mt2 18.3 (may 2013)

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Cultural Training O Ground Vehicle Air Force Engagement O GameTech May 2013 Volume 18, Issue 3 www.MT2-kmi.com America's Longest Established Simulation & Training Magazine Overseas Trainer Col. Bryan L. Rudacille Commander Joint Multinational Training Command PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID LEBANON JCT., KY PERMIT # 805 Command Profile: Lt. Col. John D. Koch, Deputy Director of Simulations for the Joint Multinational Simulation Center ITEC ISSUE Special Section: JIEDDO Leadership Insight

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Military Training Technology, Volume 18 Issue 3, May 2013

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: MT2 18.3 (May 2013)

Cultural Training O Ground VehicleAir Force Engagement O GameTech

May 2013Volume 18, Issue 3

www.MT2-kmi.com

America's Longest Established Simulation & Training Magazine

Overseas Trainer

Col. Bryan L. Rudacille

CommanderJoint Multinational Training Command

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDLEBANON JCT., KY

PERMIT # 805

Command Profile:Lt. Col. John D. Koch, Deputy Director of Simulations for the Joint Multinational Simulation Center

ITEC IssuE

Special Section:JIEDDO Leadership

Insight

Page 2: MT2 18.3 (May 2013)

Real-time screen captures are from MetaVR’s visualization system and Afghanistan 3D virtual terrain and are unedited except as required for printing. The real-time renderings of the 3D virtual world are generated by MetaVR Virtual Reality Scene Generator™ (VRSG™). 3D models and animations are from MetaVR’s 3D content libraries. Photograph of the MetaVR-BSI JTAC desktop simulator courtesy of the Illinois Air National Guard, Peoria, IL. © 2013 MetaVR, Inc. All rights reserved. MetaVR, Virtual Reality Scene Genera-tor, VRSG, the phrase “Geospecifi c simulation with game quality graphics”, and the MetaVR logo are trademarks of MetaVR, Inc.

http://[email protected] 617-739-2667

When your mission is to train effi ciently,

use MetaVR’s visual systems and geospecifi c terrain to create tactical ISR training scenarios that tie together JTAC, UAV, and ground attack simulations.

Page 3: MT2 18.3 (May 2013)

Cover / Q&AFeatures

Colonel Bryan l. rudaCilleCommander

Joint Multinational Training Command

16

May 2013Volume 18, Issue 3military training technology

Departments Industry Interview2 editor’s PersPeCtive4 Program HigHligHts5 PeoPle14 data PaCkets25 team orlando27 resourCe Center

28lars BorgwingPresident and CEOSaab Training USA

8driving for suCCessGround vehicle operators equip soldiers for training and combat missions with munitions, food and supplies essential to a mobile military force and to battlefield success.By Cynthia L. WeBB

11tHe air advisorThe USAF Air Advisor Academy educates and trains airmen-diplomats from a wide range of Air Force career fields who will engage with counterparts in foreign security forces across the globe. More specifically, graduates of this unique institution apply their USAF expertise to assess, train, educate, advise, assist and equip partner nation personnel.By Major GeneraL tiMothy M. ZadaLiS

20Blending inA little over a decade ago, helping soldiers understand the cultures into which they might be deployed generally wasn’t a priority. After all, most soldiers already had full training schedules, learning battlefield tactics, weaponry skills and other subjects more directly related to waging a war. This thinking has recently changed to put more emphasis on cultural training.By Karen KroLL

24gameteCH 2013In the midst of travel restrictions and budget limitations, GameTech 2013 Thrills to Skills offered a compelling program for developers, users and supporting industry who attended the 2013 conference.

sPeCial seCtion JIEDDO Leadership Insight

Army Colonel Rod Coffey, Chief of Training Support Element, JIEDDO, gives MT2 an exclusive interview discussing IED-specific force training operations to support combatant commanders.

Command ProfileJoint Multinational Simulation Center

Using blended live, virtual, constructive and gaming environments distributed from the U.S. Army’s Joint Multinational Readiness Center and Joint Multinational Simulation Center to test the 2nd Cavalry Regiment and partner nations.By Lieutenant CoLoneL john d. KoCh

“Our priority

is to train

U.S. forces

to meet daily

readiness

requirements,

or in

preparation for

specific named

operations

and

contingency

plans.”

- Col. Bryan L. Rudacille

6 23

Page 4: MT2 18.3 (May 2013)

GameTech 2013 recently took place and despite declined attendance from previous years, organizers say the event was a success. Frank C. DiGiovanni, Defense Department director of training, readiness and strategy, gave the government keynote speech and emphasized that game developers should look strategically to expand to other markets, including robotics and automation, energy, telecommunications, health care and new production technologies.

He also stressed that the military was looking for customizable video game training scenarios.

“You’ve got to have agility, to be able to give the end user the ability to use the system the way they want,” he said at the recent GameTech conference.

While organizers adamantly claim that this year’s event was a shining success, the government part of the audience’s equation was missing. Since sequestration was announced in March, much of government’s participation and attendance to events such as GameTech have been curtailed. DiGiovanni was given special permission to attend the conference as the government keynote speaker.

While the nation tightens its budget belt, some see opportunity.“There’s an opportunity, I think, for new and innovative ways of training at home,” said Tom Baptiste,

executive director for the National Center of Simulation.In many ways, Baptiste is correct. Simulated and virtual training tends to be cheaper to conduct than live

training. Events such as GameTech are an excellent way for the game developer community to get together and discuss the many ways in which gaming platforms are evolving and can be used in other markets.

However, a red flag for me is when DiGiovanni advised game developers to start looking in non-defense markets for their technology. I’m not suggesting that DiGiovanni is telling the gaming industry to give up on the defense market, but more like telling them to ride out this austere budget environment. The current budget scenario will have an effect for years to come. For game developers to keep their numbers in the black, they need to seek out other opportunities until hopefully, the Department of Defense once again uses resources to utilize ever-advancing gaming technology.

Recognized Leader Covering All Aspects of Military

Training ReadinessEditorial

EditorBrian O’Shea [email protected] EditorHarrison Donnelly [email protected] Editorial ManagerLaura Davis [email protected] EditorsSean Carmichael [email protected] Hobbes [email protected]. Bissell • Christian Bourge • Peter Buxbaum Henry Canaday • Erin Flynn Jay • Karen KrollCynthia Webb

art & dEsign

Art DirectorJennifer Owers [email protected] Graphic DesignerJittima Saiwongnuan [email protected] Designers Scott Morris [email protected] Papineau [email protected] Paquette [email protected] Waring [email protected]

advErtising

Associate PublisherLindsay Silverberg [email protected]

KMi MEdia groupPublisherKirk Brown [email protected] Executive OfficerJack Kerrigan [email protected] Financial OfficerConstance Kerrigan [email protected] Vice PresidentDavid Leaf [email protected] McKaughan [email protected] Castro [email protected] & Communications ManagerHolly Winzler [email protected] AssistantCasandra Jones [email protected] Show CoordinatorHolly Foster [email protected]

opErations, CirCulation & produCtion

Operations AdministratorBob Lesser [email protected] & Marketing AdministratorDuane Ebanks [email protected] Gill [email protected] SpecialistsRaymer Villanueva [email protected] Walker [email protected]

a proud MEMbEr of:

subsCription inforMation

Military Training TechnologyISSN 1097-0975

is published eight times a year by KMI Media Group. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction without permission is strictly forbidden. © Copyright 2013.

Military Training Technology is free to qualified members of the U.S. military, employees of the U.S. government and

non-U.S. foreign service based in the U.S. All others: $65 per year.Foreign: $149 per year.

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Fax: (301) 670-5701Web: www.MT2-kmi.com

Military training tEChnology

Volume 18, Issue 3 • May 2013

Brian O’Sheaeditor

eDitor’S PerSPectiVe

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Forum

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June 2012Volume 1, Issue 1

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Border Protector

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ChiefU.S. Border PatrolU.S. Customs and Border Protection

Wide Area Aerial Surveillance O Hazmat Disaster ResponseTactical Communications O P-3 Program

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Leadership Insight:Robert S. BrayAssistant Administrator for Law EnforcementDirector of the Federal Air Marshal Service Transportation Security Administration

SPECIAL SECTION:

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Page 5: MT2 18.3 (May 2013)

That’s Why L-3 Link Developed the New Standard for Virtual Simulation Realism.It’s called HD World®, a realistic, high-fidelity synthetic environment that immerses warfighters in dynamic high-definition training scenarios. HD World combines high-definition databases, image generation systems, physics-based processing technology and visual system displays to add unparalleled realism for manned and unmanned training.

To see how L-3 Link is redefining training capabilities, go to www.link.com.

Link Simulation & Training L-3com.com

Source: Swiss Federal Office of Topography

IMPROVING MISSION READINESS.IT’S OUR SOLE OBJECTIVE.

Page 6: MT2 18.3 (May 2013)

Program highlightS

Training Solutions Support Contract Awarded

Aptima recently announced its selection to a contract by the Naval Air Warfare Center’s Training Systems Division (NAWC-TSD). Under the five-year multi-award contract, which has a value of up to $781 million, Aptima will deliver training solu-tions to support military communities from air, land, surface, undersea, cross platform and joint systems, as well as to other government agencies.

The Training Data Products Contract (TDPC) covers a life cycle of services that support the management of existing training systems, and the modernization and conversion to new and emerging training and delivery solutions. This includes activities related to the analysis, design, development, implementation and sustainment of training systems.

“Aptima is thrilled to be part of an acquisi-tion vehicle of this magnitude, and appreciative of the customers that have placed their trust in our innovative training capabilities,” said Mike Garrity, Aptima’s vice president of programs. “This contract characterizes the continuum of what we do, and it signals our company’s evolution and

growth towards larger, longer-term acquisition programs.”

One of six contract awardees, Aptima qualified for each of the three set asides for small business.

Since its founding in 1995, the company has specialized in engineering tools and technologies that improve human performance. Its research and development for the Department of Defense and government research labs has advanced the state of live, virtual and constructive learning models, content and courseware delivery, adaptive training systems and human performance measurement.

“We look forward to transitioning our hard-ened R&D into the most intelligent and cost-effec-tive solutions for training our nation’s warfighters,” added Garrity.

Aptima’s extensive track record for developing training solutions for DoD includes:

• Analysis,design,andevaluation: Through a decade-long partnership with Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Combat Command and the Group for Organizational

Effectiveness, Aptima and its partners have helped to define the “go to war” knowledge skills necessary for the contemporary opera-tional environment. These analyses identified training gaps and corrective recommenda-tions, covering every major weapon system within the USAF, and included joint and coali-tion partners.

• Development,production,andimplemen-tation: Aptima developed courseware focused on the military decision-making process for the Captain’s Career Course at the Army’s Combined Armed Support Command.

• Sustainment: As a member of the L-3 Communications Government Services Inc. Academic, Training & Exercise Contract Support team, Aptima helped convert and implement hundreds of hours of self-paced interactive courseware in support of the Air Force 505th Command and Control wing.

Michael Garrity;[email protected]

Training Support, Flight Equipment Work

CAE has won approximately $87.7 million in contracts to provide training support services, update flight trainers and help maintain mili-tary flight simulation equipment for military customers. The modeling and simulation company won the contracts during the first two months of the fourth quarter for fiscal year 2013, the company recently said. Under a fourth contract, the company will provide in-service support services to an unidentified customer.

“Our large installed base of simulators and training devices around the world continues to provide a steady source of orders for ongoing sustainment, maintenance and support services,” said Gene Colabatistto, group president for military products, training and services.

Under a subcontract, a contract between a prime contractor and a subcontractor to furnish supplies or services for performance of a prime contract or subcontract with Lockheed Martin, CAE will help the U.S. Air Force maintain two C-130J maintenance and aircrew training system programs and help Taiwan’s air force maintain its C-130H training devices.

A second contract covers updates to the Navy’s MH-60S helicopter’s operational flight trainers, weapons tactics trainers, aerodynamics model, weapons and airborne mine counter measures.

Germany also awarded CAE a one-year contract extension to continue providing on-site maintenance for flight simulation equipment at 20 sites in Europe.

