Mt2 19 4 final

July 2014Volume 19, Issue 4

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Night Vision

UGVs O Air Force M&S O Weapons Training Army Training O CBRN

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Capt. Frank “Wes” Naylor III

Executive OfficerNaval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division and Naval Support Activity

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Captain Frank “Wes” naylor iii

Executive OfficerNaval Air Warfare Center Training

Systems Division and Naval Support Activity

14

Departments2 editor’s perspeCtive3 program HigHligHts4 people12 data paCkets22 team orlando

11Weapons trainingAirmen from the 4th Special Operations Squadron and soldiers from the 20th Special Forces Group conducted joint weapons training on Eglin Range, Fla., June 2 through 13. The two-week training was designed to strengthen Air-Army interoperability and promote camaraderie between the two services.

By Senior AirmAn KentAviSt P. BrAcKin

17army trainingThe Army is evolving its current integrated training environment into a single synthetic training environment that combines constructive, gaming and virtual systems to provide challenging exercises efficiently at the point of need.

By miKe cASey

18CBrn simulationFinancial cutbacks, increasing regulatory burden and the rapid rise in the breadth and complexity of incidents are placing considerable pressure on the military in preparing to meet the chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear hazardous materials threat.

By Steven PiKe

20air ForCe m&s toolkitThe Air Force has recently released a request for information to assess existing capabilities and technologies that the Air Force Modeling and Simulation Training Toolkit could leverage in order to minimize cost and time.

July 2014Volume 19, Issue 4military training technology

“As our name

implies, we

provide training

systems for

the Navy, but

less obvious is

our extensive

support

beyond Naval

aviation. We

have significant

efforts for

surface,

undersea and

cross warfare

programs as

well.”

- Captain Frank

W. Naylor III

Special Section

nigHt vision trainingSuperb technologies for seeing and fighting in the dark are now available. Solid training must enable both soldiers and fliers to exploit these tools for maximum battlefield advantage.

By Henry cAnAdAy

5

unmanned ground veHiCles trainingThroughout the past decade, unmanned ground vehicles have made tremendous leaps in capability, and technology is consistently improving. After the military acquires such systems, the warfighter needs to be trained to handle a variety of missions.

By BriAn o’SHeA

8

President Barack Obama recently asked Congress to approve $500 million in U.S. military training and equipment for Syrian opposition fighters. The administration has said it was preparing additional assis-tance to vetted “moderate” opposition forces fighting both the govern-ment of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and extremists of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

ISIS has recently taken control of the Iraqi city of Mosul and it appears their eyes are set on Baghdad. Iraq’s military, largely trained by the United States before U.S. troops pulled out in 2011, has crumbled under attacks by insurgents despite superior numbers and firepower. Many experts blame Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

Instead of focusing on training and equipping the military, Maliki has “used all of his tools to target his political rivals,” said Emma Sky, a top adviser to U.S. generals in Iraq during the latter years of the U.S. occupation. “Maliki sought to consolidate power and protect his regime. His opponents fear and distrust him.”

Michael D. Barbero, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general who oversaw the training of Iraqi troops from 2009 to 2011, has been reported in the media saying that after years of training and billions of dollars in U.S. time and equipment, Iraq’s military is still a “checkpoint Army,” more interested in manning roadblocks than developing intelligence and engaging in counterinsurgency missions.

“Our Army continuously trains; that wasn’t in their DNA,” Barbero said. “We set up all these training bases. We built ranges and encouraged them to do live fire. And it just didn’t take, for whatever reason. I’m not saying we’re stainless in this. Obviously we could have done some things better.”

Now Obama is asking Congress to send $500 million in military training and equipment to Syrian opposition. Many of the insurgents in ISIS and forces loyal to Assad show signs of western military expertise as well-trained splinter groups attack in Iraq. Granted it’s important to aid our allies and protect our interests, but when doling out U.S. military training, we need to be sure of whom we are training and remain there long enough that the ally receiving this training is capable of maintaining their own country. If you have any questions concerning Military Training Technology feel free to contact me at any time.

Brian O’Sheaeditor

Recognized Leader Covering All Aspects of Military Training Readiness

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www.MT2-kmi.com2 | MT2 19.4

Spatial Disorientation Flight Trainers Contract AwardedAircrew Training Systems (ATS), a division of

Environmental Tectonics Corporation (ETC), recently announced that it signed a contract with the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) to provide up to four spatial disorientation flight simulators following a competitive bidding process. The AFLCMC selected ETC’s Gyro Integrated Physiological Trainer II (IPT) to fulfill the requirements of their new Spatial Disorientation (SD) Training System Program. The Gyro IPT II will support the SD training requirements in the Air Education and Training Command Student Undergraduate Pilot Training syllabus. The system will expose undergraduate pilots and aircrew to typical vestibular and visual illusions found in aviation, enabling them to recognize, confirm, prevent and recover from SD. The four units are scheduled

for delivery to Sheppard AFB, Texas, Laughlin AFB, Texas, Columbus AFB, Miss., and Vance AFB, Okla., with installa-tion expected to begin in the spring of 2015.

ETC’s Gyro IPT II provides pilots with a hands-on, realistic, full motion, spatial disorientation flight training experience. While in control of a simulated flight, the pilot can be exposed to a variety of selected disorienting illusions. Unlike simple disorientation demonstrators, a pilot in the Gyro IPT II has full closed loop control of the simulation before, during and after the illusion. This capability creates a fully interactive flight training environment where the pilot must maintain control of the simulator and fly

through the illusion to a successful resolution during training.Donna Averell; [email protected]

Program highlightS Compiled by KMI Media Group staff

Air National Guard Contract for 22 JTAC Training Dome Systems

QuantaDyn has received a production contract for 22 joint terminal attack controller (JTAC) simulators, called the Air National Guard Advanced JTAC Training System (AAJTS), after a two-year development process culminating in a formal government accreditation. This training dome system, which uses 17 MetaVR 3-D visual channels, is similar in appear-ance to a miniature IMAX theater and fully immerses the JTAC trainee in a 3-D real-time virtual battlefield. Multiple AAJTS systems will be installed this year across the U.S. at a rate of approximately one system every six weeks.

On April 21, 2014, the Oklahoma Air National Guard unveiled the first AAJTS at the Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma City. This JTAC simulation system, which uses MetaVR visuals, geospecific 3-D terrain and entity models, is the first operational AAJTS production system in the U.S. The AAJTS is accredited by the U.S. Joint Fire Support Executive Steering Committee (JFS ESC) and the NATO Standardization Agreement (STANAG); the system meets or exceeds current STANAG standards. In the JFS ESC’s JTAC memorandum of agreement, the AAJTS is accredited for JTAC training of types 1, 2 and 3 controls for both day and night, and for laser target designation with a simulated military laser. The number of required JTAC training missions has recently been increased from two simulation events to eight simulation events, which AAJTS supports.

Currently in production are 17 systems for the Air National Guard (ANG), three systems for the Air Combat Command and one system for an AFSOC site, Hurlburt Field, which is upgrading one of its desktop JTAC training simulators to the AAJTS. Two systems will be installed at Nellis Air Force Base, which houses the JTAC schoolhouse. A few ANG sites are converting a structure or building a new structure to house the dome system. The next AAJTS installation is scheduled for the Idaho Air National Guard Base at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. Overseas, the first European order for an AAJTS, purchased by the Latvia military, is scheduled to be installed this spring in Latvia.

The AAJTS is a fully immersive simulator designed to support ANG JTAC and combat controller squadron level continuation, qualification and mission rehearsal training. AAJTS encompasses high-fidelity visual displays, geospecific terrain databases, military equipment emulators, and associated hardware and software. Designed to meet the requirements for unit training at Air Support Operations Squadrons and Special Tactics Squadrons, the training system can connect to networks with other simulators so JTACs can train with pilots operating aircraft simulators (such as A-10 or F-16 FMTs) in other locations.

Development of the AAJTS is a combined effort of QuantaDyn, USAF Trainer Development Division, Battlespace Simulations (BSI), Immersive Display Solutions, and MetaVR.

W. Garth Smith; [email protected]

Soldiers to Train on New Simplified WIN-T

Increment 2 Vehicles at LandWarNet School

General Dynamics C4 Systems recently received a $59 million contract from the U.S. Army for new Warfighter Information Network–Tactical (WIN-T) Increment 2 vehicles and related network products to support Army soldier training. The new equipment, which includes soldier network extension and point-of-presence vehicles, will have updated software that simplifies network operations. When delivered to the Army’s LandWarNet School in Fort Gordon, Ga., the vehicles and products will be folded into the Army’s new system-of-systems training curriculum. WIN-T Increment 2 is the Army’s mobile, secure communications backbone.

Feedback from soldiers returning from Afghanistan and comments following network integration evaluations helped the General Dynamics and Army team improve the WIN-T Increment 2 network operations software. For example, a previous 10-step, 12-minute power-up protocol is now only two steps and takes less than half the time. In making Increment 2 easier for soldiers to train, plan and operate, they can remain focused on their mission.

A part of capability set (CS) 13, the Army distributed WIN-T Increment 2 to four brigade combat teams and two division head-quarters last year. This year, CS 14 continues the distribution of WIN-T Increment 2 to additional Army organizations including the 101st Air Assault Division stationed in Fort Campbell, Ky., and the 2nd and 3rd Brigade Combat Teams with the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C. CS 14 also includes enhanced mission command capabilities along with the AN/PRC-155 two-channel manpack and AN/PRC-154A Rifleman radios to seamlessly connect soldiers at the lowest echelons to their commanders and back to headquarters via WIN-T Increment 2.

