I wonder how many people out there, especially junior leaders, struggle with this? I remember sitting down as a 2LT and trying to just read FM 7-8 and the Ranger Handbook cover to cover, and falling asleep. So how do we teach junior leaders to use doctrine? (Thread)

It starts with which ones you need handy. I'd recommend starting with the "owner's manual" ATP (thanks @RPG_volley ) for the echelon you're at, as well as 1-2 echelons up. Scan the list of ATPs ( https://armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/ATP.aspx) to see what else applies (like ATP 2-01.3 for staff & intel)

If you're married to a specific weapon or platform, have the TM, FTs, and TCs that apply. I won't go down the various rabbit holes by rank/position/echelon here (you can do that on APD), but I would call those I've listed so far the bare minimum.

Whatever you do, DON'T SIT DOWN AND READ THEM COVER TO COVER. Review the table of contents. Tab the chapters/sections that look important. Read the beginning of each chapter and the intro to each section, highlighting topic sentences.

Anytime you see something along the lines of "the 4 forms of X" or "the 6 types of Y," highlight it. It should be at the beginning of the relevant section (or else we need to send our doctrine writers back to an English composition course). See a table or quick reference? Mark it

The reason you're doing all this is because it's not important to have long passages from manuals memorized, but to be familiar with the outline and be able to reference it quickly. At the end of the day, the question isn't whether you read it, but how you apply it.

So now, place yourself at step one of either the 8-Step Training Model or MDMP. Gathering the tools for MDMP means knowing what references you need handy and where to find the information in them, as does identifying resources and materials required in step one of the 8-STM.

Step 2 of the 8-Step Training Model is critical, and it's where doctrine comes most into play. Certifying leaders means reviewing the applicable doctrine. This is much easier if you already understand the outline of each manual and have it marked up for quick reference.

A stack of manuals shouldn't be treated like a reading list, it should be treated like a library. I'm less concerned with whether a junior officer or NCO has read every page of a manual than I am with whether or not they understand when and how to go back to the book.

Caveat: Obviously, there are things that need to be recallable from memory. I don't want a weapons SL digging through the M240L TM to tell me the max effective range, or an IN PL unable to describe the basic sequence of a platoon attack without opening the book.