Mt2 19 1 final

America's Longest Established Simulation & Training Magazine

Simulation Integrator Col. John T. Janiszewski Director National Simulation Center

www.MT2-kmi.com

February 2014 Volume 19, Issue 1

Exclusive Interview with: Rob Reyenga Deputy Program Executive Officer Program Executive Office, Simulation, Training and Instrumentation

Mobile Training Devices O Image Generators Small Arms Marksmanship O Command Profile: 160th SOAR (A)

Meggitt Training Systems develops tomorrow’s virtual training technologies for global defense forces.

That includes innovations like the enhanced realism

customized training and combat readiness solutions

of BlueFire® wireless weapons and the intelligent

in a flexible, immersive environment. It’s one of the

FATS M100 advanced reality training simulator.

many ways Meggitt Training Systems is delivering on

®

its commitment to tomorrow’s forces.

Integration of CryENGINE®3 and VBS enhanced visual game engines, 3-D graphics and flexible systems architecture means the FATS M100 provides ®

meggitttrainingsystems.com

Proven. Reliable. Effective.

military Training technology Features

February 2014 Volume 19 Issue 1

Cover / Q&A

5

20

PEO STRI Who’s Who

A look at the leadership and top 20 contracts of one of the Army’s largest training commands, Program Executive Office of Simulation, Training and Instrumentation. Also includes an exclusive interview with Deputy Program Executive Officer Rob Reyenga as well as a leadership photo spread.

Command Profile: 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) Colonel John R. Evans Jr., commander, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), discusses with Military Training Technology the roles and responsibilities of the 160th, challenges the unit faces and a look ahead going into 2014.

16 Colonel John T. Janiszewski

6

Mobile Training Devices

As technology advances, opportunities for soldiers to train while deployed by using mobile training devices are becoming much more accessible.

By henry Canaday

9

Image Generators

Image generators and training technology have evolved rapidly, and several improvements have been incorporated into training systems to increase fidelity.

By henry Canaday

Departments 2 4 14 26 27

Editor’s Perspective Program Highlights/People data packets Team orlando Resource Center

12

Small Arms training roundtable

24 I/ITSEC 2013

Several leaders in the field discuss how current small arms training systems are currently being used and what is on the horizon regarding future technologies and solutions.

Military Training Technology recognized the winners of our Top Simulation & Training Companies 2013 competition at I/ ITSEC 2013. The featured companies are from around the world and have made a significant impact on the military training industry across the spectrum of technologies and services.

Industry Interview Jeff Tyrcha

Vice President Business Development & Marketing Adacel Systems Inc.

28

Director National Simulation Center

“Training soldiers in simulations, as a precursor to live training, enables soldiers to enter live training at a much higher proficiency.

This ensures that units in live training focus on critical tasks that can only be accomplished on ranges or training areas.”

— Col. John T. Janiszewski

EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVE

Military Training Technology Volume 19, Issue 1 • February 2014

Recognized Leader Covering All Aspects of Military Training Readiness Editorial Editor Brian O’Shea briano@kmimediagroup.com Managing Editor Harrison Donnelly harrisond@kmimediagroup.com Online Editorial Manager Laura McNulty lauram@kmimediagroup.com Copy Editor Sean Carmichael seanc@kmimediagroup.com Correspondents J.B. Bissell • Christian Bourge • Peter Buxbaum Henry Canaday • Danielle Cralle • Hank Hogan Erin Flynn Jay • Karen Kroll • Cynthia Webb

Art & Design Art Director Jennifer Owers jennifero@kmimediagroup.com Ads & Materials Manager Jittima Saiwongnuan jittimas@kmimediagroup.com Senior Graphic Designer Scott Morris scottm@kmimediagroup.com Graphic Designers Amanda Paquette amandak@kmimediagroup.com Andrea Herrera andreah@kmimediagroup.com

Advertising Associate Publisher Lindsay Silverberg lindsays@kmimediagroup.com

KMI Media Group Chief Executive Officer Jack Kerrigan jack@kmimediagroup.com Publisher and Chief Financial Officer Constance Kerrigan connik@kmimediagroup.com Editor-In-Chief Jeff McKaughan jeffm@kmimediagroup.com Controller Gigi Castro gcastro@kmimediagroup.com Trade Show Coordinator Holly Foster hollyf@kmimediagroup.com

Operations, Circulation & Production Operations Administrator Bob Lesser bobl@kmimediagroup.com Circulation & Marketing Administrator Duane Ebanks duanee@kmimediagroup.com Circulation Barbara Gill barbg@kmimediagroup.com Data Specialist Raymer Villanueva raymerv@kmimediagroup.com

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has not, as of February 6, 2014, signed the security agreement that could allow approximately 10,000 U.S. troops and 6,000 troops from allied nations to remain in Afghanistan after the end of this year.

Allowing these troops to remain in country would allow Afghanistan’s police force and army to receive much needed training.

Karzai said that he wants to wait until Afghanistan elects his successor in an election slated for April 5. If the agreement is not signed, then all international troops may have to leave at the end of 2014 in what’s called the “zero option.”

At a Munich Security Conference, U.S. Air Force General Philip Breedlove, NATO’s military commander, said that while Afghan forces have had success over Brian O’Shea Editor the past year they still need more training, which is planned out in a post-214 mission “Resolute Support.”

When asked if Afghan forces can take over responsibility of security at the end of the year, Breedlove said, “With 11 more months of training we’ll be able to address many of their continuing challenges, but no, there will be more challenges post-’14, and that is the raison d’etre for the Resolute Support mission.”

Other NATO leaders share Breedlove’s concern.

“I have not used the term ‘zero option’; I think I have explicitly stressed that it’s not an option, but that it might be an unfortunate outcome,” said NATO civilian leader Anders Fogh Rasmussen. “While we are confident the Afghan security forces will be able to take full responsibility by the end of 2014, we also believe that they need continued training advice and assistance.”

He said that if the agreement is not signed, receiving financial aid from Western countries would be more difficult—and with 350,000 Afghan soldiers and police, they cannot afford to pay their salaries.

“If they don’t get that assistance, how can they afford to pay salaries?” he asked. “In that case the Afghan security forces will really be faced with serious challenges.”

I’m not sure what Karzai’s hang-up is to sign the treaty. He must understand that without the financial assistance and continued training of his forces, his successor will face any number of challenges. Granted, I want our troops home as much as anyone, but there is a job to do, and the U.S. military is the best suited to train the people responsible for maintaining security in Afghanistan. If you have any questions regarding Military Training Technology feel free to contact me at any time.

KMI MedIa Group LeadershIp MaGazInes and WebsItes Border & CBRNE Defense

Ground Combat Technology

Geospatial Intelligence Forum

Military Advanced Education

Military Information Technology

Border Threat Prevention and CBRNE Response

Military Logistics Forum The Publication of Record for the Military Logistics Community

SPECIAL SECTION:

Integrated Fixed Towers

A Proud Member of: Subscription Information

Military Training Technology

ISSN 1097-0975 is published eight times a year by KMI Media Group. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction without permission is strictly forbidden. © Copyright 2014.

Military Training Technology is free to qualified members of the U.S. military, employees of the U.S. government and non-U.S. foreign service based in the U.S. All others: $75 per year.

Foreign: $159 per year.

SPECIAL PULL-OUT SUPPLEMENT USTRANSCOM

Border Protector

Chief U.S. Border Patrol U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Resource Aligner

www.BCD-kmi.com

Vice Adm. William A. “Andy” Brown

June 2012 Volume 1, Issue 1

Michael J. Fisher

Deputy Commander U.S. Transportation Command

Leadership Insight: Robert S. Bray Assistant Administrator for Law Enforcement Director of the Federal Air Marshal Service Transportation Security Administration

GAIL JORGENSON Acquisition Director USTRANSCOM

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

www.BCD-kmi.com

www.MLF-kmi.com

November/December 2013 Volume 7, Issue 10

Exclusive Interview with:

Reverse Auctions O Defense Transportation O Afghanistan Retrograde ILS O Supply Chain Efficiencies O DMSMS O Senior Logisticians

www.GCT-kmi.com

Military Medical Military Training & Veterans Technology Affairs Forum

www.GIF-kmi.com

www.MAE-kmi.com

www.MIT-kmi.com

www.MLF-kmi.com

Navy Air/Sea PEO Forum

Special Operations Technology

Tactical ISR Technology

U.S. Coast Guard Forum

www.TISR-kmi.com

www.CGF-kmi.com

Corporate Offices KMI Media Group 15800 Crabbs Branch Way, Suite 300 Rockville, MD 20855-2604 USA Telephone: (301) 670-5700 Fax: (301) 670-5701 Web: www.MT2-kmi.com­

2 | MT2 19.1

www.M2VA-kmi.com

www.MT2-kmi.com

www.NPEO-kmi.com www.SOTECH-kmi.com

www.MT2-kmi.com

MetaVR announces its new 3D training database of Kismayo, Somalia

Satellite source imagery Ground-level photography Terrain compilation 3D content modeling Scenario creation Real-time visualization

Satellite imagery + ground-level photography = geospecific realistic synthetic training environment with dense urban streets, port, and airport Real-time screen captures are from MetaVR’s visualization system rendering 3D virtual terrain of Kismayo, Somalia. The 3D virtual terrain and photographs are unedited except as required for printing. The real-time renderings of the 3D virtual world are generated by a pre-release version 6 of MetaVR Virtual Reality Scene Generator™ (VRSG™). 3D models and animations are from MetaVR’s 3D content libraries.

