What does a military exercise planner do on the job?

I'm curious about careers in military planning and saw roles for military exercise planners. Can someone explain what the job description usually includes and what skills or experience are important in this field?

A military exercise planner is responsible for coordinating, orchestrating, and managing wide-ranging military exercises. These exercises can be small (such as tactical training drills) or large-scale simulations of warfare scenarios involving multiple divisions of military forces.

Key job responsibilities may include:

1. Planning: This involves developing and formulating exercises based on specific objectives. This can range from creating a small-unit tactical procedure drill to planning multi-unit war games.

2. Coordination: Exercise planners collaborate with multiple units or branches, and sometimes with allied nations, ensuring resources, schedules, and objectives align.

3. Execution: They oversee the conduct of the exercise and provide real-time guidance and adjustments as necessary.

4. Evaluation: After each exercise, they analyze the performance of each unit, pinpoint the strengths and weaknesses, make recommendations for improvement, and implement changes in future exercises.

In terms of skills, an exercise planner should possess strong organizational abilities, excellent communication skills, and a sound understanding of military operations and strategy. They should also have the capability to multi-task and coordinate across various units and levels of command.

Regarding the professional and educational background, usually, a bachelor's degree in a related field is preferred, although extensive military experience can sometimes compensate for academic qualifications. Having served in the military in an operational capacity would be beneficial, as it would provide firsthand insight into how exercises can be tailored to address specific training needs. Past experience in a planning or strategy role can also be beneficial.

Continued professional development and military education, such as grad school courses or strategic planning workshops, can provide a significant edge in this competitive field as well. It's an exciting field with plenty of challenges, but it can also be incredibly rewarding as you contribute to the readiness and effectiveness of military forces.