TESTIMONY OF
BRIGADIER GENERAL LOUIS W. WEBER
DIRECTOR OF TRAINING
OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF, ARMY G-3

BEFORE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON READINESS
AND
THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON TERRORISM, UNCONVENTIONAL THREATS AND CAPABILITIES
HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

REGARDING
JOINT NATIONAL TRAINING CAPABILITY

 March 18, 2004 

Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, it is my honor to represent the Secretary of the Army and the Soldiers of the U.S. Army; an Army at war continuing to serve our Nation.  This war with an adaptive enemy, using asymmetric means, and requiring operations across the full spectrum of operations, has again demonstrated that determined, disciplined, well trained and equipped, and well led soldiers are the ultimate combat system.  Current operations have also demonstrated the absolute requirement to train and fight as a coherent, inter-dependent Joint force.  

Training capability is too often the forgotten force multiplier that our forces enjoy, for the moment at least, over the forces of other nations.  To assure success during actual operations, units must have the opportunity to train mission essential tasks with the same equipment, operating systems, operational conditions, and joint force elements that they will use in actual operations.  A Joint National Training Center helps to provide this opportunity for the Army and the Joint team. 

Developing JNTC for operational level units provides a superb training opportunity to commanders and staffs of all potential joint force headquarters; Army headquarters that must be prepared to function as a Joint Task Force Command, or Army headquarters that must be prepared to function as Joint Force Land Component Command. 

Similarly, developing JNTC for tactical level units helps ensure they have the opportunity to train joint and interoperability tasks within a 'true' joint context, that is, as close as possible to how they will perform during actual operations.  We are making good progress developing the tactical-level JNTC capability, as demonstrated in January during execution of the first JNTC event.  Results of this exercise will better inform us to integrate joint training capability at the tactical level, without significantly increasing deployment demands on tactical units and without jeopardizing the training rigor we have achieved in Service-unique training.  

JNTC at the tactical level gives the Army a greater opportunity to train "joint" early in a Soldier's career.  Teaching joint considerations and interdependence early enables our younger leaders to carry those lessons learned forward throughout his or her professional career and ultimately improves the Army's ability to meet the current challenges as well as any challenges we may face in the future. 

Through efforts to date, the Services, Joint Forces Command, and the Joint and OSD staffs have achieved considerable agreement about how to build the best possible joint national training capability.  The Army looks forward to continued coordination and cooperation among all concerned.