Engineers and technicians will help maintain fighter jets, transport planes and helicopters. “We are also seeing increased opportunities for simu-lator upgrades and updates as defense forces look for ways to increase the amount of training done in a synthetic environment,” Colabatistto said.

Chris Stellwag;[email protected]

www.MT2-kmi.com4 | MT2 18.3

Page 7: MT2 18.3 (May 2013)

Compiled by KMi Media Group staff

Advanced Combat Ship Training

Cubic Corporation’s Orlando-based Simulation Systems Division announced that it has received three prime contracts from Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division to develop instructor-led (synchronous) and instructor-facilitated self-paced (asynchronous) courseware in support of the Littoral Combat Ship Train to Qualify and Train to Certify shore-based training requirements for both variants of the littoral combat ship, and for the mission packages utilized on both ships.

The Littoral Combat Ship program represents the U.S. Navy’s most advanced designs, capabilities and technologies to create the next generation of surface vessels that can operate in dangerous shallow and near-shore environments.

If fully funded, the three indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contracts have the potential value of up to $298.5 million over the five-year period-of-performance.

This program represents a strategic partner-ship between the U.S. military, government and industry. This will result in the creation of jobs for veterans, engineers and new graduates of

science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs.

“We are extremely pleased that Cubic has been selected to contribute and participate in this impor-tant Navy program,” said Brad Feldmann, president and chief operating officer of Cubic. “This announce-ment is another example of Cubic’s continued part-nership with the United States Navy. We are steadfast in our commitment to this role in support of the men and women in uniform regarding their vital mission to defend freedom and the interests of the United States around the world.”

The littoral combat ship courseware development programs will be executed in Orlando, Fla. Cubic’s Simulation Systems will partner with Cubic Mission Support Services, and a team of industry leading subcontractors including Austal USA, Alion Science and Technology, Sonalysts Inc., Aptima Inc., Cybernet Systems Corporation, RealTime Immersive Inc. and a host of small and economically disadvantaged busi-nesses to deliver the interactive courseware products.

Trisha Rule;[email protected]

Aircraft, Training and Support for

U.S. Air Force Light Air Support

MissionWittenstein recently announced that

it is part of the supplier network tapped by the U.S. Air Force under its recently awarded Light Air Support (LAS) contract. The U.S. Air Force announced the selection of Sierra Nevada Corporation to supply aircraft for use by the Afghanistan National Army Air Corps and other future customers. The aircraft that will be provided is the Embraer A-29 Super Tucano. The aircraft will be used for conducting flight training, aerial reconnaissance and light air support operations and is a key element of U.S. government partner-building efforts in Afghanistan and other partner nations.

Wittenstein’s role in the contract includes providing state-of-the-art control loading technology for the Super Tucano simulators. Wittenstein’s haptic technology provides pilots with high-fidelity force feedback for realistic flight conditions, ensuring pilots receive the most advanced training on the ground to best prepare them for the air.

“Our colleagues are proud to be a part of the team selected by the U.S. Air Force for this important mission,” said Scott Metcalfe, business unit manager for Wittenstein Aerospace & Simulation Inc. “We work hard to ensure that we create best-in-class technology that can optimally train pilots for their missions.”

The A-29 Super Tucano will be built in Jacksonville, Fla., by U.S. workers and with parts supplied by U.S. companies. Over 88 percent of the Super Tucano is made from parts supplied by U.S. compa-nies, like Wittenstein, or countries that qualify under the Buy America Act. Aircraft training will be provided in Clovis, N.M. Wittenstein is among the other 70 U.S. suppliers in 21 states that will provide parts or services for the LAS program. At least 1,200 U.S. jobs will be supported through this contract.

Barbara Colucci;[email protected]

Army Reserve Colonel BrentlyF.White was nominated for promotion to the rank of brigadier general and for assignment as deputy commanding general, 75th Training Command (Initial Entry Training), Houston, Texas. White most recently served as assistant division commander, Headquarters, 95th Training Division (Initial Entry Training), Fort Sill, Okla.

RonCostella, a 20-year U.S. Army veteran, has rejoined American Systems as vice presi-dent and executive director of the training and operational services business segment. Costella will be responsible for developing and imple-menting a growth strategy for the segment, which provides

security assistance training for the departments of Defense and State in the U.S. and over-seas. The segment also helps customers manage facilities and bases.

CAE announced the appoint-ment of DennyE.Brisley to the newly established position of director, Washington, D.C. Operations. Brisley will serve as the senior executive for CAE in Washington, D.C., supporting the Defense and Security business unit as well as other company business liaison efforts and government relations.

Cubic Corporation recently announced the appointment of DaveSchmitz as president of Cubic Defense Applications. He succeeds Brad Feldmann, who

was recently promoted to presi-dent and chief operating officer of Cubic.

GarySlack, formerly executive vice president and chief finan-cial officer for QinetiQ North America, has been promoted to president and chief operating officer at the Reston, Va.-based defense technology maker.

JonathanRambeau, recently vice president of F-35 interna-tional programs at Lockheed Martin, has been appointed VP and general manager of the training and logistics solutions business. He succeeds DeniseSaiki, who was promoted to corporate chief information officer and vice president in charge of Lockheed’s enterprise systems unit.

Compiled by KMi Media Group staffPeoPle

www.MT2-kmi.com MT2 18.3 | 5

Page 8: MT2 18.3 (May 2013)

leaDerShiP inSight Compiled by KMi Media Group staff

Q: Can you tell me the primary role and re-sponsibilities of JIEDDO?

A: JIEDDO is a designated DoD lead for rap-idly providing support of the combatant commanders and their respective Joint Task Forces. Our primary role is to defeat IEDs as weapons of strategic influence. JIEDDO has three objectives: attack the network, defeat the device and train the force.

Q: Can you describe the set of IED-specific force training operations to support combat-ant commanders?

A: JIEDDO has three major lines of operation: attack the network, defeat the device, and train the force. Booby traps and improvised explosives have been around for centuries, but it’s the anonymous networks that are em-ploying them that make them different these days.

There are different kinds of training and there are different detection devices. Creating those devices and getting them into theater is key, but then getting to training bases and collectively training on them, designing the right kind of courses, is essential. That takes a lot of work.

From a technological point of view, we have a whole series of four to five major detec-tion devices for dismounted operations. Some are used to counter remote-control IEDs, some to detect other things. But wouldn’t it be great if there was one device that did ev-erything? We have all sorts of assets, ISR [in-telligence, surveillance and reconnaissance] assets that help detect the network or detect new IEDs, that you can’t fully train on in the training base. It’s fairly specialized equipment, most of which only exists in theater. Simula-tions and different software capabilities allow us to put the IED environment into COCOM-level exercises, but in a way that’s appropriate for the operational and strategic level.

Q: In providing IED training operations, how do you measure success?

A: There are a number of ways we measure our progress. First of all, we have an after-action review program at the brigade level and regi-mental combat team level, with the forces pre-viously in Iraq and now in Afghanistan. It’s a critical filtering method that accumulates data, analyzes it and then realizes what is working and what is not. We also have site visits and course surveys. All of these processes are very important to measure success. If we see a unit that has a particular capability gap, then we would follow through on that with successive observations, applying a solution and training on it in the pre-deployment phase. Over time, we can see whether the change has worked or not.

Q: What are some of the biggest challenges providing this kind of training?

A: I believe the biggest challenge is getting the training to the unit at the right time and as-sisting units with the need for continuity. You might have a person trained for one of these key capabilities that is not really institutional-ized yet, but then you have to move them to another job and you have to make a lesser-of-two-evils choice. So that kind of need for it-erative training is probably one of the biggest challenges. The services, of course, are work-ing on institutionalizing certain counter-IED capabilities. I’d emphasize one of the things that really eliminates some of the challenges is we really focus on understanding what the services are already doing, making sure we’re filling a gap, and really augmenting capacity when they need it. That helps eliminate some of the challenges. Additionally, a big challenge continues to be personnel turnover during the pre-deployment cycle.

Q: What are some of the training shortfalls JIEDDO has identified in mitigating the threat of IEDs?

A: Sometimes, the shortfall is merely the need to quickly augment a capacity that the service already has. Some of this is structural in the

training base. The other areas are simply a matter of defining what counter-IED capabili-ties we’ve identified that are useful and what the capacity to train at any one time is. For example, with route clearance patrols, ground-penetrating radar that is put in a route clear-ance vehicle is challenging to train on, so one of the things we’ve created is surrogate ground-penetrating radar. It’s less expensive and it al-lows the soldier to train on a new device.

We try to anticipate what’s happening in theater, so in a sense we’re always uncovering shortfalls, and we want to stay ahead of it. As a result, we’re always modifying the training or recommending modification based on the changing enemy tactics and procedures we see in theater, and based on the solutions the warfighter comes up with. Guys in combat are going to come up with a solution, and we capture those best practices and their identifi-cation of training or capability gaps.

Q: How important is JIEDDO’s relationship with industry in regards to using the most up-to-date technology to provide training?

A: I think it’s critical. There are things in the area of simulations and capability require-ments that we identify because we’re solely focused on the IED problem. We’re in a posi-tion to articulate a requirement pretty rapidly from input from theater, integrate that with the services and then articulate that to indus-try. We do have a relationship with the whole of government as well. While we don’t cur-rently train other agencies, there’s certainly a lot of info sharing.

Q: Are there any new programs or initia-tives that are scheduled to be implemented in 2013?

A: There are several. Clearly there’s going to be some change in theater, a change in the conventional footprint, so there’s some full-spectrum targeting and training for special operators that we’ll provide augmentation for this year. O

JIEDDOAnonymous networks cAusing A threAt.colonel rod coffey chief of trAining support element

Joint improvised explosive device defeAt orgAnizAtion

www.MT2-kmi.com6 | MT2 18.3

Page 9: MT2 18.3 (May 2013)

HOW WILL YOU ENSURE YOUR ARMOURED FIGHTING

VEHICLE (AFV) crews are prepared for the live training experience?

The answer is Saab’s AFV Crew Training System. It is a pur-pose designed confi gurable training solution for armoured vehicle crews – commander, gunner, loader operator and driver – to master their individual, crew and collective skills in a cohesive learning experience. With Saab as your training partner the trainer has the ability to assess and qualify the trainee from CBT and virtual through to Live Simulation and Live Fire Exercises.

With the current drive to effectively replace live fi ring on vehicles with virtual simulation the AFV Crew Training System provides the trainee with the most realistic experience to ensure the required learning/training experience and build self-assurance. It also provides instructors with a powerful tool for continual assessment and evaluation.

When it’s time to turn training in to confi dence, Saab will bring you the solution you need to succeed.

www.saabgroup.com/training-and-simulation

AFV CREW TRAINING SYSTEMENHANCING THE LIVE TRAINING EXPERIENCE

234-0488_Virtual-annons_Training.indd 1 2013-04-11 10:27

Page 10: MT2 18.3 (May 2013)

Ground vehicle operators equip soldiers for training and combat missions with munitions, food and supplies essential to a mobile mili-tary force and to battlefield success.

At Motor Transport Instruction Company, Marine Corps Detach-ment at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., instructors teach roughly 2,160 Ma-rines annually to become basic motor transport operators on 1.25-ton to 22.5-ton vehicles. Vehicles include HMMWVs, the all-wheel drive, all-terrain 7-ton Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement, and the Logis-tic Vehicle System Replacement heavy trucks.

Students learn basic driving skills and are assigned to operational units for more advanced training to help with resupply, overseas secu-rity missions or transporting supplies at U.S. bases.

The goal is to support a unit’s mission for carrying artillery, infan-try and supplies, according to MTIC academics officer Jay Rhine. Mo-tor transport operators push logistics and supplies and are crucial for military operations, he said.

“They are pretty nervous. We start them out on the smallest vehi-cles. We use the crawl, walk, run theory,” said Gunnery Sergeant Steve Baker. “The biggest thing is they are just scared of driving that big vehi-cle.” Training boosts confidence, said Baker, who served in Afghanistan as a motor transport platoon sergeant and convoy commander.

