text: Chapter 2
  COLLECTIVE SIGNAL TRAINING IN UNITS
  2-213. The Army prepares itself for large-scale combat operations continuously. There is no time to build
  readiness necessary to win once hostilities commence in the current operational environment. Army forces
  must demonstrate a credible level of readiness against regional peer threats to effectively deter adversaries
  and assure partners (FM 3-0).
  2-214. Commanders understand a key to mission success is training their Soldiers in the tasks and battle
  drills required to execute the unit’s primary mission. Experience at home station exercises, the combat
  training centers, warfighter exercises, and deployments shows the importance of allowing enough time in the
  training schedule for operator and crew training on critical signal support systems. The individual and team
  tasks to operate and maintain these systems are complex, and the skills are perishable. Without regular
  training, Soldiers’ proficiency quickly degrades. This is especially true for general-purpose user systems not
  operated by signal Soldiers. Because typical operators are less familiar with signal equipment and concepts,
  they need regular refresher training with these systems.
  2-215. Collective tasks are clearly defined, observable, and measurable activities or actions that require
  organized team or unit performance, leading to the accomplishment of a mission or function. Based on the
  accomplishment of task proficiencies at the individual level, units conduct collective training. This is done
  at home station, at maneuver combat training centers, at mobilization training centers, during joint training
  exercises, and while deployed (ADP 7-0).
  MISSION ESSENTIAL TASKS
  2-216. Commanders rarely have enough time or resources to train all tasks. The commander evaluates the
  unit’s task proficiency to determine which essential collective tasks the unit must train to attain the required
  proficiency and on which tasks they can accept risk. The organic signal company’s combined arms training
  strategy includes a mission essential task list. Each mission-essential task aligns with supporting collective
  and individual tasks.
  COLLECTIVE TRAINING TECHNIQUES
  2-217. Collective training follows an integrated approach of live, virtual, and constructive training at home
  station, combat training center rotations, and during deployments to build confident, cohesive units able to
  adapt to their environment and defeat the enemy. Demanding and repetitive training builds Soldiers’
  confidence in their weapons and equipment, their ability to fight and overcome challenges, their leaders, and
  their teams.
  Realistic Training Environment
  2-218. The training environment should duplicate as closely as possible the expected operational
  environment. Teams train under conditions that emphasize change, uncertainty, degraded friendly
  capabilities, capable enemies, and austere conditions. Realistic training prepares Soldiers to perform under
  combat conditions by including unexpected tasks and battle drills.
  2-219. Commanders should incorporate a realistic threat environment into training exercises, so teams learn
  to recognize indications of cyberspace attacks and jamming. Understanding network vulnerabilities is critical.
  The training environment should include likely adversary tactics, techniques, and procedures. Units must
  train to identify key terrain in cyberspace relative to their commander’s priorities to enable a focused defense.
  Establishing a properly configured, monitored, and secured network during training events prepares operators
  to detect malicious and unauthorized activity and enables command and control and the other warfighting
  functions.
  2-220. Integrating training with a realistic threat able to attack networks into unit training at home station
  and combat training centers prepares units for real-world missions. It also prepares units to understand the
  threat and indicators of a contested environment. Realistic training also demonstrates the consequences of
  not following security procedures.