{"id":48697,"date":"2018-06-05T22:15:28","date_gmt":"2018-06-05T22:15:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/06\/05\/good-news-soldiers-the-army-has-slashed-even-more-mandatory-training-requirements\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T04:06:11","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T04:06:11","slug":"good-news-soldiers-the-army-has-slashed-even-more-mandatory-training-requirements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/06\/05\/good-news-soldiers-the-army-has-slashed-even-more-mandatory-training-requirements\/","title":{"rendered":"Good news, soldiers: The Army has slashed even more mandatory training requirements"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Once upon a time, the Army thought it had no need for time-intensive tasks like privately owned vehicle inspections or command climate surveys<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But after one too many preventable car accidents and toxic leaders, the service has found itself bogged down by mountains of administrative checks<\/a> and training designed to prevent disaster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Army Secretary Mark Esper<\/a> wants to loosen the reins a little<\/a>, to let commanders determine how and when units do training not directly related to combat, like equal opportunity, suicide prevention and substance abuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne of the complaints is we\u2019re doing all this mandatory training. And when you look at the numbers, it is astounding how much it has grown over the years,\u201d Esper told Army Times in December, looking back on his 21 years as an infantry officer. \u201cI felt that I had, again, great freedom to do what I wanted to do. I felt that I was trusted to train my soldiers, and I was accountable for it.\u201d
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Capt. Michael Hill and Sgt. 1st Class Roman Johnson, both with the 4th Brigade, 75th Division (Mission Command Training), inspect a motorcycle using the Tires and Wheels, Cables and Controls, Lights, Oil and Fluids, Chassis, and Sidestand (T-CLOCS) pre-ride checklist. The T-CLOCS is a comprehensive inspection that should be conducted semiannually, with an abbreviated version conducted prior to every ride. (Photo Credit: Courtesy photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Esper\u2019s latest wave of cuts targets a broad swath of training and administrative tasks, in four memos released between May 9 and June 4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of May 9<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n