Photograph of street signage courtesy of AU-UN IST / Stuart Price. © 2014 MetaVR, Inc. All rights reserved. MetaVR, Virtual Reality Scene Generator, VRSG, the phrase “Geospecific simulation with game quality graphics,” and the MetaVR logo are trademarks of MetaVR, Inc.

www.metavr.com

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Compiled by KMI Media Group staff

Dr. Jim Blake Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award Dr. Jim Blake, Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation’s (PEO STRI) program executive officer, was honored with the National Training and Simulation Association’s (NTSA) 2013 Governor’s Award for Lifetime Achievement in Training and Simulation during an awards ceremony at the 2013 Interservice/ Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference.

The announcement of the award was published in the tradeshow’s daily newsletter and read: “Dr. Blake, a distinguished soldier, leader, technologist and mentor, is recognized for a

$18 Million Australian DoD Contract Awarded Meggitt Training Systems has been awarded an $18 million contract from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) under the Hardened & Networked Army (HNA) and Enhanced Land Force (ELF) Phase 3 program.

Defense agencies around the world continue to identify ways to improve military readiness despite evertightening budgets. The ADF continues to see simulation as a means of minimizing the costs associated with live fire training while ensuring its ground forces are well trained and ready to deploy. Using a combined weapons training strategy, agencies can train within a virtual environment more often, reducing large live-fire training exercises without sacrificing training effectiveness. Networked weapon training simulation systems (WTSS) allow the ADF to train within virtual environments around the world without the logistical burden and costs associated with transporting personnel and equipment to one location.

Meggitt has supplied Simulation Systems to the ADF since 1999. During this period, two upgrades have been undertaken for the WTSS and IFT systems.

Meggitt is in the final phase for the delivery of the HNA/ ELF Phase 2. Under the HNA/ELF Phase 3 contract, Meggitt will provide hardware and software upgrades to 18 existing WTSS facilities throughout Australia, adding mortar crew and collective training to existing individual marksmanship training capabilities. The contract includes development and delivery of simulators for 52-81 mm mortars; 14-upgraded 0.50 cal heavy machine guns; new BlueFire Browning pistols; and an 84 mm Carl Gustav anti-tank weapon with new ammunition natures.

Larry Raines; larry.raines@meggitt.com

4 | MT2 19.1

lifetime of sustained exemplary service to our nation, military services, academia and especially the modeling and simulation industry, and for a remarkable career spanning more than 40 years.

In 1968, Blake enlisted as a U.S. Army infantry private, became an officer and pilot, and had a distinguished career culminating in 1995 as the Army’s Senior Uniformed Scientist.

He then held several technical and executive positions in industry before joining academia as a Senior Research Scientist at Texas A&M University. Following that, he became the first

Program Manager for the Institute of Creative Technologies.

In his current role as the Army’s PEO STRI, which he has held since 2005, he provides leadership for a multi-billion dollar enterprise with more than 1,200 personnel, sustaining over 335,000 training systems at over 600 locations worldwide.”

The award was presented by NTSA’s president, Rear Admiral James Robb, U.S. Navy (retired), during I/ITSEC’s annual Executive Dinner held at the Hyatt Regency Orlando on December 3.

By Rick Gregory, APEO Business Operations Support Staff

Call for Fire Trainer (CFFT) Program Technology Chosen Havok, a provider of real-time simulation development and 3-D visualization technology, announced that its simulation framework is serving as the core image generation technology for the U.S. Army’s Call for Fire Trainer (CFFT) III program being developed by Nova Technologies, a provider of simulation training programs. The development process has integrated the Havok capability with the Joint Fires Product Line (JFPL) framework, a simulation architecture managed by the Program Manager for Special Operations Forces Training Systems. JFPL is formed around standards such as the common image generator interface, high level architecture and distributed interactive simulation (DIS).

The advanced observer training of the CFFT III program requires the use of high fidelity image generation technology to create virtual battlefields in which forward observer personnel can train in call-for-fire missions. Nova Technologies is currently utilizing Havok’s simulation framework as key technology for the program to deliver high fidelity, physics-enabled image generation

PEOPLE Brigadier General Kory G. Cornum, commander, 81st Medical Group, Air Education and Training Command, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., has been assigned to command surgeon, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base.

capabilities including destructive reactions and kinematic responses.

“Havok’s extended feature set provides a broad spectrum of unique capabilities that will enable us to address specific requirements, such as the reuse of existing content from government sources for the program in order to provide highly immersive simulation training,” said Buddy Black, president of Nova Technologies. “Since the kickoff of the program, Havok’s support team has been great at helping us ensure we get the most out of the technology to deliver highly immersive training capabilities on time and on budget.”

CFFT III will support basic through advancedlevel training, including forward observer (FO) tasks and procedures and mission planning. It also trains FO personnel with management of artillery, mortars, close air support, and naval gunfire. The CFFT III training solution integrates semi-automated forces systems along with the use of simulated military equipment.

Cory Kumm; cory.kumm@havok.com

Compiled by KMI Media Group staff

Brigadier General Joseph M. Martin, deputy commanding general (Maneuver), 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas., has been assigned to deputy commanding general, U.S. Army Combined Arms Center, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.

www.MT2-kmi.com

Command Profile

U.S. Army 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) Providing support to elite ground forces.

By Colonel John R. Evans Jr.

The 160th SOAR (A) provides first class rotary wing support to our nation’s most elite ground forces from across all components of the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM). With a requirement to operate anywhere in the world with little or no notice, our training plans focus on maintaining proficiency in all environments—desert, mountain, overwater/shipboard operations, urban, jungle—both day and night, and in adverse weather.

The last 12 years of persistent conflict have strained the entire Army, and the 160th is no exception. While we remain in high demand, we have established what we think is a sustainable commitment level overseas while providing our soldiers time at home with their families, and opportunities to conduct training in the environments previously men- An MH-60 with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) conducts a night insertion in support of tioned. Sequestration and the planned reduction in special operations forces training. [Photo courtesy of U.S. Army] Army end strength create a degree of uncertainty for the unit. While we continue to be well resourced, we are not, and will not be in the future, immune to these constraints. It is incumbent on leadership to ensure our aircrews continue to be resourced to conduct the best training possible for our no-fail mission sets. We approach each training iteration/event with a focus on bilateral benefit so we can accomplish the objectives of our supported ground force while strengthening our collective and individual aircrew member proficiency. This bilateral training model will be essential in the future environment as resources and opportunities become more constrained.

In 2014 we are continuing our modernization of the MH-60 fleet. We are currently operating three ver- An MH-47 from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) provides support to special operations forces during fast rope training. [Photo courtesy of U.S. Army] sions of the MH-60, but when fielding is complete, we will employ only the MH-60M. Although similar to the Army’s UHdedication and expertise that are cornerstones of the larger Army 60M, the MH version is equipped with mission equipment that Aviation community. Although our equipment and training prosupports our special operations missions, as well as more powgrams are important, the great men and women in this organierful engines that significantly increase the Black Hawk’s capazation remind me every day of the SOF truth that “humans are bilities in high altitude and/or hot (high/hot) environments. In more important than hardware.” While we are always looking for addition we have fielding E Company, 160th SOAR. E Company is technological advances that enhance our capabilities, we are more an unmanned aerial systems unit equipped with the Army’s only focused on finding and retaining the best soldiers, officers and category IV UAS, the MQ-1C Gray Eagle. While we have supported noncommissioned officers to fill our ranks. O combat operations in Afghanistan on a rotational basis with MQ1C quick reaction capability forces, the activation of E Company Colonel John R. Evans Jr. is the commander of the 160th demonstrates an increase in the availability and capability of ISR Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) to Army SOF and other special operations forces.

Army aviation has never been stronger, better trained or more relevant to the ground commander than it is today. The 160th For more information, contact MT2 Editor Brian O’Shea at briano@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives SOAR brings a unique capability to the global combatant comfor related stories at www.mt2-kmi.com. manders, but we are still a reflection of the professionalism, www.MT2-kmi.com

MT2 19.1 | 5

Mobile technology is still young, but shows promise.

