NATO is investigating the modern approach to military training under the "Audacious Training" programme, which was created as a consequence to the changing nature of current conflicts. conventional exercises, based on rigid and predictable scenarios, no longer reflect the realities of the modern battlefield, where the situation can change from minute to minute.
The Audacious Training Programme is implemented jointly by 2 NATO strategical Commands: Allied Transformation Command (Allied Command Transformation – ACT) and Allied Command Operations (ACO). Its aim is to prepare NATO forces for effective action during competition, crisis and conflict – both here and now – and in the future. The most crucial change is to decision distant from predictable adaptation exercises.
– With the "Audacious Training" programme, we will guarantee that NATO forces can deploy, combine and act together on a large scale against any opponent. This is how we keep NATO's strength: we adapt faster, we train more intensively and we overtake competition," said Admiral Pierre Vandier, ACT's chief commander.
In theory, the fresh NATO training concept is based on 3 pillars. The first is to increase preparedness, which means that training is to be more realistic and demanding. It's not just the implementation of the plan that matters, but the real action under force and in hard conditions. During training, soldiers must deal with unexpected changes, limited access to information and time pressure. The scripts are intentionally complicated to force participants to think independently, make decisions rapidly and respond flexibly to fresh threats. As a result, not only method skills but besides analytical and leadership skills are developed.
The second pillar is the usage of fresh technologies with emphasis on digital tools specified as artificial intelligence (AI). The key component is the automation of parts of the plan of scenarios that have so far required quite a few work, especially in creating alleged events and incidents that drive the course of exercises and force decision making. AI-based automation is designed to accelerate the preparation and improvement of exercises and increase their unpredictability – creating more varied, dynamic and realistic situations will be possible without the request to extend the working time of planners.
The intent of utilizing the AI is not to replace the human origin but to relieve experts from carrying out administrative tasks. On the another hand, the 3rd pillar of the "Audacious Training" involves building readiness for the future. For NATO, it is crucial to draw conclusions rapidly and make improvements that will avoid repeating the same mistakes and learn faster than the opponent.
The programme is at the transition phase from concept to implementation. During the nearest NATO summit in Turkey, Ankara (7-8 July) is to be demonstrated the "pre-pilot" exercises utilizing AI. The concept of "Audacious Training" will then be tested during major NATO exercises specified as "Steadfast Duel '26" and "Steadfast Dagger '26".
In last year's command and relay exercises, “Steadfast Duel“ Representatives of the 32 NATO states who coordinated the activities of multinational troops on land and water, in air and cyberspace after a simulated attack on 1 of their allies. Last year's edition of "Steadfast Dagger" was based, among others, on investigating the capabilities of the Allied Reaction Force (ARF) – fresh NATO intervention forces with very advanced readiness, capable of immediate action in the event of a crisis.