“The skills we used in Iraq and Desert Storm, we pass them on to the students and to the instructors,” said 28-year-veteran Master Gunnery Sergeant Larry Cantu. “We have to think both sides and real world,” he said. “We get great feedback.”

The 38-day motor vehicle operator course includes HMMWV and 7-ton driving simulators, said curriculum developer Steve McGuire. “They do drive time with all of the vehicles. They do leave here with a license. They have to be ready to operate the vehicles.”

Another course teaches advanced vehicle recovery skills. The school also provides mobile training before deployment, Rhine said.

“The simulators have to be as real as possible to provide realism to the student,” McGuire said. The simulators provide safe training. “When they get to the actual piece of gear, it is easier to train.”

Detachment executive officer Major Steven Murphy deployed last year to Afghanistan. “In that environment, I got to see how im-portant ground transportation is in the battlefield,” Murphy said. His unit transported supplies with 7-ton mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) trucks and MRAP all-terrain vehicles in a mas-sive area while battling dust storms, IED dangers and other chal-lenges.

“In today’s world, this school is the baseline for that,” Murphy said. Students become professional drivers and convoy operators and need skills to move combat supplies quickly and safely.

The Army trains more than 5,000 motor transport operators (88Ms) annually at Fort Leonard Wood and plans to possibly launch a next-generation driving training simulator in fiscal 2014-2017, according to Jeffrey Skinner, a retired Army sergeant major and chief of the driver standardization office at the U.S Army Transpor-tation School in Fort Lee, Va.

“We know the value that simulators bring to the fight and we try and maximize their use,” Skinner said.

“They hone their skills before they get in the truck,” he said. “Some of these students have never driven anything bigger than mom or dad’s pickup truck. We start them in the simulator and then we move them to the vehicles. After that, the student is very comfortable handling large vehicles.”

The Army has used operator driving simulators since 2001. Its revamped Common Driver Trainer (CDT) simulators will feature improved graphics, movement and other capabilities to streamline combat transporter training. The Army has CDTs for systems in-cluding Strykers and M1 Abrams.

ground vehicle trAining essentiAl for A mobile militAry force. by cynthiA l. webb, mt2 correspondent

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Page 11: MT2 18.3 (May 2013)

The new CDTs will replicate training vehicles, includ-ing the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles, the M915 line-haul tractor and the Heavy Expanded Mobility Tacti-cal Truck. “It brings realism to the system,” Skinner said. “The knobs, the start button is exactly where it is on the truck. It looks exactly like the vehicle that the soldier will get into and be able to drive.

“The soldier’s speed of learning will obviously in-crease,” he said. The system can replicate convoy routes and roads to familiarize students with terrain, weather conditions and other challenges. The training helps stu-dents to be effective when they join their unit, Skinner explained.

AdvAnced trAining

The Army’s National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif., holds advanced two-week training exercises year-round for U.S. and multinational forces. The desert and 1,000-square-mile terrain provide an ideal combat training ground. The 1916th Support Battalion supports the exercises, which can train 5,000-8,000 fully equipped soldiers at a time.

Motor vehicle operators’ training includes setting up convoys, practicing driving distance and speed for IED safety, and transport-ing supplies, said  1st Sergeant Natasha Montgomery, who helps run the exercises. Soldiers are sent to the field for two weeks.

“It is the difference between life and death in most cases,” said Montgomery of training. Soldiers learn to work as a team and to react quickly. Missions include practicing security checkpoints for ground vehicle convoys, medical drills and firing exercises.

“Everything that could possibly happen, we practice,” said vehicle transporter Sergeant Kimberly Brown. Skills include re-covering and evacuating disabled vehicles quickly from dangerous situations. Crews help repair communications equipment, said communications specialist Private Selicia Milton.

Sergeant Cindi Thayer, who works in the battalion’s commu-nications unit and has deployed to Iraq three times, said Fort Ir-win’s convoy training skills are essential for battle readiness. When she witnessed rollovers, “the training I received here immediately kicked in,” Thayer said.

simulAting reAlity

Laser Shot Inc. of Stafford, Texas, provides the military with 360-degree wheeled vehicle training simulators that can replicate terrain and con-ditions for deployments, said vice president Gregg Owens. The com-pany helped soldiers prepare for Iraq’s Green Zone deployment by modeling its roads and buildings. Fort Hood and other posts use its systems to practice convoy driving skills and communications, Owens said.

“We are not there to teach the driver to drive the vehicle,” Owens said. The simulators are used for more advanced training. “We are there to teach the driver to work with the team.”

The realistic training helps save fuel and ammunition costs, he said.

Soldiers come to Fort Hood’s Mission Command Training Cen-ter with their units for more advanced training on wheeled vehicle simulators, according to simulation officer Lieutenant Colonel Mike True. True is in charge of integrating Fort Hood’s simulators into a unit’s training.

View of Scope Technolgies’ Augmented Reality animations overtop of equipment, as seen through prototype Epson Moverio augmented reality glasses. [Photo courtesy of Scope Technologies]

Gregg Owens

[email protected]

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For more information, contact MT2 Editor Brian O’Shea at [email protected] or search our online archives

for related stories at www.mt2-kmi.com.

At the start of the Iraq war, IEDs were killing soldiers in convoys. Fort Hood simulations officers created ply-wood mockups of HMMWVs and used existing simulation software as a cheap and effective way to train for the haz-ards, said Georgie McAteer, Fort Hood’s director of mis-sion command training. “We used some of our simula-tions to create a picture and they were able to drive in a virtual convoy. This allowed them to learn how to com-municate. They learned how to use their radios and to pay attention to where they were in formation,” McAteer said.

“The Army had always focused on the tracked vehicles and really not any of the wheeled vehicles,” she said. War-time needs changed that. Since then, 70,000 soldiers have trained on the plywood mockups, bolstered by the Virtual Battlespace 2 battlefield simulation system, McAteer said.

Simulators are located in pods in a large warehouse. Soldiers sit in plywood vehicle mockups, outfitted with a gas pedal, weapons system and steering wheel. Sol-diers shoot lasers at a screen while following commands. “When they look out of the vehicles, they are seeing a 360-degree virtual environment around them with sights and sounds as closely replicated as possible,” True said. The pods can link together to see other vehicles.

About 18,000 soldiers train annually, with the bulk of the train-ing specific to ground vehicle training, McAteer said. The training is safer than live training and soldiers can practice complicated

missions in advance. “In our envi-ronment it costs virtually nothing to restart it up and run it again,” True said.

True, who has 18 years of ser-vice, deployed with the 3rd Cavalry. “Without these virtual simulators, our crews enter live training much more timid. These simulators in-crease soldiers’ confidence on their weapons systems and their standard operating procedures.”

future trends

Future ground vehicle simula-tion trends include getting more accurate vehicle feedback, said Se-bastien Loze, Canada-based CM Labs Simulations Inc.’s director of marketing. Another push, he said, is for higher-end vehicles for more realistic training. CM Labs’ Vortex virtual reality simulation software system can replicate vehicle models, predict vehicle behavior and recre-

ate collisions and weather conditions.“The biggest challenges our customers have had to overcome

are linked to the need to allow trainees to develop complete trust in a collaborative and reliable simulation environment,” Loze said.

Canada-based Scope Technologies Inc. sells augmented reality (AR) software solutions to industrial clients and its technology could help the military, said business development manager David

Nedohin. Scope worked recently with Epson Corp. to develop prototype augmented reality glasses. With AR, digital information is added to enhance a real-world view.

The glasses could be used to show animations and instruction manuals for training, such as vehi-cle repairs in combat, Nedohin said. AR glasses could become contact lenses as technology evolves. “We are targeting the military as a very attractive market for us,” Nedohin said. “The unique thing about wear-ing glasses and applying AR is you can digitally change the environ-ment to recreate the environment you want to train in.”

MTIC’s Rhine said new developments include multi-platform simulators with interchangeable dashes to help students train for realistic scenarios.

Florida-based Design Interactive is working with the Army to develop a vehicle casualty extraction trainer to help soldiers train for IED dangers and rollovers. The HMMWV-based trainer is de-signed for various warfighters to practice getting people out of ve-hicles quickly and safely, said senior research associate Dr. Razia Oden.

The trainer will replicate a HMMWV. Instructors can add audio, lighting and smells to mimic battle conditions and change compo-nents to train differently in a cost-effective way, Oden said. Rescue personnel can use extraction tools to practice cutting into the ve-hicles. “We have designed it so the metal of the vehicle will give the same resistance of the HMMWV,” Oden said.

Any technology requires the marketplace to adapt. “The chal-lenge is to do it better, faster, at a lower price point, and maintain reliability and usability,” said Laser Shot’s Owens. O

David Nedohin

[email protected]

Dr. Razia Oden

[email protected]

Soldiers inside the Stryker simulator at Ft. Hood’s Mission Command Training Center train on wheeled vehicle simulators. [Photo courtesy of U.S. Army, Ft. Hood]

Sebastien Loze

[email protected]

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Nestled in the local townships of small town New Jersey is an Air Education and Training Command (AETC) schoolhouse with a small faculty of instructors who are packing quite a punch across the service and around the world. This school, the USAF Air Advisor Academy, educates and trains airmen-diplomats from a wide range of Air Force career fields who will engage with counterparts in foreign security forces across the

globe. More specifically, graduates of this unique institution apply their USAF expertise to assess, train, educate, advise, assist and equip partner nation personnel.

Assigned to AETC’s 2nd Air Force and 37th Training Wing, the Air Advisor Academy officially achieved full operating capability on January 14, 2013. The process began in early 2007, when substantial demand for general purpose force air advisors led the Air Force Chief of Staff to direct AETC to build a permanent pre-deployment training detachment. Since that time, the command has trained over 3,400 air advisors, with most early graduates serving as air advisors in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now fully operational, the Air Advisor Academy has the annual capacity to train up to 1,500 airmen who will advise coun-terparts in a multitude of nations across every region, supporting a

the fAce of usAf engAgement.by mAJor generAl timothy m. zAdAlis, u.s. Air force

Maj. Gen. Timothy M. Zadalis

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12 | MT2 18.1

wide array of contingency and peacetime mis-sions around the world. As security challenges and strategic importance increase across the African Maghreb, for example, the Air Advisor Academy is poised to provide education and training to a whole host of airmen deploying to that region as well.

The U.S. military’s responsibility to per-form the advising function is steeped in pol-icy and guidance. The U.S. National Security Strategy directs a comprehensive, whole-of-government engagement strategy. In order to achieve this vision, the National Defense Strategy directs the Department of Defense to “build the capacity of a broad range of part-ners for long-term security.” Similarly, one of six key missions in the 2010 Quadrennial De-fense Review is to “build the security capacity of partner states.” The Department’s Defense Planning Guidance document states that “the U.S. will work closely with allies and partners to ensure collective capability and capacity for securing common interests.” Finally, in sup-port of this guidance, the National Military Strategy directs the services to “strengthen and enable partner capacity to enhance secu-rity.”

The 2011 Air Force Global Partnership Strategy, the service’s guidance for the devel-opment of plans and programs to build global partnerships in support of national security objectives, grew out of this guidance. AETC, with the Air Advisor Academy in the lead, is enabling the implementation of this engage-ment plan. In his May 23, 2012, commence-ment speech to U.S. Air Force Academy gradu-ates, President Barack Obama acknowledged that, “today, Air Force personnel are serving in 135 nations—partnering, training, build-ing their capacity.” He added that “this is how peace and security will be upheld in the 21st century—more nations bearing the costs and responsibilities of leadership. And that’s good for America. It’s good for the world. And we’re at the hub of it, making it happen.” As the president’s comments indicate, Air Force engagement efforts are in line with his admin-istration’s guidance. Tireless effort at the Air Advisor Academy has enabled the service to meet those requirements—a huge return on a small, well-placed investment.