The LandWarNet School, part of the Fort Gordon Cyber Center of Excellence, trains soldiers to operate WIN-T Increment 2 as they prepare for future deployments.

www.MT2-kmi.com MT2 19.4 | 3

Program highlightS Compiled by KMI Media Group staff

PEO STRI has Change of CommandThe Program Executive Office for Simulation,

Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI) hosted a change-of-charter ceremony May 13 in Orlando, Fla., where Dr. James T. Blake handed over responsibility to Major General Jonathan Maddux, the former assistant military deputy to the assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology (ASA(ALT)). Blake retired May 31 after 38 years of combined military and civilian service.

In March 2003, Blake became a member of the Senior Executive Service, and subsequently served as the deputy program executive officer for PEO STRI. Two years later, in June 2005, he became PEO STRI’s first civilian leader with his appointment as the program executive officer, filling what had previously been a general officer billet.

Blake’s recognized expertise in acquisition manage-ment was the cornerstone of his civilian career. Prior to 2007, PEO STRI issued contracts under Navy contracting authority. In 2007, recognizing the additional demands being met by PEO STRI, the Army established contracting authority in Orlando and designated Blake as PEO STRI’s first head of contracting activity.

Understanding that training international security forces is a major component in helping partner nations defend themselves, PEO STRI, under Blake’s leader-ship, broadened the organization’s global outreach in providing training aids and simulations to U.S. coalition nations. Since 2007, foreign military sales increased from $414 million to more than $1.74 billion worth of training devices to 52 partner countries.

Being a good steward of taxpayer money, Blake continually directed his team to look for opportunities to prevent duplication of government work and expen-ditures. He has been a staunch advocate of partnering with other military services and government agencies to ensure the U.S. military remains the best trained fighting force.

“Upon my retirement, you can trust that I will keep our military’s training and simulation efforts at the forefront of my thoughts, and without question, the U.S. Army soldier will always have a special place in my heart,” Blake said.

After more than a decade leading PEO STRI, Blake relinquished the charter to Maddux. “The Army selected an outstanding individual to lead PEO STRI into the future, while taking our military’s simulation and training efforts to new heights,” Blake said of Maddux’s assumption of the charter.

Prior to Maddux’s most recent assignment at ASA(ALT), he served nine months as the deputy commanding general (support), Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan/NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan. Previous to his deployment, Maddux served as the program executive officer for PEO Ammunition for four years, where he led the mission to develop and procure conventional and leap-ahead munitions to increase combat power for U.S. troops.

As the program executive officer for PEO STRI, Maddox now oversees the acquisition, development and fielding of the Army’s simulation, training and instru-mentation devices, a multi-billion dollar portfolio of programs managed by 1,200 military, government, civilian and service support contractors.

“After 13 years in sustained conflict, the Army is in a period of transition,” Maddux said upon assuming responsibility of PEO STRI. “We’re transitioning from an Army of execution to an Army of preparation while migrating toward the future, which means we’re drawing down and scaling back, but sustaining the capabilities of a combat-seasoned force. PEO STRI will help achieve this goal of a leaner, more agile, more expeditionary force—while maintaining combat over-match—in a heightened, fiscally responsible manner.”

Major General Leonard A. Patrick, commander, Second Air Force, Air Education and Training Command, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., has been assigned to vice commander, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas.

Brigadier General Mark A. Brown, director, financial management, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, has been selected for the grade of major general and assigned to commander, Second Air

Force, Air Education and Training Command, Keesler Air Force Base.

Brigadier General John P. Horner, commander, Air Force Recruiting Service, Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, has been selected for the grade of

major general and assigned to deputy director, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir, Va.

Marine Corps Major General David H. Berger has been nominated for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general and for assignment as commander,

I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif. Berger is currently serving as commander, Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command, and commander, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif.

Compiled by KMI Media Group staffPeoPle

$408 Million to Support

Training for JIEDDO

The O’Gara Group Inc. recently announced that it has been competitively awarded a General Services Administration (GSA) blanket purchase agree-ment (BPA) for the Department of Defense’s Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization’s ( JIEDDO) Joint Counter-IED Integration Training Program ( JCITP) by the GSA Federal Systems Integration and Management Center (FEDSIM). The BPA awarded against GSA’s federal supply schedules is worth up to $408 million over five years (one-year base and four one-year options) and has been awarded to the O’Gara team and three other companies.

JCITP is managed by JIEDDO and administered by GSA FEDSIM. Under the program, the O’Gara JCITP Team’s respon-sibilities include program management and support in the rapidly growing areas of counter-IED training, training analysis support, institutionalization of lessons learned and short-term ad hoc training needs.


Teaching The warfighTer To fighT in The dark.

Superb technologies for seeing and fighting in the dark are now available. Solid training must enable both soldiers and fliers to exploit these tools for maximum battlefield advantage.

Product Manager Soldier Maneuver Sensors (PM SMS) equips soldiers with sensors and lasers for lethality and mobility in dark-ness, fog, smoke and dust and gives a decisive edge over adversar-ies, explained PM SMS Product Manager Lieutenant Colonel Tim Fuller. These tools include infrared (IR) weapon sights, monocular night vision (NV) goggles and enhanced night vision goggles that use both IR and image intensification (I2).

Soldiers are trained in NV tools during basic training. PM SMS then provides new equipment training (NET) as it fields new NV technology.

“We use train-the-trainer in NET,” said Master Sergeant Reiko Carter, field operations in PM SMS. “We coach and mentor with former special operations NCOs [non-commissioned officers] with experience and credibility.”

Train-the-trainer enables units to train soldiers who cannot make courses or who join units later. But NET is given to all sol-diers available who get new equipment.

NET usually takes two days, including 12 to 18 hours on fir-ing ranges, but may last four days for snipers and M4 operators. Classroom and PowerPoint lessons are minimized, while range time is maximized. Carter said feedback on NV training has been very positive.

Apart from NV equipment, training devices are simple. Targets must be thermally heated for night firing, and there is a CD-ROM for use on laptops to help soldiers learn menus and controls of thermal sights.

PM SMS constantly tests NV equipment under development with infantry to search for improvements. Consultation helps im-prove “buttonology” and menus of NV gear, Fuller said.

PM SMS is getting ready for the next big training challenge, roll-ing out and training for the family of weapon sights, special sights for M4s and M249s, crew-served weapons and sniper weapons.

The Marines’ Basic Officer Course includes approximately three hours in thermal optics and night considerations, night optics and aiming devices, and practical night training. The Infantry Officer Course follows with seven hours of night live fire and four hours of optics and laser bore sight training.

By henry canaday, MT2 correspondenT

Special Section


Marine infantry get about 30 hours training on NV devices, night live fire and combat marksmanship at night. Additional courses are available for infantry assault men, machine gunners, and advanced ob-servation and aiming devices.

Private firms assist in both Army and Marine NV training.

Caliente makes thermal signature de-vices, explained Director of Military Busi-ness Development John Farfaglia. These are used on targets, such as humans or ve-hicles, and objects, such as IEDs. Caliente can build the object or just add the thermal signature.

“We are a manufacturer, so we tailor solutions to needs,” Farfaglia stressed. “We don’t fit square pegs in round holes.” For example, Caliente can tailor devices to 12 or 120 volts of power at different frequen-cies. It makes thermal signatures powered by electricity and others that use reverse-polarity tape to give signatures without heat.

This flexibility helped in one recent assignment. A customer wearied of applying thermal tape at night for night shooting and taking it off in the morning for day shoots. “They wanted us to put a thermal signature in the plastic to save on work and mainte-nance,” Farfaglia explained.

The company came up with a solution that can be turned on or off with a switch. It is now being tested in differ-ent weather, rain, humidity and climate conditions. Users can adjust the heat signature, and Caliente will guarantee it for five years. “We think it will last seven to 10 years,” Farfaglia said.

This new solution will be applied to a “Fat Ivan” target system. Caliente already uses this solution for tanks and armored vehicle targets that are made of plywood and pop up with heat signatures. Farfaglia estimates a two-year return on costs when replacing conventional targets with this improved technique.

Cyalume Technologies uses IR light to mark ob-jectives and paths for night training, noted Donald Schmidt, senior vice president for Product and Pro-gram Management. These are for single-time use and based on chemicals, not battery power.

Cyalume is also developing a 40 mm round for use in day and night training in response to a re-quest for proposals from Picatinny Arsenal and Ar-mament Research, Development and Engineering Center. “They want a signature for day and a ther-mal signature for night, all made from chemicals,” Schmidt explained.

Cyalume has worked on similar products with partners, but is developing the 40 mm round on its own. The round would not leave unexploded am-munition on ranges, so trainees could safely walk

through the area and instructors need not worry about cleaning it up.

The round would have a thermal signature but generate no heat, so it could not start fires and thus be used 365 days a year, even in dry conditions, when other training sometimes has to be suspended. The chemicals used pose no environmental risks.

Schmidt said other firms are trying to mimic the Cyalume technology that does all of this, but he is confident in his firm’s patents. In addition to train-ing, the new round might also be used in a mixed belt for combat operations to mark targets.

Cyalume made IR dirt for special operations and for other customers to be used for track, trace and locate purposes. “You can see the dirt on people who have passed through it,” Schmidt said. “It looks like ordinary dirt, but if you walk through it you are in-frared.”

NV training for pilots is a lot more complex and uses some very sophisticated technologies.

L-3 Link Simulation & Training provides high-fidelity simulated night vision goggle (NVG) train-ing solutions, said Jeff Schram, director of business development. L-3 solutions immerse fixed wing and rotary wing pilots in highly-responsive, real-time simulations with accurate effects and environmen-tal cues. L-3 has delivered this solution to the Air Force for the F-16 Mission Training Center program and fielded over 100 simulated NVGs for F-16 and F/A-18 programs.