By Henry Canaday, MT2 Correspondent

Training with mobile devices is still very new in the Department of Defense and faces several hurdles, mostly involving security. But the technique is promising due to its anywhere, anytime ability to teach or refresh lessons.

Mobile devices are not used yet by the Naval Education and Training Command, said Fred Barranger, head of Production Requirements at NETC’s Learning Standards Division. NETC is interested in training with mobile devices, but information assurance (IA) policies do not allow widespread use of wireless, which inhibits use of mobile devices.

The requirement to use a cryptographic log-on to gain access to defense systems is one of many challenges to deployment of mobile devices, according to NETC Chief Information Officer Robyn Baker. “We continually chase a moving target in IA compliance, given the rate of change in mobile technology. What we deploy as compliant today may not be compliant tomorrow,” said Baker.

Others emphasize the potential of mobile. “The use of Camber software/tablet for Gorrdee mobile app. [Photo courtesy of Camber] mobile devices for training is only beginning to appear in Camber Corporation provides mobile-device training for several the military,” said Harold Hawkins, program officer at the Office of weapon systems, mostly unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), explained Naval Research. Nevertheless, Hawkins said, prospects for growth of Adam Kingsborough, program manager for modeling, simulation and mobile training are very good. “We know that many war fighting skills training. In the Serious Games Showcase and Challenge at last Deare highly perishable,” he said. “Skills acquired during formal training cember’s I/ITSEC, a Camber UAS game won several awards. will erode over time if they are not continually practiced. Mobile deCamber’s Gorrdee application was funded by the Army, fielded in vices for training provide an opportunity for near-continual refresher July and entered with 50 other contenders in September. Seventeen training, better preserving skill.” games were down-selected and Gorrdee won as best mobile game and For handheld mobile training devices, Hawkins asked, “How can people’s choice. skill-maintaining training be embedded into interesting, immersive, The firm specializes in interactive multimedia instruction (IMI) fun and reinforcing game-like scenarios? We are committed to learnfor computer-based training and Web-based simulation. “We are very ing how to do this better.” good at importing this to mobile devices,” Kingsborough stressed. “In Industry is also committed, highly optimistic and moving forward the future the Army wants it all distributed to mobile.” rapidly.

6 | MT2 19.1

www.MT2-kmi.com

Camber has worked for Program Manager UAS, for Grey Eagle and Shadow, and for Fort Rucker’s UAS Center of Excellence. It builds training applications from the ground up after obtaining requirements. For example, Camber took 200 hours of classroom instructions on UAS common core and converted these to IMI mobile applications. “They give us training materials; we design a story board and turn it into software,” said Kingsborough. “We have the engineers, artists and multimedia developers.”

Camber applications are delivered for Android, iOS, Windows and Web devices. The government wants all four. Resolution differs by device—for example, iPhone versus iPad. But Camber uses a technology that builds applications once and deploys them anywhere, cutting costs. “This is one of our discriminators,” said Kingsborough.

IMI has four levels of interactivity. Level 1 is like PowerPoint: Users click through pages. Level 2 allows pop-up audio and video. Level 3 allows branching and scenarios and students receive feedback on their choices. Level 4 is simulation in real time, game-based with no scripting. Kingsborough said, “We integrate all four levels in a game, so it is a truly intense experience whether you are in Level 1 or 4.”

Mobile applications tend be standalone. “The future will see a more collective environment,” said Kingsborough. “Devices will talk to each other. There will be more peripherals like motion controllers. Mobile training will be very populated, with access everywhere at any time.”

Disti supports mobile training in several ways, according to Director of Global Marketing Scott Ariotti. Disti’s GL Studio ES toolkit enables developers to create cockpit and instrumentation applications for iOS and Android devices. Customers use GL to produce remote-instructor operator stations, cockpit-familiarization trainers and cockpit-procedure trainers.

Disti can also custom-build a mobile deployable training solution to match the specific training needs using its Virtual Environment Software Development Kit (VESDK). And Disti’s Virtual Engine Shop app for Scott Ariotti the Apple iPad is “the first, only truly interactive 3-D virtual engine maintesariotti@disti.com nance trainer for iPads, downloaded over 50,000 times in 94 countries,” said Ariotti.

Disti’s distinction is how screen content is created. Disti’s patented VESDK process manages risk-free development from requirements through source data management, software build, automation and testing. Results match requirements for either desktops or mobile devices.

Howard Mall And Disti’s solution means conhowardmall@ecsorl.com tent resides on the mobile device, so no Internet connection is required. “Students do not depend on network access,” said Ariotti.

Disti has supported AgustaWestland in developing a mobile application for aviation training. Disti continues to revise the process for creating content for mobile devices. It will soon simplify deployment for iOS and Android platforms. But tablets running native Windows 8 are becoming more powerful and prolific. Disti has demonstrated that www.MT2-kmi.com

Disti’s Virtual Engine Shop is available on the App Store as a free download for the iPad. [Photo courtesy of Disti]

its F-15 virtual maintenance trainer, built for desktop Windows, works on Windows-8 tablets.

Engineering & Computer Simulations (ECS) started mobile training for the Navy on Palm Pilots nine years ago, remembers Vice President of Engineering Howard Mall. “We developed courseware for 3-D gaming, and then mobile devices and phones took off,” said Mall.

Virtual Engine Shop Engine Maintenance in the Palm of Your Hand

TRY IT FREE TODAY! www.disti.com/VES MT2 19.1 | 7

ECS developed a tactical combat casualty care (TC3) simulator for the Army on desktops. “They wanted to support combat medics with live-game simulation and collect data,” said Mall. So ECS developed a mobile application for combat medics to participate in exercises and receive data on battlefield casualties.

Then came a requirement to provide mobile-medic gaming as training. ECS’s mobile medic game was server-based and ran on iOSbased devices. The game was used when medics were idle between classroom and practical lessons.

ECS has developed a Web-based application with two capabilities.

A trivia game asks students questions about the current lesson. Another part is similar to desktop TC3, with scenarios and decisions to produce successful outcomes.

ECS also developed a mobile application for live after-action review that uses cameras mounted on individuals. Instructors monitor care given by student medics in exercises on video, check off tasks as completed and comment on performance. ECS does chiefly medical and cultural training, mostly for iOS- and Android-based devices. It is getting more requests for Windows mobile. Mall said, “We have learned how to do serious games well. We can make things engaging and interactive and provide a 3-D experience comparable to desktops.”

The ECS engineer predicts more mobile devices in the future.

“Android is easier to develop for than iOS,” he said. Mobile is getting more into a bring-your-own-device approach and more into performance support, not just training. ECS is “dabbling” in Google Glass and other wearable devices. “We want to support what they are wearing or using anywhere, anytime,” said Mall.

Design Interactive has several initiatives using mobile technologies, according to Business Development Director Luke DeVore.

Playbook exploits the rich knowledge gained by warfighters in 12 years Luke DeVore of combat. “Playbook is a rapid-auluke@designinteractive.net thoring tool that enables small-unit members to capture, publish and share operational observations, insights and lessons often overlooked by after-action reports and formal lessons,” said DeVore. Playbook provides a platform for warfighters to record and share personal experiences quickly and effectively, transforming battlefield lessons into animated video files.

The veteran first sketches the battlespace using standard operational graphics and animates fire and maneuvers for the event. Then Playbook helps identify lessons most relevant to small units and records narration of what happened and how. The final product is a short, engaging video in YouTube format.

Funded by the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Human Research and Engineering Directorate, Simulation and Training Technology Center, Playbook could also be used for battle drills, immediate-action drills and standard operating procedures.

Another initiative is the Mobile Collaborative Anxiety Learning Management system (MCALM). MCALM provides self-awareness and intervention exercises for those living with post-traumatic stress and gives mental-health professionals insights into environmental and event triggers to provide better treatment.

MCALM uses unobtrusive wearable sensors to identify anxiety spikes by analyzing physiological responses to events. It tells users’ 8 | MT2 19.1

Playbook shows the tablet interface for creating a Play. [Photo courtesy of Design Interactive]

smartphones where and when spikes occur and allows users to report anxiety-inducing events. Intensity and duration of anxiety are recorded in secure logs.

When anxiety spikes occur, MCALM provides mediation exercises via user cell phones. The patient log is wired to a database for mentalhealth providers.

MCALM is a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research program through the Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center at U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command. Its initial target is combat veterans with post-traumatic stress. Collecting real-time physiological responses also has applications in training. Data can describe trainee performance by linking physiological responses to training tasks and thus customize training to match learners’ strengths and weaknesses.

Laser Ammo makes SureStrike, a system for dry-fire training.

“We make the laser cartridge and the target on the receiving end, the full system,” said spokesman Chen Shoshani. The cartridges are put in the student’s own weapon, which can be of any caliber, 38, 44 magnum, 12-guage shotgun and so forth. “You just change [the] adapter,” added Shoshani.

