1-48. The Army fights as a team, and whenever possible, trains at echelon as a team. Additionally, the
  simultaneous training of multiple echelons on complementary tasks is the most efficient and effective way
  to train because it optimizes the use of time and resources.