And the firm’s NVG expertise enables it to en-hance simulation of low-light television cameras and intensifier sensors for training unmanned air-craft systems operators.

Jeff Schram

[email protected]

nate Derewecki, a new equipment trainer with peo Soldier’s project Manager Soldier Sensors and lasers, instructs a paratrooper on employing the thermal weapon sight at night during a new equipment training course, at Fort Bragg, n.c. the paratrooper is assigned to the 82nd airborne Division’s 1st Brigade combat team. [photo courtesy of U.S. army]

John Farfaglia

[email protected]

Special Section


L-3 NVG training integrates the vi-sual acuity of SimuSphere HD out-the-window visual display, SimuView HD sen-sor simulation, NVG goggle displays and high-density, correlated visual and sensor databases. The core of the training system is a dynamic physics model that simulates the behavior of the AN/AVS-9 F4949G and F4949-TG NVGs.

Schram said the system gives pilots untethered freedom of movement with real NVGs and standard helmet mountings. SimuSphere HD out-the-window night scenes correlate fully in space and time with in-goggle views to provide peripheral vision cues and goggle look-under capabil-ity. It’s a “cost-effective solution for basic NVG training.”

L-3 simulations can provide dense ur-ban environments with thousands of cars and people in continuous motion. Scenar-ios can have people and vehicles operate in a convoy or undertake terrorist actions. There can be dynamic halos, light blooms and illuminations from overcast starlight to full moons. Light sources interact with people, vehicles, building lights and power lines.

For further realism, simulations offer realistic explosions, smoke and flames, city glows, multiple cloud decks, ground fogs, storms and lightning and star fields reflecting on water.

Christie Digital Systems offers the Matrix StIM WQ and Christie Matrix SIM WQ, fully integrated, solid-state, projection systems for simulation and training applications. Dave Kanahele, director of Simulation Solutions, said these are highly scale-able projection systems that can work with non-Christie projectors.

Matrix StIM projects visible red, green and blue light and, on an independent channel, near-IR light for NV training. Christie has a database of codes for both visible and IR projection.

The new StIM is an enhancement of an earlier WU projection system that adds higher resolution. The first customer for the new WQ version with StIM is the U.S. Coast Guard for training HC-144A Ocean Sentry crews, not just pilots. Christie has also worked with Flight Safety International to use the new StIM for pilot training.

Matrix StIM WQ can be used in different modes. The two channels can also be used to project two 60-herz visible-light channels blended into a 120-herz image, a very compelling picture, according to Kanahele.

Matrix StIM WQ could also be used to train infantry or oth-er military personnel in NV operations. “We built it for the most complex challenges, and these tend to be in aircraft,” Kanahele noted. HC-144A training uses nine projectors. For less-challenging

training at a lower cost, the Christie system could be used with fewer and other projectors.

Kanahele said his technology is distinguished by its flexibility and capabilities. Christie ArrayLOC puts all projec-tors at a common level of brightness and colors set by users. AutoCal automatically aligns projectors to give seamless displays. AccuFrame minimizes the perceptual smear that can come from displaying im-ages for an entire frame.

In December 2013, Aero Simulation chose Christie to supply the Marines with 12 Matrix StIM WQ projectors for upgrades on AH-1W Super Cobra helicopter weapons systems trainers.

Night Flight Concepts has developed blended training solutions of leading technologies, learning techniques and instructor-led training, explained president Adam Aldous. He said this approach to NV training increases safety, enhances performance and reduces costs.

The company offers training on maintenance of NV systems with instructors and simulation. It uses a 3-D computer-based training (CBT) system.

Night Flight’s initial and recurrent aircrew train-ing provides real-world, high-fidelity simulation on the latest NV technology for both fixed and rotary wing platforms. The program uses Virtual Terrain Boards, small, high-fidelity, projection systems with 360-degree views.

The company has also developed NVIO Night Vi-sion Goggle CBT with self-paced courseware. Aldous said this new tool reduces reliance on expensive

equipment that can be challenging to schedule. O

Dave Kanahele

[email protected]

in Fort polk, la., an nco fires his M4 using a thermal weapon sight (an/paS-13) to engage multiple thermal targets during an advanced new equipment training M4 class on the range. [photo courtesy of U.S. army]

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.

Adam Aldous

adam.aldous @nightflightconcepts.com


Using unmanned systems in certain operations can save lives, manpower and money. Throughout the past decade, un-manned ground vehicles (UGVs) have made tremendous leaps in capability, and technology is consistently improving. Af-ter the military acquires such systems, the warfighter needs to be trained to handle a variety of missions.

Lockheed Martin’s Squad Mission Sup-port System (SMSS) and the Autonomous Mobility Applique System (AMAS) are no exceptions. The SMSS was originally de-veloped by Lockheed Martin in response to the need to lighten the soldier and Marine infantryman’s load in combat, as well as to provide the utility and availability of equip-ment that could not otherwise be trans-ported by dismounted troops or that needs to be operated in hostile areas, said Myron Mills, SMSS program manager at Lock-heed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.

“The SMSS platform has proved to be so versatile that we are now working on greatly expanded mission equipment pack-ages for other roles, such as reconnaissance,

indirect targeting, direct fire, counter-mine and counter-IED and chemical/biological/radiological/nuclear event testing,” said Mills. “SMSS can address the requirements of light infantry, Marines and special opera-tions forces to maneuver in complex terrain and harsh environments, carrying all types of gear, materiel and mission equipment packages.”

Mills added that the SMSS serves as a readily adaptable common UGV mobility platform. About the size of a compact car, SMSS is capable of carrying up to 1,500 pounds of payload. It is a diesel-powered, skid steer, 6x6 vehicle that possesses mobil-ity in most terrains. SMSS variants include transport/logistics, real-time scene analy-sis, counter-IED/countermine, CBRNE de-tection and monitoring, firefighting and search-and-rescue, and assault/direct fire.

The AMAS is not an unmanned ground vehicle per se, but is a system that gives manned vehicles unmanned capability.

“While not specifically a small UGV capability, the AMAS technology uses a kit approach to readily convert manned

vehicles to unmanned vehicles,” said Mills. “While currently being implemented and tested on large military logistics trucks, the modular and transportable AMAS kit approach can readily be applied to smaller vehicles, such as side-by-side utility vehi-cles and smaller tactical military vehicles.”

Lockheed uses a multi-faceted approach to training on its UGV systems. They start with a structured training course that in-cludes classroom time but heavily empha-sizes hands-on experience and practice un-der the supervision of experts.

Students are also provided with the program of instruction, course materials, safety procedures, basic preventive main-tenance checks and services awareness, and system manuals, both in hard copy and electronically. For some students and applications, this basic training is followed by higher level training and practice on methods of employment and recommend-ed techniques for various situations in re-alistic environments. Training can also be conducted in the field by field service rep-resentatives, as was done in Afghanistan.

supporTing The warfighTer Through unManned Technology. By Brian o’shea, MT2 ediTor


“By design, learning the basic system operation, or ‘buttonology,’ as we call it, is fairly easy and straightforward,” said Mills. “What’s more difficult is learning and understanding the real capabilities and limitations of the systems in real-world environments, and then learning how best to use the system’s features to cope with those issues. What often happens is that a user will quickly grasp fundamental opera-tion and then assume they can easily use the system in any situation. Then, when unexpected issues arise or the system does not behave the way the user thought it should, they don’t quite know how best to proceed. Our job in training new users is to assure that does not happen.”

SMSS control modes include manual drive, hard-line tether, radio control, tele-operation (non-line of sight and beyond line of sight), autonomous, and voice command. In autonomous operation, the system can follow a soldier at a distance, or follow GPS waypoints established by the operator or re-corded by the vehicle on previous traverses, said Mills. The system can use a digital map of an area of operations that contains defined routes, and the operator can com-mand the vehicle to go to a point or to come to the operator simply by clicking a point on the digital map. The vehicle will use the closest defined route to achieve the task, or the operator can click a series of points on the digital map for the vehicle to follow. While operating in all autonomous modes, the system performs active obstacle detec-tion and avoidance. The SMSS is remotely commanded by a lightweight, modular, wearable controller unit integrated into a load-bearing equipment vest.

“Combining autonomous navigation with a heavy duty, high mobility platform and user-friendly control unit allows SMSS to accompany the warfighter across com-plex terrain, guaranteeing the payload being carried will be available whenever and wherever the warfighter needs it,” explained Mills. “Alternatively, using the beyond-line-of-sight control option, the system can be sent by itself into operation-ally dangerous or environmentally unsafe environments, thereby keeping humans out of harm’s way.”

The AMAS technology provides the abil-ity to rapidly and easily turn manned vehi-cles into UGVs. AMAS consists of two kits: an “A Kit,” which contains the autonomy capability and associated sensors and com-puters, and a “B Kit,” the By Wire Active

Safety Kit, which provides the actuation and interfaces for drive-by-wire functionality along with active safety features similar to those found on many of today’s higher-end automobiles. AMAS provides a selectable full range of capabilities, including active safety, driver assist, leader-follower autono-mous convoy operations, tele-operation and SMSS-like full autonomy.

“The goal of AMAS is to improve the safety for soldiers in manned vehicles and to also offer the path to reduced manpower

needs by increasing automation of trucks for logistics, resupply and convoy opera-tions,” said Mills.