Distinctively, SureStrike can be used for hours of dry-fire shooting, with a guaranteed minimum of 5,000 rounds. And a microprocessor control allows SureStrike to be used for a number of functions, including dry fire, digital bore sight, target activator, simulator activator to interface with simulators that use lasers and a camera, extra duration indicating unwanted hand movements, and bullet counter, pausing after every 15 shots for three seconds to simulate magazine change. O For more information, contact MT2 Editor Brian O’Shea at briano@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives for related stories at www.mt2-kmi.com.

www.MT2-kmi.com

With advancements in technology, simulation training continues to improve.

By Henry Canaday MT2 Correspondent

Army simulation training systems use two main components: the host computer (HC) and the image generator (IG). Robert Parrish, associate chief systems engineer for engineering virtual at Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI), said the HC gets data on student actions and their environment, computes results, and commands the IG to create a picture of the environment for display to the student. The IG thus provides feedback on weapon effects, collisions, altitudes and target reactions. It can simulate a variety of weather and terrains such as jungles, cities, deserts and oceans.

Parrish said integration of IG and training technology has evolved rapidly. Improvements include new shader techniques, multi-core computer processor units and graphic processor units (GPUs), highspeed data busses, increases in texture memory and multi-threaded software. These improvements have yielded particle-based special effects, higher fidelity models and higher frame rates.

“Current IG technologies further enhance the training environment representation and facilitate the soldier’s immersion into the virtual training environment,” said Parrish. High-fidelity game-based IG is also becoming important. “Leveraging visual realism and graphical details of gaming is an important next step for IG in military training,” he added.

But wider use requires common standards and data formats so that new products can be adopted quickly at affordable costs. “Adopting common standards and data formats will help facilitate integration and technology insertions in the future,” said Parrish. And many commercially developed technologies still do not meet standards required for military training, such as non-degrading frame rates and objects visible at proper distances.

PEO STRI would like to see IG further improved in several areas: increased terrain database content and clutter; rapid updates of small areas in terrain database; real-time physics-based changes to terrain and features based on trainee and scenario interactions; physics-based www.MT2-kmi.com

Aechelon Image Generator (pC-Nova 6.5) featuring real time simultaneous global illumination with unrestricted shadows and extreme 3D feature density on a 4K resolution channel. [Photo courtesy of Aechelon]

Image Generation

realistic weapon effects based on weapon, weather, range, angle and material hit; integration of game-rendering technology; standardizing host-to-IG interfaces; database formats independent of rendering hardware and operating system; more realistic life forms; more realistic meteorological conditions and their impact on training environment; dynamic clouds and shadows; rain effects such as puddles; and more realistic thermal signatures of vehicles.

Parrish would also like to see display and data formats move to technologies such as organic light emitting diode to provide much more realism. He also wants new simulators to come with new IGs, not two-year-old IGs. He wants the IG community to seamlessly integrate advances in visualization and fidelity made by gaming companies. “IG systems should be game-engine agnostic to allow military training to take full advantage of the dynamic and competitive gaming environment,” he said. Finally, Parrish wants IG to exploit advances in virtualization and cloud computing.

IG suppliers are certainly advancing their tools.

An image generator is only as good as the content that it is supplied with, the 3-D terrain and the feature and entity models. One limiting factor in IG realism is often the quality of the imagery to which the vendor has access. As the software and hardware for IGs evolve, they can appear to be undifferentiated if all of the source data and models are the same or similar. Although access to higher-resolution imagery in the form of satellite imagery and aerial photography has certainly improved over the last ten years, there are still significant limitations to having ready access to very high-resolution imagery, such as 1-inch-per-pixel resolution imagery. For the most part, providers of such source imagery have fairly restrictive use rights for the data, which limits how an IG vendor can use the data.

To address such imagery resolution constraints, MetaVR recently unveiled its new imagery data collection offering. The company’s internally funded, hand-launched, radio-controlled aircraft, which can be converted to an unmanned aircraft, collects raw imagery at 1-inchMT2 19.1 | 9

per-pixel resolution, which is subsequently processed into coherent orthorectified Geo-Tagged Image File Format (TIFF). The GeoTIFFs are then used as source input for building synthetic environments.

MetaVR is now offering a vertically integrated simulation capability, one that marries imagery collection with a delivered real-time simulation of 3-D terrain using 1-inch-per pixel terrain. For a fixed price of $2,500 per square kilometer, a customer receives unlimited use rights to the collected data in an industry standard format as well as in MetaVR’s real-time Metadesic 3-D terrain format for rendering in the company’s Virtual Reality Scene Generator (VRSG).

The round-earth Metadesic terrain format is generated by MetaVR’s Terrain Tools for Esri ArcGIS software. An initial terrain area was demonstrated last December; the 3-centimeter-per-pixel terrain Screenshot from MetaVR’s IG (VRSG) which shows a section of their new geospecific 3-D terrain of Kismayo, Somalia. [Photo courtesy of MetaVR] was running in VRSG at 60 Hz on the new 4k pixel ultra HD monitors.

When terrain is portrayed at this resolution both at the Version 6.5 of NOVA enables diskless operation with up source level and on the display device, the resulting to 36 channels per system and supports 4K resolution level of realism is a substantial increase in fidelity over per channel, with sustainable footprints and stability the norm for IGs in the industry. and extreme 3-D feature density over large distances.

In addition, MetaVR recently released VRSG’s new Version 6.5 also supports the most advanced electrophysics-based infrared (IR) capability, which computes optical, IR and radar systems with sensor fusion and the thermal image in real time using imagery classifivideo tracking. cation techniques. One huge benefit of training with Second, Aechelon has delivered six Nexus Unified 3-D terrain built with 1-inch imagery is that the realStorage Systems for multiple data centers used by the time thermal view is more accurate than training on a Navy and Army special operations. Nexus enables aclower-resolution database. The thermal view improves cess to very large databases for hundreds of streams as the resolution of the imagery increases.

W. Garth Smith from large multi-channel, multi-spectral, trainingW. Garth Smith, CEO and co-founder of MetaVR, wgsmith@metavr.com and-mission image generators and radar-simulation said, “We are showing that the virtual scene can be so subsystems. With Nexus, these systems can page datamuch better when the imagery resolution goes to 1 base streams in real time, independently of each other, inch per pixel. The terrain takes on a level of realism from the same file system. that is hard to appreciate unless you have seen it. As Finally, Aechelon tools are used for training on well, we are trying to show differentiation by running the Navy’s Firescout and other UAVs. Here, “the line terrain built with this imagery in VRSG at 60 Hz on is fuzzing between training and operational missions,” game-level PCs.” said Castellar. “We see a lot of potential there. The govAlso new from MetaVR is the release of its geospeernment can save money by not investing twice and uscific 3-D terrain of Kismayo, Somalia, which was built ing the same equipment for training and for missions.” using commercial satellite imagery and ground phoCombining tools for training and missions is possible tographs taken by an in-country resource. A high-resJavier Castellar because the fidelity of databases is getting very high. olution digital camera was used to photograph buildCastellar said his firm doubled its investment deing facades at street-level and from these images 3-D spite government shut-down difficulties. Aechelon buildings and other structures were created using 3-D makes IG hardware and software databases, as well as Studio Max. MetaVR chose Kismayo as the location for integrating the two. The exec insists this integrated apits new virtual 3-D environment because this dense proach is best for timely performance. urban African city offers a variety of locales representaAechelon has worked for both government clients tive of critical training opportunities, ranging from a and as a supplier to big primes, like Boeing, Northrop built-up port to dense urban streets to a sparsely popuGrumman and Lockheed Martin. Now it is starting to lated outer region that includes a commercial airport. compete with these firms even as it continues to supMetaVR’s ongoing additions to its 3-D model liport them. “Vertical integration is our next challenge,” braries substantially increased as the result of this efsaid Castellar. fort, bringing the total to over 6,000 individual models.

Brian Overy Diamond Visionics is the only provider of comOther firms are also extending their capabilities.

Aechelon Technology ended 2013 strongly with new bovery@diamondvisionics.com mercial off-the-shelf, run-from-source, real-time simulation technology, said Brian Overy, vice presicontracts, said Javier Castellar, co-founder and direcdent of marketing and sales. The technology runs from the customer’s tor of programs. The firm has three basic product lines. geographical informational system (GIS) source data and eliminates Aechelon makes pC-Nova, now in version 6.5, which does “clascostly and time-consuming pre-built databases. “We can load new data sic IG,” Castellar explained. Aechelon supplies data for these images, in minutes and you can see updates instantly,” said Overy. and the firm has delivered over 260 pc-NOVA large image generators.

10 | MT2 19.1

www.MT2-kmi.com

Diamond products include GenesisIG, a World Geodetic System (WGS)-84, whole-earth, 60-Hertz Image Generator that provides day, night, sensor multiple channel visualization for flight, maritime and ground simulation. Diamond’s GenesisSN is a physics-based electrooptical, IR, night vision, forward-looking infrared sensor simulation plug-in from JRM Technologies and Renaissance Sciences. Finally, Diamond’s GenesisSDK is a software development kit with application programming interfaces and source code to integrate Genesis inside custom applications with custom extensions and assemblers.