In addition to in-residence courses that have fueled this success, Air Advisor Academy instructors recently took their air advising education and training on the road, teaching air advising to USAF airmen in Europe and in the Pacific. In mid-January 2013, a team of in-structors, led by Major Alex Richburg, taught an air advising course to 23 members of the

36th Airlift Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Ja-pan, preparing these airmen for the multiple partner nation engagement activities planned across the Pacific region over the next year. With America’s strategic shift toward the Pa-cific, it will become increasingly important for air advisors to build relationships and partner nation capacity across the U.S. Pacific Command area of responsibility. This mobile training team was an important step in that direction.

The Air Advisor Academy’s next stop was Eastern Europe, where another team of in-structors trained 10 U.S. Air Force personnel who comprise the newly activated U.S. Avia-tion Detachment, 52nd Operations Group’s Detachment 1, assigned to Lask Air Base in Poland. Four instructors from the Air Advi-sor Academy, led by Master Sergeant Jeffrey Culver, taught five days of course material ranging from air advisor core knowledge to communicating in a cross-cultural environ-ment. The American airmen receiving this education and training will facilitate increased cooperation and interoperability between U.S. and Polish Air Force F-16 and C-130 opera-tions and maintenance personnel.

Aetc roles And responsibilities

The Air Force has recently codified 13 service core functions and has directed spe-cific commanders of USAF major commands (MAJCOMs) to lead integration of these core functions. As one might expect, General Ed-ward A. Rice Jr., the AETC commander, leads the USAF education and training core func-tion. It is important to note that General Rice is the building partnerships (BP) core func-tion lead integrator (CFLI) as well. This makes perfect sense, as these two core functions are indelibly linked. For example, AETC is charged with educating and training as many as 8,500 partner nation personnel on an annual basis at just about every educational institution and training venue in the command. Through the International Military and Education Train-ing (IMET) program, foreign counterparts at-tend AETC’s Undergraduate Pilot Training, Air Command and Staff College, Air War College, Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, and the Air Force Academy, just to name a few. This education and training at AETC institu-tions quite literally builds partnerships on a daily basis.

Additionally, both the Inter-American Air Forces Academy and the Defense Language Institute–English Learning Center are as-signed to AETC. The primary mission of these

organizations is to build partnerships by edu-cating and training partner nation personnel. Additionally, AETC’s Air Force Security Assis-tance Training Squadron manages the train-ing of foreign partners in 137 countries, who fly and maintain aircraft they have purchased through programs such as foreign military sales (FMS) and foreign military financing (FMF). Furthermore, the Air Force Culture and Language Center, also assigned to AETC, helps Air University and other organizations, such as the Air Advisor Academy, educate and train airmen who will engage and advise other partner nation personnel.

In the April 19, 2010, preamble to the USAF Air Advisor Academy Charter, then Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton A. Schwartz specifically discussed BP in the context of AETC’s Air Advisor Academy: “Our nation’s security is in substantial measure de-pendent upon our success in building partner-ships and partner capacity, and countering ir-regular and asymmetric threats.” Accordingly, he stated, “One of our most significant tasks that we face is helping to prepare our partners to defend sovereignty and govern effectively.” AETC is leading the way toward the vision of the past and present Air Force Chiefs of Staff. In his recently published Vision for the U.S. Air Force, the new Chief of Staff, General Mark A. Welsh III, made reference to the two core functions assigned to AETC. He submitted, “Education and training are the foundation of our airpower advantage” and emphasized the importance of building partnerships as the Air Force moves forward: “To strengthen our enduring contributions, the Air Force will en-hance relationships and interoperability with our sister services, other government agen-cies, allies and partners.”

In addition to the CFLI roles, AETC is also lead-MAJCOM for expeditionary skills training (EST). Accordingly, AETC manages all foun-dational (Tier 1), home-station (Tier 2), and advanced (Tier 3) EST across the Air Force. AETC is charged with managing and execut-ing Combat Airman Skills Training and the Evasion and Conduct after Capture course as well. Furthermore, the command manages USAF-wide countering improvised explosive devices (C-IED) training, a critically important element of EST as IEDs are the number-one killer of coalition forces and a threat in many other hotspots throughout the world. Again, the tie between these AETC roles is critical. A substantial portion of Air Advisor Academy course material, referred to as “fieldcraft,” is based upon EST lessons. Examples of field-craft skills taught at the Air Advisor Academy

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include high threat driving, active shooter/insider threat, advanced weapons, self protec-tion, small team tactics, convoy operations and C-IED training. In fact, fieldcraft training is carefully interwoven throughout Air Advi-sor Academy curriculum and fully integrated with air advising core knowledge/skills and language, region, and culture course material.

Beyond its lead-MAJCOM role for EST, AETC is also charged with developing, stan-dardizing, executing and evaluating non-USAF aircrew qualification and maintenance training. Currently, AETC leads training in Mi-17, Mi-35, An-32, King Air 350, Cessna 182, Cessna 208 and Pilatus PC-12 aircraft. The command is postured to add other important non-USAF aircraft programs in the future. U.S. Air Force aircrew and maintainers learn to fly and maintain these aircraft and then learn to advise partner nation personnel in those roles. Coming full circle on the linkages between AETC roles and responsibilities, the same air-men who receive AETC training in non-USAF aircraft operations and maintenance also learn air advising and fieldcraft skills at AETC’s Air Advisor Academy.

usAf engAgement spAce

It’s important to understand building partnerships and air advising in the context of the many other related joint terms and DoD programs. While whole-of-government part-ner nation engagement could be viewed as the foundation of this collective effort, the emerg-ing concept of aviation enterprise develop-ment serves as the overarching construct for the U.S. Air Force contribution. It is generally accepted across the community that there are four pillars to the USAF engagement effort: building relationships, building capability, enabling interoperability, and gaining access. BP and security cooperation (SC) both fully encompass these pillars, filling what might be referred to as the USAF engagement space. Security assistance (SA), which includes FMS, FMF and IMET, cuts across the first three pil-lars, filling a portion of the space and serving as an important subset of BP and SC. Building partner capacity (BPC) and security force as-sistance (SFA) are directly tied to developing the capability of a foreign military force and, for the USAF, developing a partner nation’s aviation enterprise.

The U.S. Air Force performs BPC and SFA through the air advising function and, in so doing, enables foreign counterparts to conduct irregular warfare (IW) activities, including counterinsurgency (COIN) and

foreign internal defense (FID), and other foreign security force activities, such as countering external threats, in line with U.S. national interests. As such, air advising fully encompasses USAF efforts to build partner nation capability and plays a key role in building relationships and enabling interoperability. While there are many players across these disciplines, the air advisor is, in essence, the face of the U.S. Air Force engagement effort.

The Air Advisor Academy is, in many ways, USAF’s link to many of these larger joint ef-forts. For example, the academy is emerging as USAF’s answer to security cooperation training venues in the other services. In fact, the academy plans to train airmen preparing to serve in an SC capacity, such as security co-operation officers working in U.S. embassies abroad. Similarly, AETC is working diligently with key stakeholders from Headquarters U.S. Air Force, sister services, the joint com-munity, and the Air Advisor Academy to fully align its course material with emerging joint SFA training standards and corresponding levels of training. Additionally, lessons at the schoolhouse include education and training in SC, SA, FMS, IW, COIN, FID, and other con-tent directly tied to joint and DoD programs. Finally, in March 2013, the Air Advisor Acad-emy launched a new course that will train key members of each theater’s commander, Air Force Forces (COMAFFOR) planning staff. These planners will develop COMAFFOR campaign support plans and individual coun-try plans that support geographic combatant command theater engagement plans. These

plans will codify theater and country-specific aviation enterprise development activities and other partner nation engagement efforts across the region. These planners will then implement the campaign support plans they helped to develop by serving as air advisors as they work with partner nation personnel across the region.

conclusion

In his preamble to the USAF Air Advisor Academy charter, General Schwartz said that “to achieve success, we will need trained, educated and qualified general purpose force (GPF) airmen to help build global air, space and cyber partnerships in support of combat-ant commanders’ security cooperation and irregular warfare activities.” He added that “a robust GPF Air Advisor capability will leverage the hard-earned expertise derived from our re-cent efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.” All too often, the lessons of past wars are lost on the next generation. Instructors at the Air Advisor Academy are working diligently to institution-alize the progress made in air advising and ex-peditionary training over the last decade. Now fully operational and aggressively spreading the word, the little schoolhouse in New Jersey is punching above its weight in response to today’s threats and is poised to make an even greater impact in the future. O

For more information, contact MT2 Editor Brian O’Shea at [email protected] or search our online archives for related stories at www.mt2-kmi.com.

Members of the 52nd Operations Group and Spangdahlem Air Base Honor Guard stand in formation during an Aviation Detachment (AV DET) activation ceremony on the flightline at Lask Air Base, Poland. The AV DET supports Poland’s continued defense modernization and standardization with the U.S. and North Atlantic Treaty Organization. [Photo courtesy of U.S. Air Force/photo by Airman 1st Class Gustavo Castillo]

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Data PacKetS

Artificial Intelligence Middleware LaunchedMASA Group (MASA), a developer of artificial

intelligence (AI)-based modeling and simulation software for the defense, emergency prepared-ness, serious games and games-development markets, announced the launch of MASA Life, its new AI middleware, during Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2013.

MASA Life is an intuitive, adaptable AI middleware allowing developers of games, serious games and simulations to make their non-player characters (NPCs) more realistic and smarter. Thanks to its behavior modeling disruptive workflow, Life is designed to increase the productivity of game developers and non-technical professional users requiring highly realistic and adaptable intelligent behaviors. Life marries an intuitive development environ-ment with simplicity, control and flexibility. Life brings a powerful dimension of realism to games and simulation environments, providing users with reliable technology to model and execute convincing behaviors.

“With MASA Life, we aim to simplify behavior authoring,” Frank Gwosdz, life product manager at MASA Group, commented. “Life offers game developers and designers alike the capability to

model behaviors of individuals, groups or crowds of agents. It provides a designer-friendly graph-ical authoring tool, an interactive sandbox, a lean and scalable runtime, as well as out-of-the-box behavior contents.”

MASA has a longstanding game-related culture that started more than 10 years ago with the development of Conflict Zone. A real-time strategy war game, it was entirely developed by MASA Group and published by Ubisoft in 2001. Life builds upon the experience MASA has gained in the war games arena with its AI-based simu-lation software MASA Sword designed to help users develop highly realistic scenarios to train military and civil decision makers.

Furthermore, in 2011 MASA Group acquired key artificial intelligence assets and hired product development talent from Artificial Technology GmbH, a technology leader in behavior authoring within the games develop-ment industry. The acquired assets included EKI One, an innovative middleware designed for the easy authoring of NPC behaviors in online and video games.

The inception of MASA Life thus takes full advantage of the productivity-driven approach

used by artificial technology within the games industry, and of the advanced AI technology developed by MASA within the defense industry.

“State-of-the-art artificial intelligence tech-nology has been inside MASA’s DNA since the origins of the company more than 15 years ago. Gaming is an essential part of our corpo-rate culture, and many among MASA’s talented software engineers are former game developers themselves,” Gilles Mazars, chief technology officer at MASA Group, declared. “With MASA Life’s unique AI technology, game developers at GDC can see for themselves how MASA’s new AI middleware makes their game developing experi-ence easier and faster, while providing them with a powerful business differentiator.”

Life empowers both technical and non-tech-nical users (such as creative staff and project managers) to author, inspect and debug autono-mous, reusable behaviors within minutes.

Life also provides pathfinding and navigation by using the well-known Recast and Detour open source solution. MASA’s aim with this integration is to provide additional value to the game devel-opment community at large.

Gilles Mazars; [email protected]

3-D Modeling Software

Presagis’ Creator has been around for approximately 15 years. This year’s release of Creator is focused on improving user experience.

AFreshNewUICreator has a more intuitive UI. The intro-

duction of the new ribbon toolbar helps one find and use commands more efficiently—resulting

in less trial-and-error when creating 3-D objects.The new Creator gives more control of

the tools used most by enabling the user to customize the desktop. For example, users can drag and drop frequently used tools onto the ribbon toolbar or maximize one’s workspace with docking windows.

Improved“AnalyzeModels”ToolImproved model defect detection enables

user to more quickly identify 3-D models that violate rules that the user sets.