Both systems are still prototypes, but both have been used in various ways by Lockheed’s military customers. The SMSS has participated in numerous exercises and evaluations with the U.S. Army within the United States, and in 2012 a number of systems were deployed to Afghanistan for five months for an in-theater evaluation by U.S. Army troops, said Mills. In addition,

a convoy of heavy trucks moves through Fort Hood, texas, without driver intervention. the trucks employed lockheed Martin’s autonomous Mobility applique System for robotic navigation of both rural and urban environments at the army base. [photo courtesy of lockheed Martin]

a lockheed Martin SMSS UGV equipped with a Gyrocam sensor pauses during a demonstration at camp Grayling, Mich., in which it was controlled via satellite. [photo courtesy of lockheed Martin]


the SMSS has been deployed for exercises with militaries in two foreign countries.

Both AMAS and SMSS are currently under contract to the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) for sepa-rate programs. AMAS is continuing de-velopment and is being utilized on several different U.S. Army trucks in a series of technology demonstrations and capability advancement demonstrations by TARDEC at various military installations through-out the year.

“The axiom of using robots to replace people in situations that are dull, dirty and dangerous holds true,” said Mills. “The benefits of using our UGV technology in-clude improved safety in manned vehicles via driver assist and active safety systems, which also allows for improved situational awareness. These systems help reduce po-tential harm to operators and unburden the soldiers from mundane jobs they must per-form. Providing a high level of automation reduces the need for as much manpower to do those jobs. With the current budget crunch and drawdown of troop strength across much of the military, adding the au-tomation of SUGVs helps improve efficiency and allow our services to still accomplish their missions with reduced manpower and resources while improving soldier safety and survivability.”

Intelligent Automation Inc. (IAI) is a technology innovation company specializ-ing in providing advanced technology solu-tions and research and development (R&D) services to federal agencies and corporations through-out the United States.

In the area of unmanned ground vehicles, IAI develops software and hardware sub-systems that augment the capabilities of commercial and government UGV plat-forms, including enhanced mobility, navigation, manip-ulation and autonomy. Ef-forts are underway to transi-tion significant R&D to fielded systems, said David Handelman, Ph.D., director, Robotics and Electromechanical Systems, IAI.

IAI UGV technology adds intelligence and autonomy onboard the robot to extend its operational capabilities and provides the operator with enhanced situational aware-ness and intuitive control through an easy-to-use operator control unit (OCU).

“We are developing communication so-lutions that enable SUGVs to act as mobile nodes in a distributed network, automati-cally re-positioning themselves to create a robust network topology,” added Handel-man.

IAI is also developing advanced per-ception and control systems that enable a robot to navigate complex environments given high-level operator commands. They are building semi-autonomous robots for mine detection and defeat that work col-laboratively with warfighters on unim-proved terrain.

“Our Multi-Arm Robot Control Sys-tem (MARCS) technology makes it easy

to control dual-arm robots remotely, enabling dexter-ous manipulation tasks for counter-IED and first re-sponder operations,” he said.

Because IAI’s R&D sys-tems are not yet fielded, they do not have a formal train-ing program. However, they leverage their human-ma-chine interface technology to produce systems that are easy to learn as well as easy

to use. For example, their MARCS sys-tem, which provides enhanced situational awareness and intuitive control of a com-plex dual-arm robot, is expected to reduce operator training time as well as operator workload, said Handelman.

“We are not yet training military per-sonnel to use our SUGV technology,” he added. “We expect that our user-centered

design of the OCU will result in a system that is intuitive to use. Our goal is to mini-mize the amount of training on the actual device so that training time can remain focused on tactical operations.”

IAI’s R&D efforts are supported by multiple commands within the U.S. mili-tary including Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Army Armament Re-search, Development and Engineering Center, TARDEC and Naval Sea Systems Command Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division (NSWC IHEODTD). Targeted commercial platforms include Talon, Dragon Runner and PackBot.

They are also targeting government open and modular systems under develop-ment such as NSWC IHEODTD’s Advanced EOD Robotic System and the Robotic Sys-tem Joint Program Office’s Interoperability Profile effort.

Handelman and Mills agree there are many benefits for utilizing UGV technology.

“Ideally, SUGVs provide ISR and basic manipulation capabilities in a small, porta-ble and economical package,” said Handel-man. “IAI’s mobility, navigation, manipu-lation and autonomy enhancements will help expand robot capabilities, minimize operator workload and maximize mission effectiveness.” 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.

iai’s Multi-arm Robot control System technology enables an operator to perform dexterous manipulation tasks remotely with relative ease. a simulated casualty evacuation scenario was demonstrated recently at the DaRpa Robotics challenge expo in Homestead, Fla. [photo courtesy of iai]

David Handelman


hurlBurT hosTs joinT Training exercise.

Airmen from the 4th Special Opera-tions Squadron and soldiers from the 20th Special Forces Group conducted joint weap-ons training on Eglin Range, Fla., June 2 through 13.

The two-week training was designed to strengthen Air-Army interoperability and promote camaraderie between the two ser-vices.

“It’s great that the Army and Air Force came together and provided this because we don’t typically get this kind of training un-less we’re deploying or getting ready to de-ploy,” said Army Captain Colby Broadwater, Alpha Company team leader. “It gives us the opportunity to be exposed to the amazing capability of the squadrons at Hulburt Field so we can build our own skills and be in an environment similar to when we deploy.”

Airmen and soldiers practiced weapons training, close-air support, and rapids in-filtrations/exfiltration. Rapids is a special forces tactic that is used to quickly move personnel or vehicles in and out of an area or to recover an isolated individual.

“I think we all got the most out of learn-ing the capabilities of the AC-130 gunship and [speaking] with the crews,” said Broad-water. “We don’t get to see them a lot, so being able to put a face with the people who might get you out of a bad situation down range is very helpful.”

Aircrew members communicated close-ly with soldiers to ensure the gunship’s rounds hit simulated enemy locations dur-ing mock firefights.

“It’s basically familiarization training,” said 1st Lieutenant Allen Caleb, 4th Special Operations Squadron gunship navigator.

“It’s a little bit different for them to integrate with us than they would with fast movers like F-16s, B-1s and A-10s, but it’s better if they see it during training.”

During the training, Caleb said he took the fire coordinates from requesting forces on the ground and relayed the information to the fire control officer, pilots and crew chiefs.

“Our unit does this kind of training all the time on our own, but doing it with Army guys on the ground adds an extra level of realism,” he said. “It’s good for us to hear a ground party on the radio. You’re going to encounter things with a ground person that you’re typically not thinking about if you’re pretending to talk to someone.”

The two forces also practiced engag-ing targets simultaneously in coordinated strikes. First, ground forces fired tracer rounds, which allowed the gunship crew to

see the target. Then, the gunship fired at that same target.

Army Private 1st Class Tycjan Sieradzai, 244th Liaison Team health care specialist, said the training gave him a one-of-a-kind opportunity to work outside his regular ca-reer field.

“It’s been awesome to come out here and support the training,” Sieradzai said. “I’ve gotten the chance to shoot more here in the last two weeks than I would over the course of five years in my regular job.” O

Senior Airman Kentavist P. Brackin is assigned to 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs.

By senior airMan kenTavisT p. Brackin

Members of the 20th Special Force Group engage targets during weapons training on eglin Range, Fla. airmen and soldiers practiced weapons training, close-air support, and rapids infiltrations/exfiltration. [photo courtesy of U.S. air Force/by Senior airman christopher callaway]



Joint Development EffortTrianGraphics is developing its database

generation system, Trian3DBuilder, in coop-eration with Rheinmetall Defence Electronics (RDE) for the DISI Xtreme image generator.

The increasing demands and expectations in quality and quantity of current simula-tion scenarios cannot be fulfilled with tradi-tional tools and modeling techniques. To meet those new demands within limited budgets, TrianGraphics has cooperated with RDE to develop a novel database generation system with a high level of automation and photo-realistic results. Trian3DBuilder is hereby forming the core of DBGS Xtreme, the data-base generation system of Rheinmetall’s image generator, DISI Xtreme.

DISI Xtreme is a complete new product development, and is based on the Havok Vision Engine. The image generator builds a high-end real-time visual system with a comprehensive range of customized extensions and features,

including procedural terrain and streaming of all static and dynamic objects and textures for large and detailed databases.

Trian3DBuilder is a prevalent software tool with a comprehensive feature set and a modern user interface with a focus on ease of use. Trian3DBuilder provides a multitude of features to create the most realistic battle-grounds, from infantry to high-flight or naval simulation, including advanced roads and rails, procedural buildings, satellite indepen-dent texturing, complex airports, seafloors, and comprehensive export options and formats.

The current development of TrianGraphics is offering a new generation pipeline to solve former visual and technical limitations. Modularized generation templates can easily be combined to form complex generation rules. The data can be sorted flexibly using miscella-neous adjustable ordering logics. Furthermore, the tool chain provides a simple user interface

with the ability to operate in a 2-D view for getting a quick overview, as well as a 3-D view to verify and edit the result.

The visual database can be enhanced with additional information like material identifica-tions for the sensor simulation. All generation data is collected and exported to attributed vector data and can be used in the simulation engine for further processing tasks. A software development kit enables the user to adjust the user interface, develop generation templates and integrate new input/output formats.

“With RDE we have found a strong partner with tremendous experience in the simulation industries,” said Stephan Kussmaul, managing director, TrianGraphics GmbH. “We benefit from this experience and can further improve Trian3DBuilder with direct user feedback from a multitude of running projects.”

Felix Fürneisen;[email protected]

Data PacKetS

Tools to Help Automate Creation of Cultural Training ScenariosIn other cultures, the smallest

gestures can create the biggest misunderstandings. A village elder invites a commander to his home to learn about the community and is deeply offended when the soldier interacts with his wife, thanking her for tea without his permission. That simple affront can unknow-ingly cause distrust and under-mine relationship building.