In addition to Genesis software, Diamond can provide hardware, elevation, imagery, shape-files of roads, bridges and shorelines, and models. “We can provide software or soup to nuts,” Overy explained.

GenesisIG is hardware-agnostic and its dynamic data-assembler exploits modern GPU architectures and multi-core processors to provide high-fidelity, real-time visualization. Diamond works closely with graphics card manufacturer Nvidia to understand current and future Hickam Air Force Base approach with a view out the Window. [Photo courtesy of Diamond Visionics] GPU features and thus maximize performance.

ImaGen has been selected to run a number of highThe Diamond tools are currently used mostly for level graphic systems, not only for man-in-the-loop IG simulations for fast jets and helicopters, but the combut for sensor-in-the-loop IG, where, “if you are off by pany is interested in moving into ground and surfaceone bit in any color, it will catch it,” said Jackson. “We ship IG. guarantee high content and high-frequency rate and And the best IG firms have plenty of support from make sure it is all happening in real time. It is the highother companies that provide essential elements of end environment for IG.” ImaGen has supported simucutting-edge IG. Concurrent Real-Time’s ImaGen Vilations for the U.S. Marines and Navy and for South sual Server family offers fully-integrated, affordable Korean tank platoons. high-performance IG solutions for real-time simulaConcurrent is a system integrator that buys comtion and modeling applications. Its RedHawk Linux ponents mostly from third parties and sells mostly to real-time operating system gives ImaGen jitter-free Ken Jackson prime contractors. It is now putting more emphasis on rendering performance. ken.jackson@ccur.com multiple-head units, using multiple graphics cards for Vice President Ken Jackson said his firm has promultiple viewpoints or multiple individuals from one computer platvided IG solutions for five years and mostly uses NVIDIA and Linux form while still getting high performance. O to get the best performance in real-time IG. “When IG asks for more resources, we make sure the operating system stays out of the way,” said Jackson.

For more information, contact MT2 Editor Brian O’Shea Concurrent modifies and enhances NVIDIA drivers so that the at briano@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives process is not interrupted by the drivers. The company works with Difor related stories at www.mt2-kmi.com. amond Visionics to help them optimize performance of their systems.

www.MT2-kmi.com

MT2 19.1 | 11

Small Arms Training Roundtable What’s being fielded now and what’s to come in the future.

Not all engagements can be resolved with laser guided missiles or calling in air support from a near by gunship. When combat is up close and personal, the warfighter relies on the rifle slung on their shoulder and the training drilled into them since boot camp. Industry leaders are doing their part to make sure the warfighter’s training prepares them for any engagement. Below, some of these leaders discuss what is currently being fielded and how this technology will evolve over the next five years.

Robert McCue | General Manager IES Interactive Training | robert.mccue@ies-usa.com IES Interactive Training is a leading manufacturer of advanced interactive small arms tactical training simulators and weapons training systems. IES’s Milo Range systems are selected by agencies interested in improving weapons and force-option deployment skills, decisionmaking and cognitive thinking skills, and measuring individual and collective tactical and technical skills in simulated combat and highrisk environments. IES’s industry-leading products include the Milo Range Pro, Range Advanced, Range Classic and Firearms Diagnostic Unit training suites.

In early 2012 and continuing through 2013, IES formed a partnership with the development team for the Microsoft Kinect for Windows interactive gaming system, and internally developed applications for use inside our Milo Range training simulators, which have provided a level of interactivity and realism not seen in small arms training simulators before. This allows trainees to use strikes, kicks, punches and other physical movements to interact with the virtual world around them. Most importantly, the system changes the scenario point of view based on trainee movement in the simulator room, and responds to the physical actions of the trainees participating in the scenario events.

For example, in a traditional small arms training simulator a target presentation on screen downrange stays in the same visual point on the screen regardless of whether the trainee is prone, takes a knee, moves forward or laterally, or moves to cover. However, the Milo Range systems with the exclusive Kinect for Windows option added now actually sees and records trainees’ physical movements and verbal commands, and causes the system to provide different outcomes based on those actions.. Thus, if the trainee takes a knee or moves left to cover,

the target view downrange will seamlessly change to reflect that movement, and the trainee may see new targets or threats to respond to based on that choice, rather than the same limited static target view they had before.

This innovation has led to greater involvement and cognitive interest in the trainees using the simulator, and better tactical decisions being made in high-threat scenario exercises. This works particularly well in close-quarters-battle-type training scenarios, where conditions change rapidly and trainee tactical decision-making is relevant to a successful outcome. The Milo simulators with Kinect for Windows work in harmony parallel to legacy small-arms training systems, and provide a more advanced way to introduce tactical concepts and dynamic actions that follow from the basic static marksmanship training that traditional engagement skills systems provide.

Our view looking forward over the next few years is that as IES continues to develop this kind of interactivity into our small arms and tactical training simulators, the immersive experience will become deeper and more responsive to actions taken by the trainees during simulator training events. Currently, and into the very near future, our systems will recognize individual faces, voices and even small physical gestures that will allow physical and voice-induced interaction with characters, avatars and threats on the screens around them. This will likely result in significantly more engaging and dynamic experiences with greater trainee interest, participation and more detailed tactical response options than traditional static small arms simulators currently provide. This will result in better trained, more confident and more thoughtful warfighters as they implement the rules of engagement and face conflicting threats now and into the future.

Mihir Busa | Director of Marketing Laser Shot | mbusa@lasershot.com Laser Shot has recently introduced the new Multi-Series hybrid system, which is a fully integrated yet portable simulated training platform that provides limitless training configurations for tethered or tether-less simulated weapons. Its portability allows for ease of transportation, setup, and deployment in classroom(s), ship or other capable environments. The scalability of the Multi-Series system allows for multiple systems to communicate via high speed Ethernet connections. It also enables the use of Tru or Smart type weapons for training.

Tru type firearms facilitate freedom of movement for dismounted soldiers through the use of tether-less weapons. It also supports almost all weapon types, including rifles and machine guns in single shot. There is also the option to use a recoil or non-recoil tether-less training weapon. The Smart type supports unique Ethernet-based 12 | MT2 19.1

communication for the highest communications speeds possible for aim-tracing, multiple shooters and weapon type capabilities. Not only does it facilitate instructor induced weapon malfunction, but also provides weapons data feedback to the instructor.

New Multi-Series systems provide high quality training by reducing facilities, ammunition, and logistical costs associated with live fire training.

Training systems have come long ways, and Laser Shot has always been on the forefront of innovations, never satisfied with the status quo. This mission has always fueled our desire to propel industryleading training solutions. Military and governmental branches have been seeking reduced cost along with time-efficient solutions now more than ever. This is the future of marksmanship training: an agile, multi-functional hybrid system that encompasses unique features and training value. www.MT2-kmi.com

Larry Raines | Vice President, Virtual Systems Meggitt Training Systems | larry.raines@meggitt.com Meggitt Training Systems’ FATS M100 virtual system provides a flexible, configurable, scalable platform, which can be readily adapted to suit our global customers training needs. We see flexibility and breadth of capability as a key market differentiator allowing us to offer customized training solutions now and in the future.

For example, the FATS M100 enables us to integrate with a wide variety of image generation subsystems, allowing customers to specify a servicewide preference and leverage previous investment. This allows the use of common terrain databases, driving significant cost savings as they can be shared across multiple system platforms—to include their small arms trainers.

Meggitt’s FATS M100 allows configuration of the same base system, providing training capabilities across several domains, from small arms and support weapon training to forward observer and forward air control training to vehicle and boat simulation. A single FATS M100 system can fulfill a variety of training missions without the need for additional hardware or standalone infrastructure, thereby providing Meggitt’s customers with substantial economic benefits.

As budgets get smaller and the need to reduce cost occurs, attaining realism is important. The flexibility of the FATS M100 architecture has allowed Meggitt to move forward on new simulation training advancements—such as the inclusion of a CryEngine 3-D Marksmanship Training environment with Meggitt’s tetherless BlueFire weapon simulators. The after action review allows engagement and shot assessment in a 3-D virtual environment while providing detailed trainee diagnostics for skill reinforcement and/

or correction. The detailed shot analysis, automatic assessment and coaching capabilities pulled from doctrine are immediately available on an individual tablet for trainee reference. This “automatic coaching” tool has been developed in collaboration with Meggitt’s customer subject matter experts. This tool allows for immediate and consistent training across the customer base, using their expertise and consistency across the force. Whether as a reference or teaching aide for coaches/trainers or a self-guided course of fire and remediation for a trainee, we see this as the new standard for marksmanship training.

