Battle Command Training Center-Leavenworth facts for kids
The Battle Command Training Center - Leavenworth (BCTC-Lvn) helps soldiers and units from the Army National Guard (ARNG) get ready for important missions. They offer special training for commanders and their teams. This training happens at their main place in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, USA. Sometimes, they even send training teams to other locations. Their goal is to prepare soldiers to work together with different military groups, government agencies, and even international partners.
BCTC-Lvn started in 1991. It was created by the National Guard with help from the Combined Arms Center and the Kansas National Guard. They wanted to make sure that Army National Guard divisions had the best training for their leaders and staff.
Since it began, BCTC-Lvn has grown and improved a lot. It's one of three special training centers for the Army National Guard. The other two centers are in Camp Dodge, Iowa and Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania.
It's important not to mix up BCTC-Lvn with the Mission Command Training Program (MCTP). The MCTP is also at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The MCTP trains very senior commanders and their teams. BCTC-Lvn works with the MCTP to provide training for Army National Guard units, from smaller groups called battalions up to larger divisions. BCTC-Lvn provides the buildings, computer networks, equipment, and support for these training exercises.
How It Started
In the early 1980s, some important groups had an idea. The National Guard Bureau, the Combined Arms Center, and the Adjutant General of Kansas wanted to build a training center. This center would help the Army National Guard practice their battle skills. It would also be a home for the 35th Infantry Division headquarters.
The Army allowed the Adjutant General of Kansas to use land at Fort Leavenworth. Money from the National Guard Bureau helped build the facility. It would serve two purposes: as an armory (a place to store weapons) and a training center for the new 35th Infantry Division.
The first organization was called the Leader Development Center. Later, it became a federal agency. Its mission was to support the same kind of battle command and staff training for the Army National Guard as for other Army units. BCTC-Lvn still hosts large training exercises for Army National Guard divisions and the 35th Infantry Division headquarters.
Important Moments
- 1982 – The idea for an Army National Guard training center was first thought of.
- 1985 – A plan was submitted to build the armory and training center.
- 1989 – Construction began on the first building.
- 1990 – The first building was finished. An agreement was made for different groups to use the training facility together.
- 1991 – The Leader Development Center officially started. The first training exercise for Army National Guard divisions happened here. More space was added, including separate tactical operations center (TOC) buildings.
- 1993 – A new training program for brigades began.
- 1994 – Leaders from the Army National Guard, the Combined Arms Center, and the Kansas National Guard signed an agreement. This agreement explained how they would work together.
- 1997/1998 – More buildings and parking areas were constructed.
- 1999 – A special team was formed to help with Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence systems. This team later became the Army Battle Command Systems Support Team.
- 2000 – A new agreement was signed. The full-time staff became Active Guard and Reserve soldiers.
- 2001 – The Leader Development Center was renamed the LTG Herbert R. Temple Battle Command Training Center. This was to honor a former leader of the National Guard Bureau.
- 2003 – The Battalion Staff Training Program (BSTP) was created. It added a way to train soldiers in the military decision making process (MDMP). A team was also formed to analyze training and publish reports. This team started publishing The Azimuth, a quarterly report for the Army National Guard.
- 2004 – BCTC-Lvn started working with the Center for Army Lessons Learned.
- 2006 – BCTC-Lvn helped with the first eXportable Combat Training Center (XCTC) event. They also created a program to support these events regularly.
- 2007 – BCTC-Lvn partnered with the British Army. They supported a training exercise called EAGLE OWL for the UK Defence Academy.
- 2009 – BCTC-Lvn hosted a large exercise called VIBRANT RESPONSE for US Army North. The Battalion Staff Training Team doubled in size. A new building for a division command post was completed.
- 2010 – The team that analyzes training started publishing The Picket, a quarterly news publication for the Army National Guard.