To address that challenge, Aptima, which applies expertise in how humans think, learn and perform, has developed Authoring by Cultural Demonstration (ABCD), an innovative approach to creating cultural training scenarios that combines cognitive science, technology and commer-cial off-the-shelf scenario-authoring tools. Requiring minimal technical know-how, the software allows warfighters and instructors to quickly script and

transform real-world incidents into animated vignettes for game-based training.

Initially funded by the Office of the Secretary of Defense through an Office of Naval Research small business innova-tive research phase II contract, ABCD has been transferred to the Army Simulation and Training Technology Center (STTC) in Orlando to align with STTC’s other efforts aimed at capturing and replaying lessons learned from the field. The ABCD prototype is currently STTC’s only technology addressing cultural training.

ABCD helps address the situ-ation the commander found himself in when he unintention-ally offended the village elder. Made aware of the cultural disconnect by an interpreter, the commander realizes other units could be making similar mistakes

that potentially decrease trust within the community, thereby compromising their intelligence gathering with locals.

Once back on base, the soldier creates a dramatization of the incident using the ABCD software’s drag-and-drop interface to develop characters, imbue them with gestures and fill in dialogue. To facilitate scenario creation, ABCD includes a library of culturally-relevant assets, including physical locations, avatars and props.

When the storyboard is complete, ABCD’s AI-based cine-matographic software renders the vignette in an artificial 3-D environment. This machine-generated animated scenario, or “machinima,” can run on any gaming engine. The soldier can also specify branching inter-actions that involve choice and consequence for a more interactive

training experience for the game-player.

“Warfighters continually face trial and error in the field, but that doesn’t mean they have to repeat the same mistakes in situations with little margin for error,” said Webb Stacy, Aptima corporate fellow and ABCD project lead. “Now, those on the front line, or their instructors, can take these expe-riences and insights and quickly transform them into learning moments. ABCD lowers the tech-nical hurdle and provides the means to crowd-source these lessons from the field to easily create training that can benefit others.”

ABCD’s animated story-telling techniques, which illustrate human interaction, can be applied to other skills training, such as leadership and negotiation.

Michael J. Paley; [email protected]


Compiled by KMI Media Group staff

Evolving Technology Drives Innovation in Simulation TrainingLagging technological infra-

structure and the associated costs to upgrade have histori-cally been the fallback industry excuse for not taking a project to the next level of innovation. Today, the simulation industry finds itself with research and development costs still a factor, but innovation is often only limited by imagination.

“The battlefield remains the primary driver of training requirements,” said Larry Raines, vice president, virtual systems

at Meggitt Training Systems. “However, in the past, existing technology was a limiting factor in meeting those requirements. The state of technology today allows Meggitt’s engineers to think beyond today’s battlefield and design training tools capable of handling tomorrow’s training evolution.”

Meggitt Training Systems is the developer of FATS M100 architecture. This system cost-effectively supports multiple, simultaneous simulation and

training modes using a flex-ible systems architecture. A 3-D marksmanship training envi-ronment, along with Meggitt’s tetherless BlueFire weapon simu-lators and the after action review, allows engagement and shot assessment in a 3-D virtual envi-ronment while providing detailed trainee diagnostics for skill rein-forcement and/or correction. The detailed shot analysis, automatic assessment and coaching capa-bilities pulled from doctrine are immediately available on an

individual handheld device for trainee reference.

The scalability of the FATS M100 is highlighted by the concur-rent use of multiple through-sight devices for both marksman-ship and collective training. The flexible architecture ensures maximum trainee throughput while offering a growth path for the future, and maintains the system’s performance and feed-back essential for training.

Larry Raines; [email protected]

Augmented Reality Technology Matures from DARPA Program

Applied Research Associates Inc. (ARA) introduced ARC4, an advanced, wearable augmented reality (AR) software. The soft-ware was developed over six years with substantial investment from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s ULTRA-Vis (urban leader tactical response, awareness and visualization) program and ARA.

ARC4 software integrates seamlessly with any heads-up display, allowing users to see virtual information such as icons and messages overlaid accurately on their real-world view. ARA’s engineers and scientists devel-oped algorithms that accurately track a user’s position and look direction to deliver a persistent, immersive and dynamic heads-up view. ARA’s breakthrough geo-referencing capabilities and low-cognitive load user interface enable AR for outdoor, on-the-move applications.

ARC4’s lead engineer, Dave Roberts, Ph.D., described ARC4 as “a flat-out game changer that’s

ideal for anyone who wants to visualize, create and share heads-up information.” He explained that “ARC4 will change the way you see and interact with the world around you—the same way the smartphone changed the way you communicate.” ARA’s team is working with several large companies to enable true AR in their heads-up displays.

Originally designed for warfighters to enhance situ-ational awareness and enable non-voice, non-line of sight team-mate coordination, ARC4 delivers precision geo-registration and true AR. As prime contractor for DARPA’s ULTRA-Vis program, ARA developed a soldier-worn AR system that presents heads-up tactical information for on-the-move operations. This technology provides heads-up situational awareness for the mili-tary, allowing soldiers to perform their jobs with enhanced safety, speed and mission effectiveness.

Jenn Carter; [email protected]

Cost-Savings Management Capabilities for

Air Mobility CommandNorthrop Grumman Corporation and the Air Education and

Training Command (AETC) successfully delivered a major Graduate Training Integration Management System (GTIMS) update to the Air Mobility Command (AMC) at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. This effort enables AMC personnel to expand their use of GTIMS from the current four locations to more than 70 future locations worldwide.

“GTIMS offers a centralized approach that reduces the U.S. government’s overall operation and maintenance costs,” said Greg Schmidt, vice president and general manager, Mission Solutions and Readiness division, Northrop Grumman Technical Services. “The delivery of this system is a great example of what can be achieved when industry partners with our customers to create innovative and affordable solutions.”

GTIMS is a Department of Defense product, managed by the AETC, with maintenance and modernization provided by Northrop Grumman. GTIMS optimizes and manages all aspects of aviation operations and training, including: personnel, resources, planning, schedules, standards and evaluation, flight records, and reporting. GTIMS reduces operational expenditures with a standardized system that generates savings in personnel and travel costs for inspections and audits. In addition, it requires fewer personnel to manage operations, training, scheduling and records management.

“GTIMS is rapidly evolving to meet current needs and future customer requirements,” said Masoud Rasti, AETC’s GTIMS program manager. “This system will enhance the Air Mobility Command’s mission by allowing a more focused use of their time and resources.”

Jenae Journot; [email protected]


Captain Frank “Wes” Naylor IIIExecutive Officer

Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division and

Naval Support Activity

Captain Frank W. Naylor III is the commanding officer of the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) and Naval Support Activity, Orlando. NAWCTSD is the Navy’s principal center for research, development, test and evaluation, acquisition and product support of training systems.

A native of McLean, Va., Naylor is a graduate of George Mason University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in gov-ernment with high honors, and a 2007 graduate of the National War College, where he was awarded a master’s degree in national security strategies. While in residence at the National War Col-lege, he was accepted for the Research Fellowship Program, where his thesis dealing with Iranian nuclear proliferation strategies was presented to and accepted by the college’s review committee. Prior to joining the Navy, Naylor worked as a legislative assistant and press secretary in the United States Senate and House of Repre-sentatives.

Naylor’s operational tours were completed with Patrol Squad-ron Twenty-three, Brunswick, Maine; USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), Mayport, Fla., as the air warfare officer and a tactical action officer; Patrol Squadron Five, Jacksonville, Fla., where he served as the command’s officer in charge and maintenance officer; and he subsequently returned as the commanding officer/executive of-ficer of Patrol Squadron Five, Jacksonville. While in command of the “Mad Foxes,” he successfully led the squadron on deployment in both the Pacific Command and Southern Command areas of responsibility, where the squadron’s exceptional operation perfor-mance led to its selection as the Isbell Trophy winners in 2010 rec-ognizing it as the fleet’s top undersea warfare aviation squadron.

In addition to his operational tours, Naylor served as mission control and evaluation officer, and current operations officer on the staff of commander, Fleet Air Keflavik, Iceland; flag aide to commandant, Naval District Washington; officer in charge, United States Navy Ceremonial Guard; P-3 Training Systems Integrated Product Team (IPT) lead aboard Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) PMA-205; and joint efficiencies IPT lead aboard NAVAIR PMA-262, supporting the development of the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) unmanned aerial system. In this capacity, he was responsible for development and management of all Navy/Air Force efforts to establish full life cycle operations and support plans for the BAMS and Global Hawk programs to include cost, schedule and performance responsibilities for the $700 million combined Common Ground Station. He was also responsible for representing the program plans and objectives at all Office of Sec-retary of Defense, Navy and congressional reviews.

Prior to his current assignment, Naylor was assigned to stand up the PMA-262 BAMS Future Increments IPT. This IPT is charged with the planning and execution of BAMS Increments 2 and 3, which will provide an enhanced communications capability and a signals intelligence capability for the Navy and its supported customers. Naylor assumed the duties as executive officer of NAW-CTSD and NSA Orlando in June 2012.

His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), Air Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy Achievement Medal (two awards) and various unit and cam-paign awards.

Q: Can you describe the roles and responsibilities of NAWCTSD?

A: NAWCTSD is the principal Navy center for research, development, test and evaluation, acquisition and product support of training sys-tems. Whenever possible, we coordinate training systems support and development closely with the Army, Air Force and Marines who also call the Central Florida Research Park home. Our vision is to be the supplier of choice for training and human performance solu-tions to enhance the capability of the nation’s warfighters.

As our name implies, we provide training systems for the Navy, but less obvious is our extensive support beyond Naval aviation. We have significant efforts for surface, undersea and cross warfare


Training CoordinatorProviding Extensive Support Beyond Naval Aviation

Q&AQ&A

programs as well. In fact, with the amount of surface and undersea work that we do today increasing, the split between aviation and non-aviation work that we perform is close to 50/50. Our motto is “all for the warfighter”; it is safe to say that NAWCTSD’s products benefit virtually every sailor serving in the Navy today.

