MCRP 7-20A.1 - Training Plan Design

Scope

MCRP 7-20A.1 is the Marine Corps Reference Publication on Training Plan Design. It provides guidance on translating METL tasks into a coherent training plan, integrating T&R event requirements, mission analysis, and available resources into the unit training calendar. Part of the MCRP 7-20A companion series to MCTP 7-20A Unit Training Management. The MCPEL row lists the publication as Current with the summary TRAINING PLAN DESIGN.

Audience

Unit commanders publishing training guidance. S-3 and training officers building the training plan. S-1 officers and chiefs executing the admin-side training sustainment tasks the portal maps to this publication. Admin specialists in MOS 0102, 0111, and 0170 supporting METL review.

Note on Portal Citation Label

Portal content pages reference this publication as "MCRP 7-20A.1 Mission Essential Task Development." The authoritative MCPEL title is "Training Plan Design." Both labels resolve to this entry. METL task development is addressed in this publication's training plan architecture content.

Operative content as used in the portal

• Annual METL review. The S-1 officer reviews mission statements, OPLANs, and CONPLANs to validate METs against the assigned mission per this publication. The portal annual METL review page cites it as the doctrinal MET development procedure.
• Combat Readiness Percentage work. The portal CRP calculation and reporting page cites this publication for doctrinal MET and E-coded event scoping.
• Commander's training guidance. The portal guidance publication page lists this publication as the METL development reference informing the commander's written guidance.

Related References

• MCTP 7-20A Unit Training Management. Parent doctrinal publication.
• MCRP 7-20A.2 Event and Exercise Design. Sibling volume in the series. Its portal entry notes the "Training Plan Development" label more accurately describes this publication.
• MCRP 7-20A.5 Training Data Management. Sibling volume covering MCTIMS data entry and UTM roles.
• MCO P3500.72A Marine Corps Ground Training and Readiness Program. Policy framework.
• MCO 1553.3C Unit Training Management Program. UTM responsibilities.

Status

Current per the MCPEL index snapshot on file (downloaded 2026-04-25). The MCPEL row carries a publication date of 2023-01-27, three days earlier than the effective date recorded in this entry. Treat the marines.mil PDF as authoritative and verify the date on the signed cover page at the next source check.