FullIntegrationwithTerraVistaIf a person uses Terra Vista to generate

terrain databases, he/she can now edit and save 3-D models by launching Creator directly from Terra Vista.

FreeUpgradetoCreatorActive maintenance clients will be able to

download the latest version of Creator via the Presagis Customer Portal at no cost when it becomes available. Maintenance clients also have access to all kinds of additional perks, including:

• High-quality, product-specific email and phone support

• New product releases and service packs• Access to online help forums

Eric Simon; [email protected]

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Compiled by KMi Media Group staff

Simulation-Based Command and Battle Staff Training System

The U.S. Army selected Lockheed Martin to design an advanced simulation-based training system that will ensure Army, joint and coali-tion leaders are prepared to act decisively in the evolving operational environment.

The Joint Land Component Constructive Training Capability ( JLCCTC) system will support training exercises that replicate complex operational scenarios, preparing commanders and their staff to direct military operations. The indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract has a $146 million ceiling value over five years.

JLCCTC integrates seven current command and battle staff training tools into a single system and presents simulated enemy and friendly forces so that commanders and their staff can practice making decisions during high-pressure military missions. The system also supports the Army’s strategy for an inte-grated training environment that combines

live, virtual and computer-generated training elements.

“Integrating seven training components provides sustainment cost savings and makes it easier and faster to generate training scenarios,” said Jim Weitzel, vice president of training solu-tions for Lockheed Martin’s Mission Systems and Training business. “JLCCTC will be built with a modeling and simulation-based archi-tecture to present data driven scenarios for relevant, adaptable training.”

In addition to integration, Lockheed Martin developed the Warfighter’s Simulation (WARSIM) component of JLCCTC. In 2012, WARSIM supported 14 training exercises and trained more than 22,000 commanders, their staffs and units. Lockheed Martin’s industry team of large and small businesses has experi-ence with all components that will be incorpo-rated into the system.

Scott Lusk; [email protected]

Modeling and Simulation Software

UpgradeThe Ternion Corporation released Flames,

version 11.0.1. This version is an incremental release correcting minor issues found in the Flames Runtime Suite since version 11.0 was released. The following updates are included:

• Updated copies of main Flames dynamic/shared runtime library and some of the bundled component libraries. This corrects some minor issues that were discovered since the release of version 11.0.

• Updates to make use of version 4.8.4 of the Qt user interface framework upon which the Flames user interface is based. This newer version of Qt provides better support for the look and feel of the Windows 8 operating system.

Version 11.0.1 is an update to the runtime suite only. No development suite products are affected by this update.

Whitney Sheppard; [email protected]

Web-Based Simulation

VT MÄK recently announced the release of MÄK WebLVC Server 1.0—a new product that enables web-based simulation applications running in a browser to interoperate with traditional DIS or HLA federations. MÄK WebLVC Server was first demon-strated in fall 2012. Having completed a short beta period, this release marks its general availability.

MÄK WebLVC Server connects web-based simu-lation federates to DIS/HLA federations without requiring any changes to existing applications. Based on the VR-Exchange interoperability portal, the server translates simulation data between a federation’s native protocol and a new web-friendly simulation interoperability protocol called WebLVC. Web-based applications written in JavaScript can connect to the server, and directly send and receive WebLVC messages. A federation may be using DIS, HLA 1.3, HLA 1516, HLA Evolved, TENA, or any other protocol for which a VR-Exchange “Broker” exists. MÄK WebLVC Server can be used on closed labs behind firewalls, or over the Internet.

In addition to the server software itself, the MÄK WebLVC Server product comes with a set of JavaScript libraries called VR-Link.js—a JavaScript implementation of some of the key functionality in

VR-Link (C++ interoperability toolkit). VR-Link.js implements the client side of the WebLVC protocol, easing the job of building WebLVC-compliant JavaScript federates. Several sample JavaScript applications are also included with the server—to demonstrate how to send and receive WebLVC messages from the user’s own web applications.

MÄK WebLVC Server is the first product to come out of VT MÄK’s broader WebLVC initiative. The MÄK

WebLVC Suite product is scheduled for release in Q2. MÄK WebLVC Suite will include a collection of out-of-the-box web apps built on the WebLVC Server and WebLVC Protocol. These apps will allow users to observe their simulation in 2-D or 3-D, control VR-Forces-based simulation scenarios, or provide a web-based simulated camera or sensor display through streaming video.

Ben Lubetsky; [email protected]

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Colonel Bryan L. Rudacille, a native of Fairfax, Va., was commis-sioned as an infantryman upon graduation from the United States Mili-tary Academy at West Point, N.Y., in May 1986, where he also received a Bachelor of Science degree. Later, Rudacille earned his master’s degree in military science from the United States Marine Corps University and a Master of Arts degree in strategic security studies from the National Defense University.

In command and staff positions, he served with the 1st Armored Division; 7th Infantry Division; I Corps Long Range Surveillance Com-pany; Combat Applications Group, U.S. Army Special Operations Com-mand; and served on multiple occasions in the 75th Ranger Regiment.

Prior to commanding at the U.S. Army’s only overseas training command, the 7th U.S. Army Joint Multinational Training Command, also referred to as JMTC, at Grafenwoehr, Germany, Rudacille com-manded the 165th Infantry Brigade at Fort Jackson, S.C.; the 1st Bat-talion, 27th Infantry Regiment of the 25th Infantry Division; and the 1st Ranger Battalion at Hunter Army Airfield in Ga.

In addition to completing the Joint Advanced Warfighting School at the Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Va., Rudacille wears British and Canadian foreign Jump Wings, and numerous U.S. Army awards and decorations, such as, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal as well as Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge and the Master Parachutist Badge.

Q: Can you describe the roles and responsibilities of the Joint Multina-tional Training Command [JMTC]?

A: The Joint Multinational Training Command is the U.S. Army’s only overseas training command. The JMTC provides U.S. soldiers based in Europe with live, virtual and constructive training aids and devices, ranges, and institutional learning opportunities. The command is ca-pable of supporting training for individual soldiers through a 3-star headquarters.

JMTC platforms and training areas consist of a simulation center, a maneuver and combat training center, a combined arms training center and a noncommissioned-officer academy. Additionally, Training Sup-port Activity Europe, also called TSAE, provides training aids and devices at training sites in at least 17 installations Europe-wide. We are capable of exporting these capabilities to support U.S. military forces in Europe, Africa, or anywhere a combatant commander requires training.

Our priority is to train U.S. forces to meet daily readiness requirements, or in preparation for specific named operations and contingency plans. During the last several years, we’ve focused primarily on support to U.S. and multinational forces deploying to Afghanistan. Most recently, we’ve focused on training for the future fight in the complex operational environment offered by the Decisive Action Training Environment, often referred to as DATE. The DATE supports

the Army’s core competencies: wide area security and combined arms maneuver. Future conflict will also entail significant operations with joint, interagency, intergovernmental and multinational partners. JMTC provides a unique opportunity for U.S. forces to train with coalition partners and allies, many of which we will operate alongside in contested areas. This promotes trust among partners, increases interoperability of personnel and systems, and reduces the impact of culture, technology and governance as obstacles to combined mission success.

Q: What do you expect will be the greatest challenges in 2013?

A: This is a diverse organization so there isn’t any one particular chal-lenge more significant than the others. We do believe the change in mis-sion for ISAF will present considerable challenges as we see adjustments in U.S. and NATO support in Afghanistan.

Following troop reductions in Afghanistan, some may argue the natural course for nations, and potentially our own military services, is to go back to training in ways that assure specific national goals or service-oriented functions. We hope to dissuade anyone from seeking to follow a path that would diminish our ability to fight as a joint team and/or as a coalition. We must contest any plans to withdraw from our current practice of training together. We have been successful operating alongside each other during the past 10 years, training together in the future sustains the interoperability we’ve gained, the trust we’ve built, and the relationships we’ve forged.

Colonel Bryan L. RudacilleCommander

Joint Multinational Training Command

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Overseas TrainerProviding LVC Training Aids, Ranges and Institutional Learning Opportunities

Q&AQ&A

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The United States Army Europe’s [USAREUR] force structure will continue to adjust in 2013. Units will move to new locations within Eu-rope, some will deactivate, while others focus on mission sets other than those dominated by deployments to Afghanistan. As USAREUR’s training arm, JMTC will keep pace with unit requirements for training. Home-station training must match the demand of units who do not have a pending deployment. Our combat training center provides a complex, realistic environment that will challenge leaders to make decisions rap-idly while possessing imperfect information. Units train to be successful on a battlefield, which requires a broader range of missions. We are ab-solutely convinced we can meet this challenge given the strength of our team and the guidance provided by our senior Army leaders.

Finally, we expect challenges while operating in a constrained fis-cal environment. This is natural given the conclusion of major opera-tions in Afghanistan and follows a long history of fiscal drawdown in the military after major combat operations conclude. Our Army has always responded to the needs of our nation; the nation needs us to maintain readiness consistent with a reduction in budget, and we will respond. Our challenge, not unlike other training platforms, will be to develop a budget that can provide consistent, reliable and quality support to our Title X forces while meeting designated theater security cooperation plans.

Given these challenges, JMTC develops training practices that are sustainable, effective and aligned with our core competencies. We must continue to partner with other nations. We anticipate an increase in training support and exercises with partners and allies. In the last year, we’ve grown from less than 12 percent NATO training to more than 22 percent. We see this as a major contribution to USAREUR and U.S. Eu-ropean Command’s strategic engagement objectives.

Q: What programs or initiatives do you plan on implementing in 2013?

A: JMTC has several new systems and training platforms coming on board in 2013. At the heart of our programs, we will continue to fo-cus on blending live, virtual, constructive and gaming environments to meet readiness requirements. In the fall, TSAE received the Dismounted Soldier Training System. This is a significant acquisition in simulations and it is designed to train a squad of up to nine soldiers to perform dis-mounted tactics in a virtual environment. The only cost is the room they are standing in and the equipment they wear, which is a headset, noise-canceling headphones and body sensors. Trainers are evaluating the fea-sibility of using the system with our vehicle simulators, Reconfigurable Vehicle Tactical Trainer and the Virtual Battlespace2.

We will also open our new convoy live-fire range and unmanned aer-ial vehicle airfield in November 2013. As requested by units, we can add live, virtual and constructive support systems to our ranges to increase the fidelity of the training environment with minimal costs. Our plan-ners and scenario developers are capable of adding a list of battlefield in-jects, events and activities that stimulate the surrounding environment.

The addition of virtual medical and aviation support, intelligence platforms such as unmanned aerial systems, and constructively adding adjacent units allows a unit to achieve readiness levels normally achieved only through a more costly full-scale maneuver exercise. This translates into substantial savings for the unit. I expect that we will further develop and perfect this capability.

Q: What types of technologies are used at the Grafenwoehr and Ho-henfels training areas and how do they support the Joint Multinational Readiness Center?

A: The Joint Multinational Readiness Center [JMRC] is Europe’s com-bat training center. It conducts training up to the brigade combat team level during rotations and mission readiness exercises. At JMRC we use actual operational systems such as CENTRIX, various collaboration and information sharing tools, and digital hardware and software to replicate the Afghan Mission Network. The use of these ‘live’ systems enhances both U.S. and multinational training in Germany. This exten-sion of the operational network allows brigade combat teams and units to better prepare for deployment.

Europe’s 2nd Cavalry Regiment was among the first deploying units to use the system in 2010. Training in this manner is intended to reduce reporting friction, and facilitates rapid integration onto the theater net-works upon deployment.

Replicating the real-world environment is important when prepar-ing for real-world missions and we have an impressive camera suite with thermal cameras on all of our maneuver ranges. We use night vision cameras that have offset IR lights that use a different light spectrum than military night vision goggles to monitor night and in-building activities. Units on the Grafenwoehr training complex can also use a variety of GPS trackers including FBCB2 or Blue Force Tracker depend-ing on the ranges and types of training being conducted. The use of our SMART reactive targetry in our shoot houses, coupled with extensive audio and video capture and play capability, leads the Army in range training support.