The scalability of the FATS M100 is highlighted by the concurrent use of multiple through-sight devices for both marksmanship 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 feedback essential for training.

This latest simulation architecture separates the custom weapon interface hardware from the main simulation platform, and permits the use of commercial PC and imaging products and the advantage of their ongoing capability advancements—without a complete system replacement. This provides an economical system upgrade path that significantly extends the useful life of the system, and affords the customer an opportunity to provide these commercial components if desired. Many of our customers are taking advantage of this scalable architecture to add sophisticated simulated sensor devices such as laser rangefinders, target designators, and thermal imagers to our system to provide a complete immersive training environment for concurrent training of the entire unit.

Bob Clydesdale | Business Development Manager Saab Defense and Security USA | bob.clydesdale@saabtraining.com The Saab Small Arms Virtual Trainer (SAVIT) is a revolutionary new commercial off-theshelf system that provides virtual presentations and feedback during training exercises, simulating the operation of a variety of small arms weapons and missiles. The self-contained, ruggedized, easily portable rack weighs 130 pounds, with a small footprint for rapid deployment training. A removable frame mounts the high definition projector, aimpoint camera and system components. The image generator is contained in a notebook computer. The unmodified commercial computer handles both exercise control and image generation tasks with a high definition commercial simulation engine providing excellent visual quality. The instructor can rapidly set up the system in less than 10 minutes, which includes a 30-second automatic screen scan to align projector and aim/detection camera. The exercise control is conducted on a wireless notebook.

The targets move and react like real people or vehicles. Every round hit or miss location, trajectory and other cues are displayed for real-time training feedback to the shooter. The compact system provides a versatile menu of training exercises. from preprogrammed marksmanship courses to interactive combat and security scenarios augmented with artificial intelligence reactions by the virtual players. Each independent classroom system with up to 12 lanes of small arms training can be networked to other training sites for collective www.MT2-kmi.com

combat scenarios. Other infantry weapons such as TOW and Javelin missiles are added to share the large terrain database and opposing targets in common operating environment.

Saab has recently released an innovative design called the SMRSim (silencer mounted recoil simulator) that converts a tactical rifle to a simulator within minutes. The small device is mounted on the barrel without modification to provide recoil simulation while transmitting the coded laser beams at the scenario screen. The SMRSim provides an immediate capability for a wide variety of defense forces and their small arms with a very short delivery time. SAVIT can be linked to the Saab family of tactical laser simulators widely used for force on force training. A soldier will experience a total immersive environment, beginning with large unit tactical engagement training outdoors with an opposing force and then moving directly to an indoor training station with urban warfare scenarios, using virtual players that interact and shoot back. The shoot back cues for the soldier include gunfire sounds, wound announcements and a vibrating wrist band. The live and virtual world interactivity is a key innovation in both military and security training over the next five years for the small arms virtual trainers. O For more information, contact MT2 Editor Brian O’Shea at briano@kmimediagroup.com or search our online archives for related stories at www.mt2-kmi.com.

MT2 19.1 | 13

DATA PACKETS Field-Proven ISTAR Simulator

Thermal Target Products Caliente released their new thermal target products. These new thermal products are designed to provide high fidelity thermal signatures while significantly reducing costs through the elimination of thermal blanket overlays, reducing time and maintenance.

• Thermal Tech Truck—A full-sized 3-D truck frontal • Thermal Ivan—2-D and 3-D Ivans.

• SAT Heating Table Array—Hot thermal heaters up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

Guaranteed for five years.

Elbit Systems Ltd. recently showcased its new ISTAR (intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance) simulator.

The simulator enables field intelligence and reconnaissance personnel to benefit from advanced training in surveillance and observation activities using multi-sensor systems for range of border protection and maneuvering scenarios.

Already deployed and fully operational, the ISTAR simulator focuses specifically on border protection training by presenting complicated security scenarios, sensor-to-shooter drills, and common situational awareness exercises between observers and maneuvering forces. Utilizing Elbit Systems’ in-house sensor communications and C4I knowhow, the sophisticated trainer combines multi-sensor simulation (optic, electrooptic, thermal and radar) with data correlation capabilities and C4I. Reallife battlefield scenarios include fire planning, ranging and field operations, as well as target detection, recognition, identification, acquisition and engagement in diverse environmental conditions and terrains.

Part of Elbit Systems’ best-in-class range of training solutions for combat support personnel and joint sensor operators, the new ISTAR simulator is installed in a large-scale training facility and is also available as a mobile system for onsite training.

Dalia Rosen; dalia.rosen@elbitsystems.com

14 | MT2 19.1

In addition, Caliente has durable thermal blankets/panels. Caliente thermal targets take five times the number of rounds as the leading industry competitor, providing five times the value. Caliente thermal targets also eliminate the center power busbar, which significantly increases target life by eliminating a single point of failure located in the center mass of the target, allowing for a higher hit count while reducing cost and maintenance.

John Farfaglia; john@calientellc.com

Team to Provide a New, Purpose-Built Aircraft for Offer to the U.S. Air Force Boeing and Saab AB have recently signed a joint development agreement ( JDA) to jointly develop and build a new advanced, cost-efficient T-X family of systems training solution for the upcoming competition to replace the U.S. Air Force’s aging T-38 aircrew training system. The JDA, with Boeing as the prime contractor and Saab AB as primary partner, covers areas including design, development, production, support, sales and marketing.

“Teaming with Saab will bring together our companies’ formidable technical expertise, global presence, and willingness to present an adaptable and affordable advanced pilot training solution,” said Boeing Military Aircraft President Chris Chadwick. “Boeing and Saab form the foundation for what will be the strongest, most cost-effective industry team. Our comprehensive family of systems approach provides a new, purpose-built T-X aircraft supported by innovative training and logistics support to offer total life cycle cost benefits to the U.S. Air Force and taxpayers.”

“Saab is proud to join with Boeing for the T-X competition, thus creating a highly capable team to deliver unprecedented value to the customer. We are sure this is the best way to supply affordable firstclass trainers to the U.S. Air Force,” said Saab President and CEO Håkan Buskhe. “We will invest in development of this completely new aircraft design over the coming years. This cooperation with Boeing is part of our strategic development and we confirm our long-term financial targets.”

Boeing and Saab look forward to the upcoming acquisition process, which will lead to the customer awarding the contract. The U.S. Air Force T-X program will include aircraft and training that will prepare warfighters for the next 40 years. The Air Force plans to replace the T-38 with a new advanced pilot training family of systems and about 350 aircraft, plus associated ground-based training systems and logistics and sustainment support.

The trainer solution from Boeing and Saab with other potential team members will be a completely new designed aircraft, built to meet the needs of the Air Force.

www.MT2-kmi.com

Compiled by KMI Media Group staff

New Lifesaving Patient Simulator Designed to Military Specifications Laerdal Medical recently announced the release of its newest full-body patient simulator designed for training in combat medical situations.

SimMan 3G Mystic is a realistic, advanced patient simulator, built to specifications for training in treatment, handling and transport of a traumatized patient. SimMan 3G Mystic is wireless, with advanced clinical functionality. It is simple to use, both by novice and experienced instructors.

SimMan 3G Mystic is specifically designed to meet military needs for a quality, mobile simulation solution that can adapt to unique training environments and meet all educational objectives. Rugged and reliable, it can facilitate diverse and versatile patient scenarios—from an emergency in a remote location, to a war-torn battlefield, to a busy hospital ward. SimMan 3G Mystic is a solution that provides greater realism in scenario-based training to better prepare for real patient encounters.

In the U.S. Army, medical care involves the use of medical simulation in the training of medical personnel at all levels, from initial combat lifesaving skills through multiple levels of hospital care, and

in the development and maintenance of specialized medical proficiencies. The Medical Simulation Training Center (MSTC) Program is organized under the Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI).

A recent milestone was the signing of an interagency agreement by PEO STRI and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki. It establishes the acquisition arm for medical simulation across the entire Veterans Health Administration system of more than 150 hospitals. SimMan 3G simulators have been selected for use throughout these programs.

The Army’s 28 MSTCs train an average of 120,000 individuals each year, and in the middle of 2012 the program passed the milestone of a half million people trained. The initial installation of SimMan 3G Mystic will be to U.S. Army medical simulation training centers and will serve as a valuable tool at the NATO Special Operations Headquarters in Belgium.

Joe Pahlow, vice president, sales Americas, said, “We always start with the customer’s objectives.

What problems or initiatives are they trying to solve? How are they approaching the issue and what is working and not working? Then we try and build a solution that addresses all aspects of a successful program that includes initial training, implementation and measuring outcomes. Our focus is not on the simulator as much as achieving the outcome the customer is looking to achieve.”

