Project Warrior Officers Provide Valuable ROI

Talent Management

By Maj. Andy Chisholm
704th Military Intelligence

Article published on: May 1, 2026 in the Spring 2026 Edition of Army Communicator

Read Time: < 4 mins

Today’s battlefield is unlike any seen in history. The accelerating pace of technological advancement, emergence of highly capable asymmetric threats, and the prevalence of adversarial cyberspace threats demand exceptional preparation of our Regiment to achieve and maintain competitive communication advantages. The Project Warrior fellowship is one vital component to ensuring the regiment’s preparedness for current and future challenges.

Project Warrior is a 36-month program intended for high-performing, post-key developmental company grade officers that pair time spent at a combat training center with time as an instructor at the U.S. Army Signal School.

The fellowship’s mission is to produce officers who provide the regiment with three invaluable assets: a deep understanding of doctrine, unparalleled combat support experience, and exceptional instructors. While each is equally vital, doctrine is fundamental to everything we do, and Project Warrior is no exception to where it builds its foundation.

Upon arrival at one of the Army’s three CTCs, Project Warrior officers are immediately assigned to the Observer, Coach, & Trainer (OC/T) Academy. This development course provides rigorous instruction to the doctrine and tactics, techniques, and procedures that are vital to CTC mission success. Officers are immersed in the Military Decision-Making Process (MDMP) as well as cornerstone Army doctrine (ADRP 3-0, 5-0, 6-0, 7-0, etc.).

Additionally, OC/T senior leaders provide insight on understanding and employing Army leadership (ADRP 6-22). This exposure to leadership is vital for signal officers since they are often the sole communicator on their respective OC/T team, will be the communications subject matter expert and coach to Signaleers executing their training rotation. Building upon the foundation of the OC/T Academy, OC/T teams have additional development programs to ensure the Project Warrior officer is prepared to serve as a signal advisor in their respective formation – be it an infantry, armor, artillery, logistics or other organization. While doctrine is undoubtedly a crucial element to success as an OC/T and development of the Project Warrior officer, that understanding must be tested and tempered in the crucible of experience.

Forging combat ready formations and expertly-trained Soldiers is the goal of Army CTCs. Pushing organizations to the limit and obtaining hard-earned experience is often the difference maker in mission success or failure. For Project Warrior officers, this intense focus is a perfect opportunity to hone the emergent doctrinal understanding to a highly effective edge. Signal officers in the fellowship execute anywhere from 10 to 15 training rotations during their time at their respective CTC.

Intense unit training tempos combined with the convergence of premier Army information technology and communications systems provide unparalleled experience to Project Warrior signal cohorts.

Challenges that range from managing multiple communication methods over 30-40 kilometers of rugged terrain, to planning and implementing beyond line-of-sight communications and participating in complex planning events, provide opportunities for signal OC/Ts to observe and learn. As the training rotation progresses, Project Warrior fellows have a responsibility to apply those lessons and help coach training organizations through challenges. No other environment provides the convergence of rigor, stress, and preparation that CTs can provide. The experience gained for both training organizations and the Project Warrior officers is vital to achieving competitive advantages over our adversaries and producing tested, proven leaders who meet future signal challenges. Following the doctrinal development and training rotation experience, Project Warrior fellows transition to a different role in which to ply their tools – the role of instructor.

Following 18 months of honing their skill and experiences, Project Warrior officers transfer to the Signal Captains Career Course for the next 18 months, where they work to shape course curriculum around the latest lessons from the field. Once integrated with course staff, Project Warrior instructors bring the culmination of their doctrinal grounding and combat support experience to enhance course curriculum and education. Lessons centered around the MDMP, Army doctrine, and Army/Signal Corps leadership are among key beneficiaries of CTC-tested skills and competencies. Additionally, Project Warrior officers collaborate with Signal School leadership and course developers to help best posture the curriculum for future academic success.

Lastly, the ability to engage with students early in their careers is a unique opportunity to help mold and shape their thoughts and perspectives in ways that can profoundly impact the students and Project Warrior. Time spent as an instructor is an incredible privilege.

There are very few assignments in the Army where you can shape multiple generations of future leaders. Through deep understanding of doctrine, application of hard-earned experience, and opportunities to teach lessons learned, Project Warrior officers provide a truly incalculable return-on-investment for the Signal Regiment. The fellowship’s value is profound because of the generational impact Project Warrior officers can have on the Signal Regiment’s future leaders.

The most current Army posture statement makes it clear the impetus for investment programs like Project Warrior: “The Army is transforming to meet the needs of this rapidly changing environment. We will deliver ready combat formations with advanced capabilities to defend our nation and its interests.”

The Project Warrior Fellowship will ensure the Signal Regiment develops and delivers the signal talent our Army and Nation demand.

Author

Maj. Andrew (Andy) Chisholm currently serves as deputy chief of Engagement for the Department of War at Fort Meade, Maryland. He commissioned in 2010 after graduating from Texas Christian University. He has held key leadership roles in the 509th Strategic Signal Battalion, National Training Center Operations Group (Panther Team), 1st Cavalry Division, and 36th Engineer Brigade, with deployments to Afghanistan and Kuwait.