Q: Can you describe JMTC’s blending of live, virtual, and constructive simulation capabilities?

A: The Grafenwoehr Training Area has 44 live-fire ranges, and facilities to support artillery, close air support and bombing training. Addition-ally, two of our larger ranges are multipurpose range complexes which allow units to train using complex air and ground maneuver scenarios to achieve multi-echeloned training objectives in one live-fire event.

What’s unique about JMTC is that under a single command there’s a large, live-fire training complex and a robust simulations center, the Joint Multinational Simulations Center [JMSC]. We’ve been successful at blending these two platforms. This past fall the 2nd Cavalry Regiment conducted squadron level live-fires using six separate ranges linked to-gether. We added simulated and virtual close-air support assets, virtual UAS, live mortars, artillery and constructed-opposing forces [OPFOR] in simulations. The OPFOR moved in the unit’s mission command sys-tems from 80 kilometers away into their immediate battle-space, which quickly transitioned from simulated vehicles to live, direct-fire targetry.

This training event was enabled by the close working relationship between our simulations center and our range operations teams. The training allowed the squadrons to see an enemy and friendly picture, through their digital command and control systems, that was much larger than the squadron could physically see on the actual range com-plex. As the constructed enemy advanced towards the squadron, at a point where it could physically be seen by line of sight or optics, the enemy targets would appear. The ‘blending’ of these environments is currently man-hour intensive, but the expected fielding of the Army’s Integrated Training Environment will greatly reduce the resources necessary to execute a similar combined live/simulation exercise in the future.

We’ve also had great success at using gaming technologies, primar-ily Virtual Battle Space 2. We create replicated real-world terrain, which allows units to rehearse training events in simulation before progress-ing to live training on the real terrain. This has been a practice used by

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both U.S. and multinational forces that train here during the past few years. Units enter the live training with an elevated level of proficiency. This adds greatly to the value of the live-training, while mitigating the cost of achieving higher proficiency levels.

Q: What is your strategy to be a more cost-effective training center?

A: I have described how this training command has the ability to fuse simulations and gaming technologies into preparation and execution of field training events. This capability allows units that come to our facilities to have cost-saving options as they plan their training events. You don’t expend live bullets and fuel when you practice in simulations.

Another example of how we make training events more economical is by bringing any number of different units and countries to train at the same time during training events. This practice allows for cost shar-ing, and also increases the fidelity of the training environment.

Q: What do you foresee are the most significant technological ad-vancements to have an impact on JMTC in 2013?

A: The fielding of training systems will add to our repertoire of training devices, and provide new opportunities to blend training environments. JMSC and TSAE are working to link the new Dismounted Soldier Train-ing System virtual simulations with our VBS2 tactical gaming suites. We hope to create an integrated training environment and provide a more seamless link between the live, virtual and constructive training domains.

We’ll also increase use of the Virtual Clearance Training Suite, which provides realistic and tailored training for units and soldiers tasked with route clearance. The system allows soldiers to train with the Husky, Talon, Buffalo and the RG-31 Charger, the mine protected carrier, and RG-33, mine resistant ambush protected vehicle in a virtual environment. These classes can be adjusted to meet the unit’s training needs.

Additionally, the increase in digital media sharing and storage has increased our ability to create near real-time after-action reviews that give the unit commander an ability to really see how his unit is per-forming, and make immediate corrections during training. The Grafen-woehr Training Area is increasing its ‘digital reach’ through the devel-opment of the JMTC portal and chat tools that link our training unit to the training area staff, as well as other operations like the garrison emergency response team, building a rapid ability to respond to events on the ranges. Lastly, improved digital-video systems and enhance-ments in visual information capabilities will increase JMTC’s ability to access and deposit products to Department of Defense archives.

Q: What types of training does the JMTC export to train other nations’ forces?

A: JMTC uses all available resources to train individuals to 3-star head-quarters, and as such, we are a frequent choice by multiple combat-ant commands, the COCOMs, to provide needed training and to foster partnerships. We regularly ship personnel and equipment throughout Europe, Asia and Africa. We are an integral partner in forecasting, plan-ning and coordinating training support to multiple nations within European Command and Africa Command areas of operation. This support includes exporting our observer, controller and trainer teams, training aids and devices, simulation capabilities, counter-IED training support packages, and deployable-range packages, just to name a few.

We often combine several of our capabilities to meet the desired training objectives of our customers. And, as with most training ex-ercises, our simulation center provides simulator capabilities that enhance training at all levels. All members of the JMTC team ensure world-class training and support is available and provided to all of our multinational partners. We want to be the COCOM’s first choice to meet their training and partnership needs.

Q: How does JMTC tailor multinational training for downrange mission requirements?

A: JMTC tailors each training exercise based on a units training re-quirements. For example, every six months, the Polish Land Forces rotate a brigade to Ghazni Province, Afghanistan, in support of the ISAF mission. Before the brigade deploys it must undergo a multi-level certification process from platoon to the brigade headquarters. The brigade certification event is a command-post exercise called BAGRAM. The Polish brigade serves under the command and control of Regional Command–East, a United States 2-star headquarters.

Interoperability between U.S. forces and coalition partners is paramount to ISAF’s success. Initially, the Polish Land Forces had no simulation capability or simulation center, so our Joint Multi-national Simulations Center helped establish a temporary simula-tion center at the Kielce Military Training Center [KMTC] for each exercise.

What this really means is that between three different locations at the KMTC, more than 20,000 feet of network cable was laid and mission command systems emplaced. Simulation databases were built and tested. Our JMSC provided the joint conflict and tactical simulation, an unmanned aerial system simulation and a tactical in-terface called Joint Exercise Control Suite, which converts certain simulation messages to a tactical message format that is received and parsed by Army Mission Command Systems.

During the BAGRAM exercise our Army Mission Command Systems team provided the same type of command and control equipment to our Polish partners that they would operate with in Afghanistan; the list included command post of the future systems, Blue Force Tracking systems, and a Global Command and Control System–Army. With JMTC’s assistance, Polish forces have developed their own capability to train units for deployments, thus reducing the amount and type of support the U.S. provides.

As another example, last year, our integrated training area man-agement team built a replicated agricultural terrain training site that is modeled after an Afghan farm. It includes a walled compound with multiple structures and several tiered fields, which allows units to get the feel for the agricultural based countryside in theater.

A final example is our detailed use of numerous civilians on the battlefield, or COBs, which are human-role players that replicate passive, insurgent and criminal activities during all of our major training events at our maneuver training center. These replicators provide a series of language and cultural barriers to soldiers similar to those they face during operations.

Q: How does the JMTC measure success?

A: The ultimate measure of success is in providing the best training possible, which pays dividends in lives saved. Thousands of soldiers from the U.S. and many from allied and partner nations have come here for collective and individual training events, or received training

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at their home-station location hosted by this command during the past several years. All of these units have performed magnificently.

The units return annually to prepare for the next mission. Or they develop their own training facilities in their countries. The part-nership and camaraderie formed here helps to prevent future con-flict. Most days, nations that were once estranged, post-WWII and during the Cold War, come together to train here. As we enter a post-Afghanistan era, we believe we’ll continue to be the training center of choice for our NATO allies and multinational partners. We believe we’re the glue that maintains a strong and interoperable group of na-tions prepared to fight as a coalition.

Additionally we’ve seen an increase in training with our partners from Africa. Certainly having strong, well trained and interoperable partners presents a hindrance to potential enemies and deters com-petitors in the future.

Q: What technologies does Training Support Activity Europe lever-age when training soldiers in Europe?

A: The TSAE provides some high-impact simulators and enablers that are an alternative to more costly live training venues.

Simulators such as the Reconfigurable Virtual Tactical Trainer, Engagement Skills Trainer, Call for Fire Trainer, and the Virtual Con-voy Combat Training System all provide realistic training that can be configured to meet the unit’s training goals. The training audience can direct the context of the scenarios they use and leaders can easily

reset scenarios to reinforce positive training outcomes and validate tactics techniques and procedures. Time, personnel, fuel, ammuni-tion and additional support resources are the immediate savings with these simulation devices. Each virtual simulator teaches a particular skill and focus with its own modality and technology behind the sys-tem.

While these systems don’t completely replace the real thing, they certainly allow for our soldiers in Europe to get more bang for its training buck. Virtual simulators provide portable, configurable training platforms that enable indefinite training opportunities.

Soldiers can employ these simulators to enhance basic skills, practice standard operations and procedures, and develop teams and cohesion before they engage in live training.

Leaders may define challenges and goals while achieving basic levels of proficiency and perfecting troop leading procedures.

The use of the simulators minimizes costly down time, correc-tions and mishaps before attempting a live iteration.

Q: Is there anything else you would like to say?

A: I would like to share our latest online publication, the JMTC’s Training Journal, with your reading audience. This journal is a great way for anyone to get to know more about the Joint Multinational Training Command. It can be found as a direct link from our com-mands homepage: www.eur.army.mil/jmtc. I think you’ll find it an interesting and easy read. O

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culturAl trAining gAins ground.

by kAren kroll

mt2 correspondent

Blending In

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A little over a decade ago, helping sol-diers understand the cultures into which they might be deployed generally wasn’t at the top of the military’s list of priorities. After all, most soldiers already had full training sched-ules learning battlefield tactics, weaponry skills and other subjects more directly related to waging a war.

This thinking has gradually shifted, how-ever, as it became clear that some early mis-steps in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan stemmed, at least in part, from a lack of un-derstanding of the cultures there, said John Bird, director of the TRADOC (U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command) Culture Center at Fort Huachuca, Ariz. “The Army looked at itself and asked what it could be doing to better train and educate soldiers to get a deeper understanding of the operating environment they were in, and to build a bet-ter, more effective connection with the local population.” The result was the formation of the TRADOC Culture Center (TCC).

For instance, when soldiers are stationed at a roadside checkpoint, it can be helpful to know what words might be offensive or upset-ting to the individuals in the cars that stop, said Pete Schrider, manager of customer sup-port with Alelo, a Los Angeles-based provider of language and culture training software to the Department of Defense, among other organizations. “You can really enhance your ability to do your job, while minimizing the negative impact associated with bad deci-sions, if you learn the culture and some of the language of the region.”

At the TCC, the focus is on cross-cultural competency, said Bird. The idea is to provide soldiers with basic foundational knowledge about culture that they can apply in any op-erational environment around the world. The overarching goal is to enhance soldiers’ em-pathy, adaptability and ability to build rapport with the other military members and civilians with whom they interact.

This is done by focusing on four building blocks of any culture: values, beliefs, behav-iors and norms. “What we try to do is to sensi-tize soldiers to different frameworks they can apply to any culture,” Bird said.

Once soldiers have an understanding of what culture means, they can learn more about specific cultures, Bird said. “Culture training is like map training”; that is, once someone knows how to read one map, he or she probably can read any map using the same principles. Similarly, once a soldier un-derstands the elements that make up a cul-ture, he or she can better analyze any culture.

Within the Marine Corps, cultural train-ing is broken into general and specific culture training, said Major Thomas Ross, coordina-tor of the Regional, Cultural and Language Familiarization (RCLF) program. RCLF is the flagship program within the Center for Advanced Operational Culture Learning (CA-OCL).

As the titles suggest, culture general training provides concepts and skills Ma-rines can use across a range of engagements and multiple cultures. “These are concepts you see across cultures, although they may manifest themselves different-ly [in different cultures],” Ross said. Instilling this knowledge is key, given that Marines are called to all regions of the globe.

At the same time, the RCLF program also includes training in specific key cul-tures. In addition to RCLF, the CAOCL routinely conducts culture-specific training, such as pre-deployment training in Afghan culture for Marines headed to that country.

The RCLF program, which has become one of the Marines’ requirements for professional military educa-tion, “gives Marines the skills and concepts they’ll need to interact with our partners, both military and civilian,” Ross said.

role of technology

Given the time and budget constraints facing the U.S. military, technology can be a cost-effective tool soldiers can use to undergo cultural training when they have time avail-able, often from wherever they are located.

