Commander's Training Guidance Publication - S-1 Procedural Page

Role and responsibility

The commander owns the training guidance content. The S-1 officer and the unit training manager draft the guidance based on the commander's intent, route it through staff, and publish the signed document in MCTIMS as a Unit Document per MCO 1553.3CMCO 1553.3C paragraph 4.c.(4)(a). The S-1 chief tracks publication date against the training plan cycle.

Source documents flow from the published METL, higher headquarters guidance, the unit's mission statement, and the commander's intent. Training Guidance lands in MCTIMS as a Unit Document. Outputs include the signed training guidance, the MCTIMS Unit Document upload, the chain brief on guidance, and the campaign plan or training plan derived from the guidance.

MCAAT and the IGMC UTM functional area inspectors check MCTIMS for the published Commander's Training Guidance and the campaign or training plan as required Unit Documents per MCO 1553.3CMCO 1553.3C paragraph 4.c.(4). Missing Training Guidance triggers a finding. Publish before the training plan, not concurrent with it.

Trigger events

• Change of command requires a new commander's training guidance.
• Annual training cycle opens requiring updated guidance.
• METL update changes priorities requiring guidance refresh.
• Higher headquarters guidance change cascades down.
• Pre-deployment training cycle requires deployment-focused guidance.
• Major mission change requires updated training direction.
• IGMC UTM inspection notice arrives requiring current guidance.

Processing workflow

1. Confirm the METL is current. Pull the published METL from MCTIMS per MCO 1553.3CMCO 1553.3C paragraph 4.b.(6)(e). Training guidance follows METL, not the other way around.
2. Draft the training philosophy and vision. The S-1 officer drafts based on commander's intent, mission, and METL per MCRP 7-20A.2MCRP 7-20A.2.
3. Set training priorities. Rank METs and supporting T-R events by priority for the cycle per MCO P3500.72AMCO P3500.72A paragraphs 1001 and 3001 (focus on combat missions, core capabilities first).
4. Capture commander's intent. Document the commander's purpose, method, and end state for the training cycle per MCTP 7-20AMCTP 7-20A.
5. Route through staff. Coordinate with operations, logistics, and other staff sections for input on resources, ammunition, range availability, and exercise integration.
6. Obtain commander signature. The commander signs the training guidance.
7. Publish in MCTIMS. Upload the signed training guidance as a Unit Document per MCO 1553.3CMCO 1553.3C paragraph 4.c.(4)(a).
8. Brief subordinate leaders. The S-1 officer presents the guidance to subordinate commanders and unit training managers.
9. Drive training plan development. Per MCO 1553.3CMCO 1553.3C paragraph 4.a.(2)(c), the training plan translates the commander's training guidance into the unit plan.
10. Refresh annually or on commander direction. Schedule a tickler 60 days before the annual refresh window.

Systems of record and forms

Systems

• MCTIMS UTM Module. Holds the published Commander's Training Guidance as a Unit Document per MCO 1553.3CMCO 1553.3C paragraph 4.c.(4)(a).
• Unit training folder. Local repository for drafts and supporting analysis.

Forms

• Commander's Training Guidance Document. Local format documenting philosophy, vision, priorities, and intent.
• Staff Chop Sheet. Local form documenting staff section input.
• Unit Document Upload Confirmation. Generated in MCTIMS.

Common pitfalls

• Training guidance not published in MCTIMS. The Unit Document requirement is not met. MCAAT writes the finding under MCO 1553.3CMCO 1553.3C paragraph 4.c.(4)(a). Upload at the moment of commander signature.
• Training plan published without preceding training guidance. The plan lacks anchor to commander's intent. Publish guidance first per MCO 1553.3CMCO 1553.3C paragraph 4.a.(2)(c).
• Guidance does not align to METL. The priorities diverge from the METs. Pull METL first per MCO 1553.3CMCO 1553.3C paragraph 4.b.(6)(e) and align before drafting.
• Annual refresh missed. The guidance sits more than 12 months old. Set a tickler 60 days before the refresh window.
• Subordinate leaders not briefed. The guidance lands in MCTIMS without dissemination. The S-1 officer briefs at publication.

Decision points

• Standalone guidance versus combined campaign plan. The commander pairs guidance with a campaign plan in one document. Per MCO 1553.3CMCO 1553.3C paragraph 4.c.(4), both are Unit Documents. The commander selects format.
• Pre-deployment versus garrison guidance. The unit transitions to a deployment cycle. Issue updated guidance reflecting deployment priorities per MCO P3500.72AMCO P3500.72A paragraph 7002.1.
• Higher headquarters guidance conflict. Subordinate guidance conflicts with parent guidance on a priority. Route through HHQ for resolution per MCO 1553.3CMCO 1553.3C paragraph 4.b.(6)(f).

Authority

This sub-page sits under MCO 1553.3CMCO 1553.3C paragraph 4.c.(4)(a), which mandates Commander's Training Guidance as a required MCTIMS Unit Document, and paragraph 4.a.(2)(c), which makes the training plan downstream of guidance. MCO P3500.72AMCO P3500.72A paragraphs 1001 and 3001 set the training tenets and core competencies that anchor priority setting. MCTP 7-20AMCTP 7-20A and MCRP 7-20A.2MCRP 7-20A.2 provide doctrinal training plan and guidance procedure. NAVMC 3500.3ENAVMC 3500.3E T-R event 0170-OPER-2001 covers the 01XX training plan derived from guidance.

Related references

• MCO 1553.3C Unit Training Management Program. Paragraph 4.c.(4)(a) sets the Unit Document requirement.
• MCO P3500.72A Marine Corps Ground Training and Readiness Program. Tenets and core competencies anchor priority setting.
• MCTP 7-20A Marine Corps Doctrine on Training and Education. Doctrinal training framework.
• MCRP 7-20A.1 Mission Essential Task Development. METL development informing guidance.
• MCRP 7-20A.2 Training Plan Development. Doctrinal procedure for guidance and plan.
• NAVMC 3500.3E Manpower and Administration T-R Manual. Event 0170-OPER-2001 informed by guidance.