3rd Special Forces Group Begins Eight-Week War Horse Assessment for ODAs

The 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg has started War Horse, its first baseline lethality exercise, built to standardize training for its Special Forces Operational Detachment Alphas (ODAs). Soldier Systems Daily published the unit's account, written by MAJ Justin Zwick.

Key points

• Scale: Over eight weeks, the group will evaluate more than 100 ARSOF Soldiers on tasks spanning seven warfighting functions.
• Opening modules: Teams start with a week of academics on the role of Special Operations in large-scale combat operations, then a week of tactical procedures and battle drills.
• Field test: Two weeks of scenario-based assessment begin with movement through Uwharrie National Forest, a training area used during the Robin Sage exercise of the Special Forces Qualification Course.
• Back at Fort Bragg: Three more weeks cover live-fire ranges, employing and calling for indirect fire, day and night dismounted maneuver, and an immersive medical scenario.
• Standard: The Advanced Skills Company commander said Green Berets are assessed on 22 baseline lethality tasks.

Quick take

Col. Anthony Heisler, the 3rd Group commander, said a centralized baseline model lets the group standardize training across its ODAs while making the most of its resources. The unit describes each ODA as 12 Soldiers built to operate on its own. The exercise name refers to the group's nickname, "warhorse of the regiment." Afterward, teams move on to training for missions in Africa, which the unit names as its area of responsibility.

Read the full story at Soldier Systems Daily.