Alelo’s solutions, for instance, offer social simulation exercises that can be accessed from PCs and mobile devices. What’s key about the solutions is their “mission focus and mission imperative,” said Lewis Johnson, Ph.D., co-founder, chief executive officer and chief scientist at Alelo. Soldiers are “learning skills they can apply in the tasks and missions they’re undertaking overseas,” Johnson said.

He provides an example: One program may show the soldier moving a convoy through an area, when it comes upon a car stuck in the middle of the road. The soldier

has to decide how to handle the civilians in the car. If he or she is able to enlist the civil-ians’ cooperation, the program will allow the convoy to move the car and then proceed.

However, if the soldier comes across as, say, heavy-handed or disrespectful, the pro-gram may evolve to a more confrontational scenario. Underlying the responses of the characters in the scene “is a body of eth-nographic and anthropological research,” Johnson said. “That’s critical to ensuring

the quality and validity of the training.”

Another company, Wo-burn, Mass.-based Aptima Inc., is working with the Marines to develop CAMO, or Cultural Awareness for Military Operations systems. This is a computer-based in-teractive training software that prepares Marines to understand the culture(s) to which they’re deployed. It might be used before a Ma-rine deploys, or as a refresher course.

The idea is to translate Marines’ training in general cultural skills and compe-tency to a computerized and automated tool. Aptima’s solutions will do this by in-corporating case studies, role-playing and different scenarios, said Alex Walker, lead for decision skills train-ing and education with the

company. The goal is to enable soldiers to wrestle with a range of situations and deci-sion-making; often, the situations may lack an obviously right answer, as any solution may be less than perfect.

One example: deciding where to locate a clean water well. On the surface, this might appear to be exclusively a hydro-geological challenge: The well would go where the wa-ter is. While that’s certainly true, it’s not the only consideration. As Aptima notes, locat-ing the well closer to one ethnic group than another might contribute to hostilities in the area. Additionally, its location may im-pact those who depend on carrying water for their livelihoods.

By prompting Marines to think through the multiple implications of the decision, the tool can “promote learning of complex principles and their application to opera-tionally relevant situations,” Walker said.

Alex Walker

[email protected]

Lewis Johnson

[email protected]

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immersion trAining

Along with virtual solutions, some sol-diers also may participate in more elaborate exercises in which they’re immersed in a mock environment—say, a village in the Middle East—for anywhere from several days to several weeks. Through this exercise, they can gain experience talking and working with individuals portraying village elders, religious leaders and other civilians, as well as mem-bers of other military forces.

While this sort of exercise obviously re-quires a greater investment of time and mon-ey, it also helps soldiers gain an enhanced un-derstanding of the culture in which they’ll be deployed. As a result, they should be able to more effectively work within it.

One provider of immersion solutions is Allied Container Systems, based in Walnut Creek, Calif., which re-fabricates containers into training and habitable structures that replicate the buildings soldiers are likely to see while deployed. These include the build-ings typically found in a village, such as homes, government build-ings and places of worship. One set may encompass up to 40 or 50 different buildings in a village. Each is outfit-ted with rugs, furniture and other items appropriate to the culture and the function of the building.

Along with the buildings, Allied brings in role-players who can credibly portray the civilians, host nation soldiers, NGO members and other individuals that a soldier deployed to the area might have to work with, said Chris Bradley, managing director of government and military pro-grams with Allied. The aim is to engage individuals who actually speak the language of the host country and can play the roles like the local popu-lation would. For an exercise, Allied might hire several hun-dred role-players to portray different citizens within a village.

Some of the scenarios in which the sol-diers are involved may be scripted, such as a suicide bombing at the local market or a po-litical rally. “Those are more choreographed, because there’s a specific training intent that the military is trying to meet,” Bradley said.

Other scenarios are impromptu. For in-stance, the soldiers might talk with villagers

while on patrol. Their conver-sations can naturally evolve.

Because the training is designed to be as realistic as possible—as Bradley said, “We brought Hollywood to Army training—it becomes easier for the soldiers to sus-pend their disbelief and feel like they’re actually living in the setting.

The goal is to ensure, as much as possible, that the soldier being trained has his

or her worst day before even being deployed, Bradley added. Any mistakes are best made in practice, rather than in real life, when the consequences are more severe.

Another company offering immersion solutions is San Di-ego-based Strategic Operations Inc., a company that “uses movie-making techniques to make live training ‘hyper-re-

alistic,’” said Kit Lavell, executive vice presi-dent. The company might create an Afghan village, or any other worldwide contemporary operating environment, using Afghan-Ameri-cans to take on the roles of villagers, speaking in the language native to the region.

The company also works with movie pro-fessionals who study the architecture of an

area and then recreate it as authentically as possible. The goal is to prompt “the willing suspension of disbelief” within soldiers who are going through the training, Lavell said.

While participating in village stability operations training, soldiers could engage in both military and humanitarian exercises, Lavell noted. For instance, they might meet with village leaders to discuss the presence of any insurgents in the area. They also might discuss more mundane issues, such as wheth-er the children in the village are able to go to school, and if the villagers have been able to access the water they need.

As the training, which can range from a day or two to several weeks, is underway, the soldiers and their superiors can review each day’s results, and use the feedback to improve the soldiers’ handling of any incidents that come up the following day.

By making mistakes in training, soldiers are better prepared for threats and are better able to provide security, Lavell said.

Of course, replicating an entire village and immersing soldiers within it for any pe-riod of time requires a commitment of money and other resources. As Bradley pointed out, however, the Army also incurs a cost when it doesn’t train. Moreover, when soldiers make mistakes on the job, the cost can be both fi-nancial and human. O

For more information, contact MT2 Editor Brian O’Shea at [email protected] or search our online archives for related stories at www.mt2-kmi.com.

Chris Bradley

[email protected]

Kit Lavell

[email protected]

Vehicle Checkpoint scenario from Alelo’s Tactical Action (T.I.) Simulator. The Tetum (language of East Timor) course was developed for the Australian Defence Force School of Languages. [Photo courtesy of Alelo]

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Joint Multinational Simulations Centerby lieutenAnt colonel J.d. koch

commanD ProFile Compiled by KMi Media Group staff

For more information, contact MT2 Editor Brian O’Shea at [email protected] or search our online archives for related stories at www.mt2-kmi.com.

In Europe, the 2nd Cavalry Regiment (2CR) recently conducted a live-fire exer-cise (LFX) which blended live, virtual and constructive training domains resulting in a synchronized exercise environment that supported training from the individual sol-dier up to squadron-level.

“The LFX demonstrated our capability to leverage the Joint Multinational Train-ing Command’s [JMTC] live, virtual, con-structive and gaming [LVC-G] capabilities to support multi-echelon home-station training,” said Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Green, chief of live fire training at JMTC. “This becomes extremely important as we transition to a home-station deployment master training plan with less funding.”

Bradley Joy, the Joint Multination Sim-ulation Center (JMSC) federation manager, added, “It’s the first step toward an inte-grated architecture, and provides a more engaging and challenging training envi-ronment than a traditional LFX gunnery. It is not a replacement for live training, but a way to enhance it that helps command-ers and staffs achieve a higher level of pro-ficiency.”

JMTC is a unique organization in the U.S. Army, in that all LVC-G enablers are controlled by the JMTC commander, and its commander can direct the resources inher-ent within the JMSC, the Training Support Activity-Europe, the Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC) and the Grafen-woehr/Hohenfels training complexes to quickly design, plan and execute exercises for units based in Europe, but also export these capabilities abroad.

2CR’s latest LFX is a perfect example of the synergistic effects of a unified Train-ing Command. In August 2012, the JMTC commander, Colonel Bryan Rudacille, concurred with a concept to support 2CR using previously orchestrated maneuvers

from Europe’s Decisive Action Training En-vironment scenario, which were developed by the JMRC staff at Hohenfels, Germany. The 2CR training objectives were based on the lessons learned from previous training rotations, and in conjunction with JMSC and JMTC planners, developed a four-day event incorporating JMSC virtual, con-structive and gaming simulators “stimulat-ing” the squadron and regimental mission command systems.

The four-day event started with troop-leading procedures on day one. Day two, “sim day,” allowed squadron leadership, vehicle commanders, drivers and gunners to rehearse the LFX scenario using Virtual Battle Space 2 (VBS2) in JMSC’s Tactical Gaming Suite. Day three, the “dry day,” consisted of a full squadron rehearsal with all squadron soldiers executing their tasks on the range complex, but without live am-munition. On the final day, each squadron completed the LFX with live ammunition, ending the day with a troop and squadron-level after-action review.

The integration of LVC enablers en-sured the replicated training environment met the commander’s training objectives. The enhanced wrap-around simulation provided 2CR with an expanded operating environment that ensured higher, adja-cent, supporting and supported roles were addressed within the exercise, which im-proved the commander’s and staff’s under-standing of the tactical picture using their assigned mission command systems.

Creating the right training environ-ment for 2CR began with a simulation rehearsal with Army Games for Training enablers. Over the course of the LFX simu-lation days, 571 2CR soldiers from 12 troops utilized JMSC’s Virtual Battle Space 2 suite to rehearse actions they would later execute on the Grafenwoehr range complex.

JMSC used the constructive Joint Conflict and Tactical Simulation (JCATS) to shape a high-fidelity expanded wrap-around scenario depicting both friendly and enemy forces, which “stimulated” the squadron’s organic tactical battle com-mand clients and Force XXI Battle Com-mand Brigade and Below systems. JMSC simulated intelligence feeds using chat services and a virtual Shadow unmanned aerial system, allowing soldiers from the UAS platoon to control the flight plan and payload of the virtual Shadow UAS.

Grafenwoehr range targetry was hand-selected to match the enemy situ-ation and ensure multi-range safety. The selection and proofing of firing positions for each squadron’s weapons, targetry control and synchronization required two months from conception to final plan. These targets were then given to JMSC to link the VBS2 gaming rehearsal to the actual terrain and enemy situation tem-plate.

Finally, an execution matrix allowed the exercise control cell to not only con-trol movement of enemy forces, but also make adjustments within the JCATS simulation and live target presentation sequence based on 2CR actions and reac-tions using the Range Net. The effect for the training unit was a seamless transi-tion from digitally tracked enemy to visu-ally observable targets for the live fire. O

Lieutenant Colonel John D. Koch is Deputy Director of Simulations for the Joint Multinational Simulation Center.

implicAtions for future trAining

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For more information, contact MT2 Editor Brian O’Shea at [email protected] or search our online archives for related stories at www.mt2-kmi.com.

In the midst of travel restrictions and budget limitations, GameTech 2013 Thrills to Skills offered a compelling program for de-velopers, users and supporting industry who attended the 2013 conference. “GameTech 2013 was a huge success,” stated Tom Baptiste, president/executive director of the National Center for Simulation and host for the Game-Tech Conference. “We are probably facing sev-eral years of declining Department of Defense budgets, but as we continue moving gaming and other technologies forward, we believe there will continue to be a need to bring the community together to collaborate and learn how serious games, virtual world technologies and mobile delivery platforms are evolving and how they can contribute to other market sectors such as health care, education, trans-portation and more. Our goal will be to meet this need and continue to offer a high-quality conference program.”

GameTech, held annually in Orlando, Fla., just ran its sixth year, a year where attendance significantly dropped due to restrictions on government conference participation. “We anticipated this drop,” said Baptiste, “but our program and message is so important that we made a conscious decision to go ahead with the 2013 conference. Our hope was to attract the right audience and offer the same quality program we offered in previous years, and we exceeded our expectations by every measure.”

GameTech brings together gaming profes-sionals who share ideas and talk about their latest successes and failures. This year’s scaled back attendance exposed the die-hards, the people who really wanted to be there, and thus opened intimate forums of productive conver-sation.

In addition to the dedicated conference at-tendees, the quality of speakers/panelists has been a consistent draw for GameTech. “The 2013 program lineup was as strong as it’s ever been,” said Brent Smith, conference chair. “Our speakers have significant knowledge and expertise in the gaming industry and they shared their fresh insight about the future of gaming, whether mobile, virtual worlds, or other areas.”