The basis of the new SimMan 3G Mystic is the SimMan 3G platform. Changes to the right arm allow for insertion of IV catheters, and the left arm allows for blood pressure and pulse assessment. Both arms can be replaced with amputation modules. Similarly, the lower limbs can be replaced with amputation modules with right leg amputation ankle and mid-thigh amputation of the left leg.

All can be used individually or collectively to present a patient with quadruple limb amputations. All amputation modules are connected to the internal blood reservoir and bleeding can be activated from the user interface.

Terry Frazier; terry.frazier@laerdal.com

Supporting Marines with Ship on Land Virtual Environment Engineering & Computer Simulations (ECS) recently announced that they are developing a ship on land virtual environment (SOLVE) to support training for the United States Marine Corps. Under the direction of the Program Manager, Training Systems, the simulation incorporates a “slice” of the Marine’s enhanced visit, board, and search and seize capabilities to allow trainees to practice and apply their tactics, techniques and procedures in a variety of contextual situations. Under the program, ECS is producing an immersive simulation that incorporates the perspectives and roles of the raid force, overwatch positions and mission commander. Among many important benefits of this program is the ability to perform planning activities in support of mission rehearsal for the raid.

As part of this program, ECS is delivering a realistic and accurate virtual representation of a medium-sized cargo ship at sea. Marines will use the virtual ship model as the means to plan for how they will raid a vessel of that type, depending upon a variety of factors and variables that will influence their decisions and approaches.

“The ship on land virtual environment will have many unique features to allow for high fidelity 3-D visualization in a portable software package, allowing it to be used as a classroom tool, familiarization for live training, or even for mission rehearsal,” stated Shane Taber, creative director and program manager, ECS. Joe O’Connell, vice president of business development, ECS, said, “The framework for this program establishes a capability that can be used for www.MT2-kmi.com

planning purposes for any type of maritime assets, both military and commercial. This includes commercial offshore gas and oil platforms. Whether needed for planning purposes in support of military interdiction, security training, crew familiarization, or for crisis preparedness, the use of accurate and realistic 3-D simulations enhances the process. It provides efficient and effective training to ensure our professionals are ready to face the situations they may encounter at a moment’s notice.”

Joe O’Connell; joconnell@ecsorl.com MT2 19.1 | 15

Simulation Integrator

Q& A

Ensuring that Commanders Have the Right LVCG Training Enablers

Colonel John T. Janiszewski Director National Simulation Center Colonel Janiszewski is a native of Milwaukee, Wis. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1987 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in management computer systems and was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Military Intelligence Corps.

After completion of the Military Intelligence Office Basic Course, Janiszewski was assigned to the Republic of Korea as a collection and jamming platoon leader, Company B, 532nd Military Intelligence Battalion. In 1990, Janiszewski was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division, where he served as an intelligence and electronic warfare support officer to 1st Infantry Brigade and S2, 5-14 Infantry Battalion. After graduating from the Military Intelligence Officer Advanced course in 1994, Janiszewski served in the 743rd Military Intelligence Battalion as a signals intelligence officer with assignment at the National Reconnaissance Office and commander, C Company, 743rd MI Battalion.

Following company command, Janiszewski attended the University of Central Florida, where he graduated in 1999 with a Master of Science degree in interactive simulation and training systems. He was then designated as a simulation operations officer, Functional Area 57 and assigned to I Corps in Fort Lewis, Wash. There he served as a corps simulations officer, simulations branch chief, and chief of the Mission Support Training Facility.

Following graduation from the Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kan., in 2002, Janiszewski was assigned to the 7th Army Training Command in Grafenwoehr, Germany, and served as the operations branch chief, operations officer and executive officer for the Directorate of Simulations.

Janiszewski was then assigned to the Unit of Action Maneuver Battle Lab at Fort Knox in 2005, where he was assigned as the chief of experimentation. In 2007 he was assigned to the United States Joint Forces Command’s J7 as the chief of the Training Development and Innovation Branch, where he was responsible for developing training systems, training support systems and simulations for combatant commands. In July 2010, Janiszewski was assigned to Carlisle Barracks, Pa., to attend the U.S. Army War College. He graduated and received a master’s degree in strategic studies in June 2011. He then deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and served as the director, J7, U.S. Forces – Afghanistan.

Janiszewski is a joint qualified officer and earned the Ranger tab, and Airborne and Air Assault badges.

Q: What are the roles and responsibilities of the National Simulation Center (NSC)?

16 | MT2 19.1

A: The National Simulation Center is a part of the Training and Doctrine Command’s (TRADOC) Combined Arms Center. We are the Army’s advocate for ensuring that commanders have the right live, virtual, constructive and gaming (LVCG) training enablers to train versatile units, and develop agile and adaptive leaders.

We support both the operational Army (war fighting commands) and institutional Army (TRADOC centers of excellence and schools). The NSC is made up of a team of professional trainers and technicians who develop requirements for LVCG training capabilities and champion the development and sustainment of an integrated training environment (ITE). The ITE replicates the difficulties and complications of the operational environment, enabling leaders and units to gain the experience, confidence and skills required to execute decisive action.

Additional NSC responsibilities include: • Defining the requirements for the computer software and protocols that allow the ITE’s live, virtual and constructive training enablers to work with each other seamlessly and stimulate Mission Command Systems with realistic information.

• Defining requirements for the synthetic terrain used by training systems.

• Assisting TRADOC centers of excellence and schools by ensuring they have the right LVCG training enablers to meet their educational requirements. www.MT2-kmi.com

• Serving as the Army’s Mission Command Training Support Program lead within the Training System Support Enterprise.

• Providing simulation for division and higher home station exercises within the continental United States (CONUS) from the Regional Simulation Center CONUS at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. • Providing simulation in support of the Mission Command Training Program’s mission to execute collective training of Army units as directed by the Chief of Staff of the Army.

Q: How do you foresee the military’s use of simulation changing over the next three years?

A: I believe that over the next three years the military’s use of simulation will dramatically increase to offset the reduction of resources available for training. Today within the Army we already use constructive simulation as the primary training enabler for large scale (division and above) collective training exercises.

However, with the current fiscal realities I expect that there will be less funding available to support live training. As a result, commanders will look toward maximizing their live training opportunities as well as relying on lower-cost opportunities to achieve readiness. Training soldiers in simulations, as a precursor to live training, enables soldiers to enter live training at a much higher proficiency. This ensures that units in live training focus on critical tasks that can only be accomplished on ranges or training areas. For example, virtual simulators such as the combined arms tactical trainer allow tank crews to repetitively practice gunnery to increase their proficiency before live firing on the range.

Simulations such as our Games for Training Tools, Virtual Battlespace 2 and soon-to-be-released Virtual Battlespace 3 provide engaging, effective, low-cost individual and collective training for soldiers and leaders. Simulations will be used to maintain readiness to enhance live training as well as an alternative to live training.

Q: How has the current austere budget environment impacted the NSC? A: The NSC is one member of the Training System Support Enterprise that is impacted by the current austere budget environment.

The Training System Support Enterprise provides the networked, integrated and interoperable training support products, facilities and services to replicate the complexities of the operational environment in training and education. From an enterprise perspective we’ve had to look hard at how we develop and sustain our training capabilities. The strategy the enterprise has taken involves six basic imperatives: • Enable home station training at medium fidelity replication of the operational environment • Enable combat training center (CTC) training at high fidelity replication of the operational environment • Enable commanders and commandants to train as we fight • Focus on high-payoff capabilities • Focus on the right quality and quantity improvements to meet minimum threshold requirements • Mitigate the reduction of operational tempo resources to the operational force. www.MT2-kmi.com

Following those imperatives will allow the enterprise to make informed decisions about which capabilities and programs to develop, field and sustain in the coming years.

The NSC, like most Army organizations, has been impacted by the austere environment. We’ve lost personnel through normal attrition who we’ve not been able to replace. As a result, we’ve had to prioritize our workload and in some cases extend the time it takes to execute lower-priority tasks. We’ve also been much more reliant on communicating via teleconference or video-teleconference instead of conducting face-to-face meetings. I look at the current situation as an opportunity to reinvent the way we conduct routine business in the organization. The environment will force us to adapt and change our processes. In the end, I believe that we will become more efficient in how we execute our mission.

Q: What are the top three challenges the NSC will face in 2014?

A: Our top challenge has to be what I just talked about—adjusting our behavior, as well as the behavior of the Training Support System Enterprise, based upon the conditions of the austere budget environment. Regardless of the budget environment, the NSC will need to maintain the same level of support that we provide to our stakeholders. Commanders will continue to demand high-quality training enablers, and we will have to be creative in developing more cost-effective solutions to meet those demands.

Our second challenge is to continue to look toward the future and how training concepts and technologies evolve to support the Army of 2025 and beyond. When faced with limited resources, organizations have a tendency to focus on the immediate challenges and mortgage the future. At the NSC, we must be able to continue to apply appropriate resources toward researching technologies and developing training requirements to support future operational concepts.

