United States Army Maneuver Center of Excellence

United States Army Maneuver Center of Excellence
United States Army · Public domain · source
Unit name	United States Army Maneuver Center of Excellence
Caption	Entrance to Fort Benning, home of the Maneuver Center of Excellence
Dates	2005–present
Country	United States
Branch	Department of the Army
Type	Training and doctrine
Role	Combined arms maneuver training
Garrison	Fort Benning
Notable commanders	Raymond T. Odierno; George W. Casey Jr.

United States Army Maneuver Center of Excellence is a combined-arms training and doctrine institution located at Fort Benning, established to integrate armor and infantry education, doctrine, and leader development. It brings together legacy organizations such as Armor School and Infantry School to develop tactics, techniques, and procedures that inform FORSCOM units, TRADOC, and joint forces. The center supports leader development from initial entry to senior professional military education for formations that have been employed in operations such as Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and multinational exercises like Operation Atlantic Resolve.

History

The center was activated as part of the BRAC implementation in 2005 after recommendations by Donald Rumsfeld and oversight by Francis J. Harvey. It consolidated the historic Infantry School—with roots at Fort Benning dating to the early 20th century—and the Armor School formerly centered at Fort Knox, into a single institution to reflect combined arms doctrine emphasized since the ancient maneuver warfare revival and experiences from World War II, Korean War, and Gulf War. The realignment drew on lessons codified in doctrine such as FM 3-0 and ADP 3-0 and adapted to counterinsurgency operations seen during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Over time the center incorporated modernization programs linked with M1 Abrams, Bradley Fighting Vehicle, and light infantry concepts influenced by AirLand Battle and Maneuver Warfare theory.

Organization and Structure

The center operates under TRADOC authority and aligns with Army training governance structures. Its command typically reports to a commandant with previous service in 1st Cavalry Division, 3rd Infantry Division, or 10th Mountain Division. Subordinate organizations include the Infantry School, Armor School, and combined arms directorates that liaise with Maneuver Support entities. Staff sections integrate doctrine development, materiel coordination with PEO GCS, and testing inputs from ATEC. The organizational model interfaces with centers such as McCoE’s doctrine cells and coordinates with joint partners including USMC schools and NATO training establishments.

Roles and Mission

The center’s mission encompasses development of infantry and armor warfighting doctrine, leader development from junior officers to senior NCOs, and unit collective training for brigade combat teams destined for CENTCOM and EUCOM theaters. It shapes doctrine for platforms like the Stryker and systems such as the JLTV, and informs force design efforts in coordination with AFC. The center supports doctrine publications, urban operations training influenced by engagements in Fallujah, combined arms maneuver concepts derived from Operation Desert Storm, and exercises that prepare units for multinational operations with partners like British Army and Bundeswehr.

Training and Schools

Key schools include the Infantry Basic Officer Leader Course, Infantry One Station Unit Training for enlisted soldiers, Armor Basic Officer Leader Course, and advanced courses for NCOs such as the Advanced Leader Course. The center hosts professional military education syllabi that draw on case studies from Battle of Gettysburg, Battle of Kursk, and modern campaigns like Battle of Ramadi to teach combined arms integration. It conducts live-fire exercises on ranges patterned after scenarios from Operation Anaconda and joint exercises with USASOC. Training pipelines coordinate with Army Reserve and Army National Guard units mobilizing for deployments.

Facilities and Locations

Headquartered at Fort Benning, the center uses expansive maneuver areas, weapon ranges, and modeled urban training complexes augmented by synthetic environments developed with partners such as ERDC and industry partners like General Dynamics and BAE Systems. Facilities include dedicated classrooms, simulation centers tied to CATT systems, and live-fire ranges near Moore Field and the Graham Range Complex. Infrastructure investments have included upgraded barracks, consolidated training brigades, and cooperative facilities with nearby installations such as Fort Moore (formerly Fort Benning name transition contexts) and Fort Stewart for large-scale maneuver exercises.

Units and Affiliated Organizations

Affiliated units include training brigades aligned under the center, veteran professional associations such as the Infantry Association and Armor Association, and liaison detachments from USACIMT. Partner organizations include ARL elements, DAU representatives, and civilian academic partners like Columbus State University for officer education cooperation. Operational units that regularly rotate through for training have included brigades from 1st Armored Division, 82nd Airborne Division, and 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).

Notable Operations and Events

The center has hosted major warfighter exercises supporting force generation for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and multinational exercises such as Saber Strike and NATO Steadfast Defender rehearsals. It has overseen doctrinal updates following analyses of battles including Battle of Mosul (2016–17), and led experimentation for capability insertions like the M1A2 SEP upgrades and networked force initiatives under Mission Command. Notable visits and events have included senior leader engagements by James Mattis, congressional delegations assessing training readiness, and anniversary ceremonies marking infantry traditions linked to historic units such as the 3rd Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard).

Category:United States Army training installations