The deadline to provide feedback on the Army’s Warrior Tasks and Battle Drills (WTBD)
list and Army Physical Readiness Training (PRT) is around the corner.
More than 988,000 officers, warrant officers and enlisted Soldiers across the Army in
early October received an invitational email with a link to complete the survey. They
have until Nov. 18 to review and make recommendations to change the WTBD list,
and to remark on the effectiveness of Army PRT.
The Army Chief of Staff directed U.S. Army Center for Initial Military Training
(USACIMT) to review the WTBD list every two years. USACIMT hosts an all-ranks
Soldier review panel board representing the Army’s training force and operational units
to review the relevancy of the WTBD list based on recommendations from the WTBD
survey. In 2014, two WTBDs were removed from the list as a result of survey
recommendations. Next year’s review panel board is Feb. 22-23, 2017.
USACIMT also develops physical fitness training and standards that best prepare the
Army to perform WTBDs. Since many of the WTBDs are physically demanding, it’s
important to find out if Army physical fitness training programs and policies prepare
Soldiers for the rigors of combat.
“I’m asking you to help us ensure that we are doing everything we can to prepare you
and your fellow Soldiers to operate and survive in hostile environments,” wrote
USACIMT Commanding General, Maj. Gen. Anthony C. Funkhouser in the email invite.
“It’s critical that we get this right. It has a direct impact on what we train in basic training.”
Soldiers are introduced to WTBDs during initial entry training, and are expected to gain
proficiency in their operational units. WTBDs serve as the tactical skills baseline for all
Soldiers. Warrior tasks are a collection of basic, skill-level 1, individual warfighting skills
critical in the development of a professional Soldier. Battle drills are a collection of
individual tasks grouped to enable a small unit to react and survive in common combat
situations, and to provide lower-level collective proficiency through instruction,
experience and repetitive practice.
The current list has 14 Warrior Tasks and four Battle Drills. To review the list of WTBD
go to atn.army.mil and click on WTBD under the Soldier Skills button.
The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete. Soldiers are urged not to miss this
opportunity to make a difference.