Government keynote, Frank DiGiovanni, director, Training Readiness and Strategy, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of

Defense (Readiness), opened GameTech ad-dressing two topics. He spoke about the fiscal environment within DoD and encouraged less focus on the cuts that are coming and more fo-cus on efforts of leveraging what we have. “We are on the verge of a major breakthrough, but we need to keep prospecting,” he stated. “I en-courage everyone to look strategically at how to take your technologies to non-defense sec-tors such as energy, robotics and automation, telecommunications, production technologies and medical.”

DiGiovanni also spoke about the virtual framework, stressing the importance of in-novation while keeping a focus on the user. “I challenge you to look at successful programs. An interesting business model is mobile apps. Why? Because the most popular app is what consumers are using the most,” he said. Di-Giovanni talked about the mindset of learn-ing in young recruits and the veterans of the recent wars—their resilient comfort level with gaming. “We have men and women ages 18-30 that have been in the barracks for over 11 years; how can we capture what they learned? What if we had the capability to develop a vignette that documents what they have re-tained and teach them about programming?”

Industry keynote speaker and legend, No-lan Bushnell, Atari founder, shared tech in-novations in the gaming industry and what to look for when hiring employees. “What you really want to see is that intense passion, the overwhelming ability to just go for it.” He pointed out that often we try and fit people in a box. “Try new things. Give it room to grow. Be committed to making the world a better place. Ask how can you fit in and make it bet-ter,” he said. Bushnell encouraged the audi-ence to challenge the norm. He spoke of new technology that is upending traditional learn-ing. Later, in a private session with college and university student volunteers, he expanded on his presentation and encouraged the students towards entrepreneurship.

GameTech’s mobile learning keynoter, Dan O’Leary, n-Space, enlightened the audience about embracing the impossible. “I can’t stress enough the importance of what we do [simulation and training],” he said. “For example, the success of our first responders [and the role our technologies play in their

mission execution] demands that we get it right.” O’Leary pointed out that many people in this industry are ingenious and young. “They have high expectations as consumers so we have to make engagement fun. There is only room for a few top hits.”

Virtual Worlds keynote speaker, Bruce Joy, Vastpark, asked the question, “Why is the vir-tual world important now?” Joy went through a timeline starting with virtual worlds por-trayed as an adventure. “In 2007, investment in virtual worlds went crazy,” he said. “With Skype, YouTube, Facebook and a universe where everyone has access to one other.” The next chapter in the virtual world story has yet to be written, and Joy challenged the audience to continue to explore and develop valuable use cases.

During lunch on the second day of the conference, the Army Research Lab an-nounced the winners of the 4th annual Federal Virtual Challenge. This year’s contest had two focus areas. Developers were asked to demon-strate critical thinking or adaptability train-ing within an immersive virtual environment while tracking individual progress. The second category was seeking low-cost, multiuser navi-gation interfaces for virtual worlds.

GameTech’s last day supplied a succes-sion of panels and tutorials about virtual re-ality, different simulations and the sharing of technologies, bringing home the message of this year’s theme: Thrills to Skills. “GameTech continued to be the place where the leading companies show how gaming technology can help support the warfighter,” stated Scott Hooper, 2013 GameTech program chair. “We provided a venue where industry leaders gath-ered face-to-face to explore current capabili-ties related to games, mobile technologies and virtual worlds. It was especially exciting to preview the newest technologies, moving game technology, which has expanded into worldwide gaming for all types of air, land and sea training.” O

Terri Bernhardt is the Public Relations Outreach, GameTech 2013.

gAme developers supporting industry continue strong gAming progrAm. by terri bernhArdt

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The Marine Corps Systems Command, Program Manager Training Systems (PMTRASYS), is currently working in partnership with the Project Manager for Combined Arms Tactical Trainers (CATT), Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation, on the Close Combat Tactical Trainer (CCTT) program. The CCTT is a system of manned modules and workstations that allow tank units to train armor collective tasks at the platoon through battalion task force level.

Annette Pike, product manager collective training systems, PMTRASYS, said that the U.S. Army provided the Marine Corps the M1A1-D CCTT variants as government furnished equipment and the Marine Corps is incorporating the Marine unique characteristics, the firepower enhancement package (FEP), into the CCTT training systems to replicate the individual crew stations of the USMC Main Battle Tank.

“PM CATT is involved in the Marine Corps’ CCTT procurement as they provided the CCTT equipment to the USMC; the USMC is utilizing their competitively awarded contract, called CCTT concur-rency contract, for the Marine specific development and fielding of CCTT; and utilizing their warfighter focus contract for sustainment of the training systems, once fielded, throughout their lifecycle,” explained Pike.

Fielding is planned for March 2014 for 14 M1A1 modules to the 2nd Tank Battalion at Camp Lejeune, N.C. The 14 M1A1 FEP CCTT modules consist of the following: seven mobile trailers containing 14 M1A1 FEP modules, three mobile operation center trailers, one mobile theater after action review trailer, and three portable power system trailers.

“While CCTT is not considered a comparable replacement to conducting Unit Deployment for Training exercises, the CCTT will overcome the lack of maneuver space aboard Camp Lejeune, and by providing a virtual training environment, allow 2nd Tank Battalion the ability to conduct training tasks it otherwise would not be able to conduct,” said Pike.

Currently, 2nd Tank Battalion can only train to 42 percent of the 6000 and 7000 level standards associated with the battalion’s evaluation coded training tasks. The CCTT will help fill this identified training gap.

PM TRASYS is leveraging PM CATT’s CCTT software baseline, which will allow the two parties to collaborate in the future, ultimately increasing the capabilities for both services and at the same time reducing life cycle costs and saving taxpayer’s money.

“In a true IPT fashion, PM TRASYS and PM CATT are working together,” said Colonel Michael Coolican, PM TRASYS. “The Marine Corps has a Marine infantry captain managing from the PM TRASYS side, along with a chief engineer and Project Engineer bringing the Marine technical requirements to the table,” said Coolican.

“We are also utilizing subject matter experts from Camp Lejuene for the critical review meetings to ensure the Marine capability is

matching the weapons platform,” said Coolican. “Likewise, PM CATT is utilizing their CCTT team to support the USMC in delivering this needed capability to the fleet. This is truly a successful partnership between PM CATT and PM TRASYS.”

PM TRASYS and PEO STRI are not strangers to collaborating and working together. Just about one year ago, a memorandum of agree-ment (MOA) was signed on May 22, 2012, to officially recognize the two organizations’ working partnership.

That MOA outlined the goals, objective, and responsibilities between PM TRASYS and PM CATT in their efforts toward increasing partnership through synergistic capability development, with the primary focus of the MOA to drive down development, procurement and sustainment costs for similar Army and Marine Corps training requirements.

And one year prior to that, in 2011, PM TRASYS also signed an MOU with PM TRADE to document their commitment to maintaining a partnership to work together on similar individual and soldier and Marine training devices.

These partnerships also help improve technology developments by industry because when the requirements are combined and presented to industry, it is much more powerful. With the Marines and the Army working more closely together on common training requirements, specifically to approaches to collective and virtual training systems, the industry partners can better leverage their internal resources.

No matter who is working with whom, whether it’s PM TRASYS, PEO STRI, Naval Air Warfare Center Training Division) or Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulatio), the partnerships are strong. These organizations’ efforts, along with the resources and support of industry, academia and government organizations, make up Team Orlando, and together they are working to accomplish their single goal of improving human performance through simulation. O

The Close Combat Tactical Trainer (CCTT) will allow the 2nd Tank Battalion the ability to conduct training tasks it otherwise would not be able to conduct. [Photo courtesy of PM TRASYS/PM CATT]

PM TRASYS Collaborating with PM CATT on Trainer

by dolly rAirigh glAss

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The Navy’s shift to the Pacific inspires our twelfth title and website...

OUR INAUGURAL ISSUEwill support the Navy with the latest program developments in air and sea for Congress, the executive branch, other services and industry.

Contact Nikki James at [email protected] or 301-670-5700 to participate in the inaugural issue!

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Page 29: MT2 18.3 (May 2013)

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Lars Borgwing President and CEO Saab Training USA

Q: Can you describe Saab’s history and evolution?

A: Saab Training USA is a U.S. company based in Orlando. We delivered our first armored targets to the U.S. Army in 1978 and we estimate that well over 500,000 U.S. soldiers and Marines have been trained on Saab products during the last decade. We have continuously improved and expanded our product line to cover the live, virtual and constructive training domains.

Q: What are some of your key products in the DoD training and simulation industry?

A: Our key products in the live domain are laser simulators and instrumented ranges. One of our first successes with the U.S. military was the PGS [precision gun-nery system] for the M2 Bradley fighting vehicle in 1995. The PGS has remained a part of Bradley crew training and was re-cently updated for the Bradley SA. We are currently producing the new generation of force-on-force systems for the M1 Abrams, M2 Bradleys and OPFOR vehicles, which will be delivered under the Army’s IMILES CVTESS [Combat Vehicle Tactical Engage-ment Simulation System] program. For the virtual domains, we have engagement skills trainers for direct-fire small arms, and call-for-fire trainers which are gain-ing increased worldwide interest. The con-structive domain is supported with com-mand and control trainers and interfaces between live training sites and constructive simulations.

Q: What are some of the new training/sim-ulation technologies Saab is developing?

A: We are continuing to evolve our core offerings of laser-based simulators by mak-ing them lighter and smaller to lessen the burden placed on the individual user as well as adding capabilities, such as tactile feedback. Our instrumentation systems continue to evolve, allowing flexibility through features such as software defined radios, encryption and more user-friendly

software. For live-fire training continue to refine our LOMAH [location of miss and hit] sensors to meet the needs of the us-ers. Our virtual trainers recreate the mod-ern battlespace with computer-generated forces for trainers such as the JFIST [joint fires synthetic trainer].

Q: How are you positioned for the future within the military?

A: We believe that our currently fielded LT2-IRS [Live Training Transformation Interim Range System], is a foundation on which the Army can build on to meet the requirements of the future such as those of AMITS [Army Mobile Instrumented Training System]. Our CVTESS will be used to train large numbers of soldiers and can easily adapt for use on future vehicles. Saab has a strong independent research and development program that feeds an active product line with prod-ucts and components that can be rapidly fielded. Saab has a strong belief in the vir-tual training domain. With less access to live vehicle assets for training and their increasing operational cost, the use of vir-tual training will increase. Our Joint Fires offering is is a complete solution for train-ing of joint fires—from basic training of JTACs [joint terminal attack controllers] to mission rehearsal. It involves all roles of a joint fires mission, such as JTACs, JFOs, pilots, ASOC/joint fires TOC person-nel, etc. This Saab product is an off-the-shelf solution,which can deliver valuable training from day one.

Q: What is Saab’s connection with the de-fense community?

A: Located in Orlando, the center of mili-tary simulation and training, allows us to be an integral part of the training and sim-ulation community. As a highly respected partner in the defense industry, we focus on strategic growth with other comple-mentary companies, particularly in the virtual and constructive simulation areas where we are working hard to introduce our new products.

Q: What is an example of your success in the military, and what are some of your goals over the next year?

A: We have successfully fielded our LT2-IRS system to [Forts Hood and Bliss] and are engaged in two additional sites. A fifth is soon to be contracted. This state-of-the-art system meets or exceeds all contractual requirements and is providing training to soldiers. Our goals for this year are to ex-tend our experience with LT2-IRS into oth-er homestation solutions. Additionally, we intend to stay involved in the next genera-tion of training devices by supporting areas such as the standardization of interfaces and future areas such as ATESS.

Q: How do customers benefit from Saab’s varied resources and expertise?

A: The experience gained from Saab’s worldwide presence in training and simu-lation benefits our entire customer base with lessons learned. These experiences al-low us to tap into a deep well of customer experiences and feedback, which drivs product improvements, and to offer world-wide capabilities coupled with local focus. Additionally, it allows our customers easy access to support and services around the globe.

Q: How do you measure success?

A: We measure success as being a respect-ed member of the training and simulation community and by providing effective and complete training solutions which meet or exceed all requirements on schedule. O

inDUStry interVieW military training technology

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