We are more than just simulators; we also provide a full range of training content, including courseware development and curricu-lum, training services that include full support for our training sys-tems, and instructor services. We also provide intellectual services that include research and development.

To put it simply, if there’s a training need in the fleet, we can deliver an effective solution.

Q: How do you see training and simulation evolving over the next five years?

A: Over the next five years I believe the Navy’s need for training and simulation will continue to grow. It has always been vital that our Navy’s warfighters receive the training they need to do their jobs; however, we are always looking for the most effective way to deliver that training. There are countless soft skills that can be learned and honed in a virtual environment. Practicing these skills ashore in a training environment is a more effective use of our sailors’ time and our resources. We all understand that military budgets are limited and that flying aircraft, steaming ships and submarines, and the maintenance associated with underway operations have associated costs. While certainly not the only motivator, reduced total owner-ship costs are an added benefit of training in a virtual environment. The beauty of the training products and services we produce is that leaders who need a highly-trained fighting force and those who want to keep their budget under control agree that they are a wise invest-ment. This is an investment that results in better-trained sailors and also yields long-term savings in the form of reduced “live” training requirements.

While virtual training is cost-effective, our increased emphasis on it is not only about saving money—it’s about optimizing our training. Through virtual training, we can have our sailors exercise the micro skills needed to build muscle memory they need to per-form essential skills before they enter a live scenario. This way their time spent training at sea or in the air can be maximized, focusing on tasks that can only be trained in a live environment. This is truly a more efficient way to train. The quality of technology today allows us to conduct training that wasn’t possible in the not-too-distant past. For example, the new and faster computer processors available today allow us to provide more realistic visual systems, more accu-rate motion systems and better modeling to provide extremely high fidelity training systems where necessary. While we know that tech-nology will only continue to get better and more affordable, we also have a keen understanding that no matter how realistic the training technology, we are never going to be able to entirely replace hands-on training.

Q: What are the top three things NAWCTSD would like to see from industry to improve training?

A: The top thing that we can do is to continue to actively work the government/industry partnerships every day. We all need to realize that if we are going to deliver for the warfighter and optimize our performance, we must work together as a team. It is a shared team

effort to deliver for the warfighter on time and on budget, and we just can’t get there from here if we don’t do it together.

Secondly, following on the previous theme, we understand that there are budgetary pressures in industry just as there are in the government lines. Accordingly, open and robust conversations about the government’s areas of interest should help industry pri-oritize their internal research and development investments to best position them to meet the warfighter’s operational needs.

Finally, focusing on the basics of program management is essen-tial for everyone. What our shared customer, the warfighter, wants is really not that mysterious. They want what they have contracted to be delivered on time, on budget, and with the promised capability. If we can deliver that as a combined government/industry team then I believe that it’s a win for everyone.

Q: What are the biggest challenges NAWCTSD will face in 2014?

A: One of our pivotal challenges is ensuring we develop the right mix of training. As simulation gets better, we need to continuously cali-brate the balance between training in simulation and hands-on in a live environment. And when training in a simulated environment, determining what degree of fidelity is truly needed to train the task [is important].

Another challenge that is certainly not unique to us is developing our next-generation workforce. A considerable portion of our work-force is already retirement eligible or will be soon. Every month, some of our valued team members make the big decision to retire, and when they leave us they take with them a huge amount of “cor-porate knowledge.” Our challenge is to capture that knowledge and transfer it to our more junior teammates. To that end, we will con-tinue our dedication to apply learning organization principles with the goal of fostering an organizational culture that encourages our teammates to learn from each other and share information through professional interactions including mentorship and collaboration. This cultural shift will make us stronger.

Q: What initiatives, strategies or solutions do you plan on imple-menting at NAWCTSD in 2014?

A: There is a tremendous opportunity to apply technology and the science of learning to help us optimize the training process. With that in mind, we are exploring the potential of employing computer-based “intelligent tutors” into our training products. In many cases, intelligent tutors can outperform traditional instructor-led training, bringing learning excellence to a broad range of training [methods]. It’s within the realm of possibility that we can improve student out-comes for existing courses by two standard deviations; for example, we would like to help “C” students perform at the “A” level. Intel-ligent tutors can also significantly shorten training time on even the most challenging of subjects by moving beyond rote memorization to teach deep understanding and critical problem solving skills. In-telligent tutors have also demonstrated the unique ability to tune the training, in detail, to the strengths and weaknesses of the individual student. Our objective is to deliver a revolution in training where a sailor can rapidly master complex skill sets, anytime, anywhere.

Live, virtual and constructive (LVC) training is another area we’ll continue to push forward on. The objective of the LVC training fidel-ity enabling capability is to push the state-of-the-art science in three key ways. First, we want to understand what the impacts of merging


virtual and constructive entities onto avionics displays are on safe-ty and training. We also want to better understand the fidelity nec-essary to achieve more training and readiness in virtual environ-ments. Finally, we will develop constructive semi-automated forces that demonstrate tactically-realistic and learner-aware behaviors. The end game for this effort is to enhance fleet readiness, lower total ownership costs, improve safety and reduce security risks.

The most important component in developing our training systems is improving our own corporate performance. For that reason, NAWCTSD is going to continue our journey to becoming a learning organization. This will enable us to increase our capac-ity for effective action in a way that is sustaining, replicable, and continuously evolving with technology and time.

Q: How does NAWCTSD work with Naval Support Activity to pre-pare sailors?

A: Naval Support Activity (NSA) provides us with our facility and security services, allowing NAWCTSD and the other military mod-elling and simulation agencies to focus on their missions without worrying about basic support functions. Centered near NSA Or-lando are representatives from each of the military services who together form the core, an unofficial entity known as “Team Orlan-do.” The members of Team Orlando are collocated in an environ-ment that allows collaboration and leveraging each other’s efforts for the benefit of the warfighters.

Q: How does NAWCTSD keep up with the changing realities in the field and the resulting training demands?

A: This is what we do best. We work with our “customers” in the fleet to determine exactly what the training need is, then conduct a comprehensive front-end analysis to determine the best way to meet those training demands. We apply the knowledge that we al-ready have to new requirements. In many instances we’ll have a training solution for another purpose that can be quickly leveraged to meet our new training needs.

One example is in our undersea programs we developed a com-mon submarine radio room trainer that uses a series of touch-screen panels to digitally recreate a submarine radio room. That same equipment and software was subsequently updated to train sailors to work as a team with a submarine weapons launch team trainer. Sailors can now use this same equipment to train on tor-pedo room weapons handling procedures. But we’re not done yet; we are working on a software update that will allow sailors to use the same equipment to train on a life-size virtual diesel generator. This 3-D multi-touchscreen technology takes training to a whole different level by actually allowing sailors to operate the valves and switches with their hands and do multi-person and team events such as raising or lowering a weapons cradle, giving them a feel for actually doing it in the real environment. Eventually, entire submarines will be digitized into 3-D training environments that will allow our sailors to safely train on a digital replica of their ship while they are in homeport. These same concepts of leverag-ing existing technology and techniques apply across the range of our products and services.

Q: How does NAWCTSD determine the proper balance between live training and simulated training?

A: As I mentioned before, determining the balance between live and simulated training is one of our central challenges. On one hand, technology is making high-fidelity virtual training possible. It’s ab-solutely amazing how far technology has progressed in the past 10 years. Littoral combat ship (LCS) sailors are able to train to qualify and train to certify before they even set foot aboard their ship. Sail-ors can train to just about any LCS task in a virtual environment to familiarize themselves and become proficient both as individuals and teams, even when they’re not underway.

These technologies, however real we can make them, are never going to be a 100 percent replacement for hands-on training. Our goal with simulated training is to let sailors learn and practice soft and micro skills in a virtual environment, so that they can get the optimal benefit from their live training.

Q: How are NAWCTSD priorities affected as troops return from Afghanistan and Iraq?

A: As an expeditionary force that is constantly forward deployed, the need to be ready never subsides. Even after all of our troops come home, the Navy will continue to operate ships and submarines at sea. We will continue to fly aircraft from aircraft carriers and bases. We will continue to provide a presence around the globe. Just as our mission continues in peacetime, our training requirements will continue much as they do today.

Q: How does NAWCTSD adapt its training programs to keep pace with evolving technology?

A: The training need always comes before the technology. If we can most effectively train a simple task using simple technology, then we’ll do that. If we need a high level of fidelity, we’ll reach out to industry to see what’s available. We are proud of the efforts we have [made] to keep an open dialogue with the key stakeholders in the modeling and simulation industry. Not a month goes by that we don’t meet in one form or another to discuss either our needs or the technologies currently available for training. If there’s not a com-mercial solution available, our research and technology director-ate examines the requirements on how to best apply technology to meet our training requirements. If no solution is currently available, they’ll develop one.

Q: Is there anything you would like to add?

A: This is an exceptionally exciting time for those of us who are for-tunate enough to work in the training, modeling and simulation sectors. We are witnessing one of those rare points in time where the promise of technology, the constraints of budgets and opera-tional requirements are converging to provide an opportunity for us to truly transform how we can enable the warfighter’s training regi-men going forward. Through the emerging opportunities presented by intelligent tutoring, evolving LVC capabilities, and the incredible improvements that have been realized in simulator performance, we are now positioned to better prepare our warfighters to face the challenges of the future in ways that we could have only imagined a decade ago. The critical challenge for us is to find that right balance between simulation, virtual and live training that will maximize their performance in an affordable, sustainable manner that ensure they are ready to go when their nation calls. O


The Army is evolving its current integrated training environ-ment into a single synthetic training environment that combines constructive, gaming and virtual systems to provide challenging ex-ercises efficiently at the point of need.

