What Are the Three Training Domains?
The United States Army stresses three training domains for leadership development: operational, institutional and self-development. These domains are set forth in the publication AR 350-1, “Army Training and Leader Development.”
Operational training is learned through mission execution, and institutional training is provided by the Army Education System. Self-development is learned through a combination of experience and the pursuit of additional education. The Army provides a structured self-development program (S.S.D.), which consists of four levels focusing on advanced leadership at the personal, team, platoon and battalion levels. The S.S.D. program is web-based training that soldiers are enrolled in based upon their rank. This training is mandatory and lasts throughout the service member’s career.