What document serves as the foundation for a successful exercise program?

The Training and Exercise Plan (TEP) serves as the foundation for a successful exercise program because it outlines the overall strategy and framework for conducting exercises. This plan provides specific details on what the exercises are intended to achieve, identifies the objectives and goals, and establishes the scenarios that will be used.

The TEP also encompasses critical elements such as the roles and responsibilities of participants, the timeline for exercises, and the resources required to complete the program effectively. By having a structured plan in place, organization and coordination are enhanced, thereby maximizing the potential for learning and improvement during the exercises.

In contrast, the Training and Exercise Planning Workshop (TEPW) is a collaborative meeting designed to develop or refine the exercise program, but it is not the foundational document itself. The Situation Manual, while useful during exercises to provide information and directives, does not set the overarching framework for the exercise program. The Rolling Summary Report serves as a documentation tool reflecting on the exercises that have been conducted and the lessons learned, but it does not guide or outline future activities in the same foundational way as the TEP does.