Army officials discussed the Future Holistic Training Environ-ment-Live/Synthetic at the recent Training and Education 2025 and Beyond Industry Forum. At the forum, Army officials discussed fu-ture capabilities and training and education gaps with defense in-dustry representatives.

Currently, the Army is fielding the Live, Virtual, Constructive-Integrating Architecture to bring current training systems together to create an integrated training environment. The Future Holistic Training Environment-Live/Synthetic would provide additional ca-pabilities.

“The new environment will collapse constructive, virtual and gaming capabilities into one synthetic environment that can be cou-pled with live training,” said Colonel John Janiszewski, director of the National Simulation Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. “It will allow commanders to incorporate the plan, prepare, execute and assess steps of unit training management into multi-echelon training exercises.”

Janiszewski led a panel discussion about capabilities the new training environment will need, including:

• A convergence of virtual, constructive and gaming environments with augmented reality into a single synthetic environment to link with live training. This will increase the realism of live training and reduce dependency on brick-and-mortar training sites.

• A single environment that encapsulates land, sea, air, space and cyber. This will support regionally aligned forces and missions.

• Artificial intelligence to replicate operational complexity and uncertainty. This will lower costs by replacing some human role players with avatars.

• Automated tools and intelligent tutors to provide a holistic training common operational picture. This adds mentors, teachers and coaches without the costs.

• After-action review and assessment tools that are linked to execution outcomes, assist unit readiness reporting and provide lessons learned. This will provide commanders with useful information and benchmarks to evaluate training exercises.

• All aspects of the operations process to enable the seamless planning, preparation, execution and assessment of live-synthetic training. This will improve all steps in an exercise.

• A 24/7, low-overhead capability worldwide at home stations, combat training centers and deployed locations that will require fewer contractors. This will provide training at the point of need while reducing costs.

Several Army organizations are conducting research to make the Future Holistic Training Environment-Live/Synthetic a reality.

The National Simulation Center is part of the Combined Arms Center-Training, which presented the forum. The Fort Leavenworth organization manages the Army training support and training devel-opment to help the Army prepare versatile units and develop agile, adaptive leaders. O

By Mike casey coMBined arMs cenTer-Training



uTilizing evolving Technology To iMprove

inTegraTed Training.


new Technology Behind cBrn response Training. By sTeven pike

Financial cutbacks, increasing regulatory burden and the rapid rise in the breadth and complexity of incidents are placing considerable pressure on the military in preparing to meet the chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) hazardous materials (hazmat) threat. However, modern training simulation systems now play a key role in helping the military optimize their readiness to improve response times, the safety of their personnel and the public, and their ability to combat a wide and varied range of CBRN/hazmat incidents.

The prospect of a deliberate or unintentional hazardous ma-terial release or CBRN/hazmat attack is now increasingly recog-nized as an acute global challenge. It is essential that military service organizations develop their resources to respond to and mitigate the consequences of such threats to life, infrastructure and the environment.

Early detection and response is critical, as is the quality, ac-curacy and availability of information. It is equally important to ensure that personnel understand how to operate, interpret and report readings from detection, identification and monitoring equipment if military service organizations are to maintain their capability to respond to a CBRN/hazmat release.

There are options available for CBRN/hazmat training with particular focus on the use of advanced simulation technology, where a combination of industry standard instrumentation and

software-based tools can be used to replicate the effects of a range of threats and to recreate scenarios under different environmental conditions.

The realiTy of The siTuaTion

The issue of creating the most realistic exercises for trainees to learn how to deal with incidents involving toxic chemicals and/or radiological materials, without actually releasing such substances or potentially harmful simulants into the environment, has been a perennial problem. Increasingly, the solution has been to use electronic simulation equipment, which now takes the training terms “realistic” and “challenging” to a new level.

There are several advantages to using electronic simulators. Because simulant detectors can be used in isolation or as simula-tion probes for use with real detection equipment, they offer time and cost savings over traditional simulants or even the real de-tectors by avoiding expensive damage to detectors and the use of costly consumables. Electronic simulants are easier to control and are not capable of misuse in the same way as liquid simulants. Tra-ditional simulants can saturate the training area and cause false positives during subsequent exercises. They can also lead to unex-pected remediation costs should the land ever need to be disposed of, whereas electronic simulants have no environmental impact




and can be used in public places. They can also be placed in a wider variety of locations, such as within vehicles or properties.

MiliTary exercise

Training exercises can be costly to plan and implement, so it makes sense for nations to cooperate and share the costs as well as any best practice learnt. It is also highly likely that a chemical or biological incident would become international as chemical and radiological contamination moves with the atmosphere and does not respect international boundaries, and modern conflicts often result in multi-national forces being deployed.

CBRN/hazmat detection simulators, combined with simula-tion software, have enabled NORDEFCO (Nordic Defense Coop-eration Organization) to host a highly realistic CBRN/hazmat response exercise in Umea, Sweden. The exercise was part of REC-CEX 12 (Nordic CBRN reconnaissance exercise), a major CBRN/hazmat event where military and civilian units from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden were trained in state-of-the-art CBRN/hazmat detection, analysis and decontamination tech-niques.

During six days in August 2012, participants trained within all areas of CBRN/hazmat, from detection, testing and sanitizing to analyzing dangerous substances. As is common practice for exer-cises, the participants were presented with various scenarios that reflected real events. These dealt with everything from poisoning of water, manufacturing of ricin and teargas in illegal laborato-ries, to the distribution of substances from a model aircraft. Each of the participating countries uses different equipment so a wide range of simulators were supplied. Approximately 50 different types of chemical and radiological simulation and detection de-vices were used throughout the exercise to enhance realism, test personal CBRN/hazmat skills and record information for post ex-ercise analysis and learning. The simulators, some of which were originally supplied in 2007, were upgraded in preparation for the exercise, while trainees were also given a demonstration of the ex-ercise and table training software system that was at the heart of the exercise.

Today, Windows-based CBRN/hazmat simulation software tools allow an operator to simulate the release of a chemical or radiological agent from a fixed point and then map how the plume would spread based on various factors, such as how the agent has been released and local weather conditions.

The software can then be wirelessly connected with the simu-lation chemical and radiological detection equipment being car-ried by troops on the ground to provide them with simulated contamination readings related to their locations, which they can respond to depending on their individual tasking. The read-ings are provided electronically, which negates the need to deploy chemical stimulants, saving time and money and protecting both the trainees and the environment. Because it is possible for the ex-ercise control software to record the position and instrument use of every student throughout the exercise, it is possible to review activity at the end of the exercise and enhance learning and re-sponse procedures through the use of post exercise data analysis.

There is another key point to make about using simulation software to manage the staging of an exercise, which is that it is possible for the instructor to pause or fast forward playback at the debrief, which can be extremely useful in allowing instructors to

evaluate, test or validate a student’s progress, and perhaps recom-mend changes in approach to ensure all participants get the very best out of the exercise.

a BeTTer fuTure for Training

The use of such powerful yet easy to use training tools that can be set up so quickly has changed the face of CBRN/hazmat response training. These tools offer the ability to design multiple scenario options, including the type of threat, the point of release or delivery mechanism from single or multiple sources, and a full range of constant or changing environmental conditions. As a re-sult, they truly meet the challenges faced by today’s CBRN/hazmat response instructors, who must provide the best possible training for an increasing number of potential threats.

In an ever more unstable world it is critical that governments have a highly trained and effective response available to counter any deliberate or accidental CBRN/hazmat release. The number of threats and different scenarios that a country may face are many and varied but modern training using simulation detection equip-ment provides the opportunity to train and prepare for any type of incident that can be imagined. O

Steven Pike is the managing director at Argon Electronics Ltd.

exercise in cBRn/hazmat response training. [photo courtesy of argon electronics]


The Air Force (AF) has recently released a request for information to assess existing capabilities and technologies that the Air Force Modeling and Simulation Training Toolkit (AFMSTT) could leverage in order to minimize cost and time to maintain and enhance the product as well as minimize the cost of deployment. Achieving these objec-tives will minimize the logistics associated with training, requirement generation and exercise/event support. Information is also requested to help formulate the way ahead for the AF’s Air Constructive Model and how to best interface in a live, virtual and constructive environment in support of the joint national training capability and AF training transformation initiatives, as well as directed air staff priorities.

The broad scope of AFMSTT work will include maintenance and enhancements,

event/exercise/distributed operation sup-port, and AF Department of Defense system engineering and integration. AFMSTT is an essential training tool used widely by the Air Force, joint forces, and other high level na-tional and foreign organizations. Events and exercise support will be necessary for ap-proximately 30 events annually held in vari-ous locations around the world to include Germany, Japan, Korea and many locations within the continental United States.

The Operations Command and Control Division of the Air Force Life Cycle Man-agement Center, Hanscom Air Force base, on behalf of the AFMSTT Program Office, is submitting this request for information to industry for business approaches and to obtain market research data to assist in the determination of what is possible for the de-velopment and support of AFMSTT.

afMsTT prograM descripTion

AFMSTT is a set of software tools used in theater-level constructive simulations for Air Force and joint training events, to include Blue Flag, Red Flag, Green Flag, Virtual Flag, Homeland Defense, Air Operations Cen-ter, and North Atlantic Treaty Organization training events and experimentation initia-tives. These events require recurring spiral and evolutionary development based on new requirements related to weapons, tactics and doctrine. AFMSTT tools are fielded globally. The existing suite of software tools in AFM-STT utilizes a Red Hat Linux and Oracle operating environment on commercial off-the-shelf personal computer equipment and servers. Currently, there are three tool suites in AFMSTT including Air Warfare Simula-tion (AWSIM), Air, Space and Cyberspace

MiniMizing The logisTics associaTed wiTh Training.


Constructive Environment Information Op-erations Suite (ACE-IOS) and Graphical In-put Aggregate Control–GENIS Data Server (GIAC-GDS).

AWSIM is the approved Air Force model for full spectrum air warfare operations train-ing and experimentation. Modeled objects in-clude aircraft, air bases, theater ballistic mis-siles and launchers, surface to air missiles and launchers, air to air missiles, air to sur-face missiles and bombs, command and con-trol (C2) platforms, short range air defense systems, ships, and radar sites. AWSIM sup-ports the definition and laydown of friendly, hostile, and neutral assets into a synthetic warzone where a training audience can then control their forces. Real world C2 systems are used by the training audience to plan mis-sions and monitor their execution. In a joint forces exercise, AWSIM can interface with other service models over the high level ar-chitecture or distributed interactive simula-tion protocol. Components include Wargame (WG), Scenario Generation System, Air Base Simulation and C2 Systems Interface.

ACE-IOS components include intel-ligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, electronic warfare, joint networks simula-tion, joint C2 attack simulation, joint ground game, joint virtual editing tool, and joint data translator.

GIAC-GDS components include the GIAC, which is the geographical situational display used by the WG and the intelligent mission controller node (IMCN). The GDS enables all data collected for display to be distributed over a WAN under the control of the GDS for remote viewing. The GIAC can display most DoD map data, and provides drag-and-drop controls and operator inter-actions for integrated control with WG and IMCN. Lastly, it includes the GIAC after ac-tion review work station (GAWS), which is graphical display data that can be captured and replayed using the GAWS product.

afMsTT requireMenTs

Due to real world constraints, the USAF is augmenting training with the develop-ment of a robust LVC environment, which has resulted in a need to re-engineer or re-place parts of AFMSTT while sustaining its current operations. Key attributes that are required for this environment are:

• Ability to provide mission status feedback to theater battle management core system (TBMCS) and relevant

command and control information services (C2IS) and C2 Air Operations Suite (C2AOS) components when fielded, including estimated and actual departure and recovery times, mission success/failure, in-flight status, and base availability.

• Capability to automatically and/or manually interpret and modify air tasking orders and air control orders from TBMCS and relevant C2AOS-C2IS components when fielded, for simulation events.

• Ability to replicate and generate a myriad of scenarios that can interoperate with other C2 systems and simulations.

• Ability to interoperate between real world C4I systems and other simulations over existing infrastructure.

• Ability to replicate daily sortie rates for both small- and large-scale events.

• Ability to provide customized situational views to operators through data filtering capabilities that also allow full-view capability for control or analysis purposes.

• Capability to provide threat avoidance, guaranteed weapon loading, and, as needed, modifications to mission orders to handle specific situations (e.g. no-fly zones, special weapon loading requirements, etc.) that may come up in a specific exercise scenario.

• Capability to replicate constraining effects of aircraft maintenance on air

operations such as battle damage, in-flight emergency, routine break, airfield attack and ground abort.

• Capability to interface with the LVC federations of other services and the joint community, including scenario generation interfaces such as Joint Training Data Services.

• Reduce the support that is expended during an event by reducing costs and employing remote distribution (e.g., smaller technical staff, numbers of augments to run the event, smaller infrastructure footprint, and improved user interface).

• Capability to operate over current and future simulation networks (e.g., Distributed Mission Operations Network and Joint Training and Experimentation Network).

• Capability to interface with both live and virtual assets at both simulation facilities and live ranges.

• Ability to operate in a multi-level security environment and with coalition partners.

• Ability to continue development on a new graphical user interface and/or back-end capabilities while maintaining and patching existing baseline. O


a data system analysis technician, 436th Maintenance operations Squadron, receives flight training instruction in a simulator at the air Mobility command Museum from Dave Doyle at Dover air Force Base, Del. [photo courtesy of U.S. air Force/by Greg l. Davis]


Busy Summer for Team Orlando Leadership

Every two or three years, it is a normal expectation to see lead-ership changes for the military commands that make up Team Orlando. This summer will be an extra busy one, as they each wel-come new leaders. With each new leader comes a different perspec-tive and sometimes a new direction, and so begins a new chapter for Team Orlando.

Attendees packed The Venue at the University of Central Flor-ida on May 13 for a change of charter ceremony for the Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI), where Dr. James T. Blake handed over responsibility to Major General Jon A. Maddux. Heidi Shyu, assistant secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA(ALT)), of-ficiated the ceremony.

“The Army selected an outstanding individual to lead PEO STRI into the future, while taking our military’s simulation and training efforts to new heights,” Blake said of Maddux’s assump-tion of charter.

As the program executive officer for PEO STRI, Maddux over-sees the acquisition, development and fielding of the Army’s simu-lation, training and instrumentation devices, a multibillion-dollar portfolio of programs managed by 1,200 military, government, ci-vilian and support contractors.

“After 13 years in sustained conflict, the Army is in a period of transition,” Maddux said upon assuming responsibility of PEO STRI. “We’re transitioning from an Army of execution to an Army of preparation while migrating toward the future. PEO STRI will help achieve this goal of a leaner, more agile, more expeditionary force—while maintaining combat overmatch—in a heightened fis-cally responsible manner.”

Maddux comes to PEO STRI from Washington, D.C., where he was assistant military deputy to ASA(ALT). Immediately after the ceremony, Shyu retired Blake after 38 years of combined military and civilian service.

oTher changes of coMMand

Captain Steven Nakagawa will relinquish command to Captain Wes Naylor as commanding officer of the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) and Naval Support Activity Orlando during a change of command ceremony on June 20, 2014. Nakagawa will retire from the Navy following 28 years of honorable service.

Replacing Naylor as the new executive officer will be Captain Erik O. Etz. Etz was the director of Test and Evaluation of F-35 Na-val Variants at VX-23 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, serving as the senior military lead for the F-35 Integrated Test Force (ITF). In April 2014, Etz detached from the ITF and joined the leadership team at NAWCTSD.

NAWCTSD is the Navy’s source for a full range of innovative products and services that provide complete training solutions. This includes requirements analysis, design, development and full life cycle support.

The Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulation (AFAMS) welcomed their new commander, Colonel Brad “Critter” M. Crites, who previously served as the deputy director of operations for the 12th Air Force at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona, on June 13. Crites replaced Colonel Franz “Baron” Plescha, who re-tired May 23 following a distinguished career in the U.S. Air Force.

AFAMS is a field operating agency for headquarters Air Force Director of Plans and Operations, the Air Force’s top-level live, vir-tual and constructive operational training (LVC-OT) policy imple-mentation, integration and support agency.

Colonel (Select) Walt Yates will relieve Daniel Torgler as the Marine Corps Systems Command (MARCORSYSCOM) Program Manager for Training Systems (PM TRASYS) in a Change of Char-ter Ceremony tentatively planned for the end of June or the begin-ning of July 2014. Major Yates previously served as the Modeling and Simulation Project Officer at PM TRASYS.

Torgler has been serving as the Acting PM TRASYS since Colonel Michael Coolican’s reassignment as the director, Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate in December 2013. The PM TRASYS staff said they look forward to working with Colonel (Select) Yates once again.

As the training systems acquisition arm for the Marine Corps, PM TRASYS improves the war fighting effectiveness of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force and globally deployed maritime expedition-ary forces by providing training support, and developing and sus-taining training systems and devices.

Colonel Matthew Clarke, commander for the U.S. Army Simu-lation and Training Technology Center (STTC), will retire in early July and his replacement, Colonel Gary Laase, director for AFA(ALT) Forward Operations Kabul, Afghanistan, will arrive in mid-August.

STTC is a division of the U.S. Army’s Research Laboratory’s Hu-man Research and Engineering Directorate, and conducts simula-tion and training research and development to enhance warfighter effectiveness. They research, develop, mature and transition inno-vative technology that benefits soldiers.

No matter where the mission takes our country’s warfighters, their training and preparation is touched by the central Florida modeling and simulation industry. Team Orlando, formed by these U.S. leading military simulation commands, working alongside aca-demic institutions, industry and other government agencies and or-ganizations, is driving technology solutions and making the most of collaborative, collocated relationships and resources. A unique working relationship among its members, it is an undeniable na-tional treasure that is not duplicated anywhere in the world. O

By dolly rairigh glass


Cover and In-Depth Interview with:

Gen. Robin Rand

Serious Gaming Resource Guide

Defeating IEDs Virtual Worlds

Embedded TrainingAircraft Maintenance Simulation

America's Longest Established Simulation & Training Magazine

NEXTISSUEAug 2014

Vol. 19, Issue 5

Insertion Order Deadline: July 24, 2014 • Ad Materials Deadline: July 31, 2014

FEATuRES

SpEcIAl SEcTIon

CommanderAir Force Education and Training Command

Serious gaming plays a critical role in maintaining operational readiness for the warfighter, and the developers who provide these solutions are consistently using innovative technologies to meet the needs of our military.

A wide range of technologies have been developed to deal with IEDs. But even the best tools are useless without thorough training in both threats and countermeasures.

Virtual worlds can be used for any number of training techniques, from squad-based tactics to cultural learning.

Embedded training involves capabilities built into or added onto operational systems, subsystems, or equipment to enhance and maintain the skill proficiency of the warfighter.Training mechanics with hands-on experience on

a $15 million F-16 fighter jet or a $20 million Black Hawk helicopter can be costly and consumes valuable resources. Using simulation prepares these mechanics prior to getting their hands dirty and optimizes live training.

Command Profile:U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence

Documents

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