Finally, our third challenge deals with educating the force regarding how to maximize the training capabilities that are available to them. Over the past 11 years of persistent conflict, the Army has primarily delivered the required training to commanders and reduced the responsibility of commanders to plan, prepare, execute and assess training.

We’ve found that many units don’t realize the training capabilities that are available on their installation or how to use those capabilities. We are putting together a mobile training team that will go to various installations and help educate units about how the specific training enablers at that installation can be applied to support a commander’s training objectives. Our end state is for leaders to have a better understanding on implementing the operations process for LVCG systems and capabilities in an ITE. Q: What are the NSC’s goals in developing an ITE and how do you plan on meeting those goals?

A: As we transition in Afghanistan, Army senior leaders realize that an Army at peacetime becomes an Army of preparation, and must focus on training and leader development. The Army is reinvigorating home station training capabilities as the foundation for unit and leader readiness. Now commanders will take primary responsibility for managing unit training and developing their subordinate leaders. The Army is developing an ITE in order to meet its current training challenges and to MT2 19.1 | 17

develop adaptive, flexible and versatile leaders and units to operate in a complex operational environment.

The ITE is a system of systems that by design connects or integrates training enablers in a persistent and consistent manner to stimulate mission command information systems to meet the commander’s training objectives within the appropriate operational environment. It is being designed as a brigade and below home station capability.

The ITE is an asset that gives commanders the opportunity to execute concurrent, multi-echelon leader and collective training. Through the use of virtual simulators and gaming tools, crews and squads can be trained while constructive simulations are training battalion and brigade staffs, all in the same exercise using the same scenario.

The ITE allows the commanders to train in the operational environment usA solider uses a computer and gaming program in a training exercise. [Photo courtesy of Combined Arms Center-Training] ing both live training ranges and virtual persistent training network that allows units at home stations to training space. By combining the live and synthetic environment, access training enablers that are not available at their post. The the ITE gives the commander the option to expand the operaGSC Net allows the NSC to distribute constructive simulations tional environment. In essence, the ITE combines real dirt with from Fort Leavenworth to home station training locations in supvirtual dirt. port of division and corps training events. It also allows units that At times it is difficult to coordinate training with combat enare at disparate installations to train together. ablers that are external to a brigade combat team. The ITE gives The beauty of the GSC Net is that it uses the existing Defense commanders the ability to employ the full range of enablers that Information Systems Agency operational network and can be used commanders would typically have during a combat operation. for both classified and unclassified training. The NSC has partAnother benefit of the ITE is that it provides commanders the nered with the 7th Signal Command to implement the GSC Net ability to take risks that they typically wouldn’t take in live trainto all CONUS installations by FY15. To date, Fort Leavenworth, ing. This gives commanders increased opportunities to take inFort Riley, Fort Stewart, Fort Hood, Fort Bliss, Fort Lee, Fort novative approaches to solving complex challenges without fear of Campbell and Fort Bragg have the ability to access the GSC Net. losing personnel or equipment.

Over the next year, we will add an additional 17 installations. FuOur number one goal is to field the live, virtual, constructive– ture phases include establishing the GSC Net in Europe and Paintegrating architecture (LVC-IA) to all installations worldwide cific theaters, and connecting with reserve component and joint where brigade combat teams are located. We’ve developed a fieldexercise networks. ing plan out to FY17 that will accomplish this goal. Currently, we’ve fielded the ITE at Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Drum, N.Y.; Fort Q: How does the NSC provide capability development for LVCG Campbell, Ky.; Fort Bliss, Texas; and Fort Stewart, Ga. enablers that set the conditions for Army training?

Our second goal is to enhance the existing capabilities of the ITE. We will field version 2 of the LVC-IA beginning in FY15. VerA: The NSC has multiple TRADOC capability managers (TCMs). sion 2 has several critical enhancements including: They are charted by the commander of the Training and Doctrine Command to serve as the Army’s centralized planner, manager • Accreditation that allows units use on their tactical SIPRNET and integrator for all capability development and user activities • Expanded capability to train divisions associated with specific LVCG training enablers. The TCMs assess • Improved database development tools to reduce exercise doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership, education, design time personnel and facilities requirements associated with the devel• Incorporation of Games for Training (Virtual Battlespace 3) opment of LVCG capabilities. Assisted by appropriate TRADOC • The ability to link to more than one post. proponents, schools and centers, and working with select project/ program managers, the TCMs ensure associated deliverables are Q: How is the NSC trying to provide a global simulation capability developed to meet Army milestones. network in CONUS? Capability development is a continuous process and I’ll highlight some of the key areas of that process. The Army’s three high A: The Global Simulation Capability Network (GSC Net) is a strategies, Army Leader Development Strategy, Army Mission key component of the Integrated Training Environment. It is a 18 | MT2 19.1

www.MT2-kmi.com

Command Strategy and Army Training Strategy, set the training conditions that drive the TCMs’ efforts.

The job of a TCM is to aggressively pursue the needs of their stakeholders or proponents within the operational and institutional Army and leverage the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System to document requirements to meet their stakeholders’ training needs.

The requirements are documented and approved by decision makers such as Army Staff and Army Requirements Oversight Council. To obtain resources for the requirement, the TCMs work very closely with the materiel developer Program Manager teammates from the Army G-3 and the Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation.

Once resourses are obtained, the materiel developer acquires a materiel solution that goes through an extensive validation, verification and accreditation process to ensure that the solution meets the original requirement. Once accredited, the materiel solution is fielded to the Army for use in training. Stakeholders providing continuous feedback to the TCMs outlining any areas requiring improvement or additional enhancements required for a given training enabler.

While that is a simplification of the process, I believe it accurately describes some of the major activities that NSC performs when executing our capability development mission.

Q: How is the NSC involved with offering simulation support for Mission Command Training Program exercises?

A: The Mission Command Training Program (MCTP) is one of our teammates at Fort Leavenworth. MCTP is the Army’s primary CTC for mission command training using constructive simulations.

MCTP supports the Army force generation (ARFORGEN) training and mission preparation progression and other Army requirements. MCTP conducts or supports combined arms training that simulate unified land operations in the operational environment at worldwide locations.

The MCTP provides training events for BCTs, multifunctional support brigades, functional support brigades, divisions, corps, Army Service Component Commands, Joint Force Land Component Commands and Joint Task Forces in accordance with the ARFORGEN readiness model. The National Simulation Center provides the Warfighter Simulation (WARSIM), WARSIM Intelligence Model, and Joint Deployment Logistics Model (JDLM) in support of MCTP training events, which are typically conducted at the training audience’s home station.

The NSC runs the simulations at Fort Leavenworth and distributes them via a dedicated network to the home station Mission Training Complex. This is a much more cost-effective method of providing simulation support and one of the prime benefits of constructive simulation—its ability to be distributed worldwide.

It also enables MCTP to focus more of its resources on training the unit.

Q: Can you tell me how the NSC is establishing an Integrated Training Environment Governance by publishing the ITE Implementation Master Plan?

A: There are numerous stakeholders that have an interest in the development and fielding of ITE. The ITE Implementation Master www.MT2-kmi.com

Plan essentially defines the governance process or business rules for how ITE stakeholders provide input into the development, fielding and sustainment of the ITE. The I2MP describes how the Army will establish the blueprint for incremental ITE operational and supporting system capabilities and align requirements, funding and solutions to create these incremental ITE capabilities.

Probably the three most important events within the I2MP process are the Requirements Control Board (RCB), Configuration Control Board, and Training General Officer Steering Committee (TGOSC) endorsement.

The RCB establishes the ITE capability objectives and translates them into requirements. The RCB also establishes the ITE Operational Architecture. It is the forum where stakeholders present their needs or specific ITE capabilities required to support home station training. The end state of the RCB is a comprehensive list of requirements that are prioritized by the ITE stakeholders. Those requirements are then presented to our materiel developer partner, Program Executive Office for Simulation Training and Instrumentation (PEO-STRI).

The CCB, led by PEO-STRI, evaluates the ITE requirements provided by the RCB for cost, schedule and feasibility and provides courses of action, including supporting recommended requirements allocation and solutions, to the ITE Executive Steering Group.

The ITE Executive Steering Group identifies requirements that will move forward for solution development by the materiel developer and presents those to the TGOSC. The TGOSC endorsement enables the Training System Support Enterprise to compete for the necessary funding required to implement the materiel solution.

Q: How does the NSC offer combat training center and home station exercise support?

A: A combat training center rotation is the premier training event for a brigade combat team (BCT) and is part of the program that generates ready units and agile leaders. Last summer we worked with Forces Command to develop and execute a proof of principle that enabled a unit at its home station to leverage the training environment from a combat training center rotation. For the proof of principle we leveraged the 3rd IBCT, 10th Mountain Division rotation at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC), Fort Polk, La., with a command post exercise being executed by the 10th Sustainment Brigade (SB) from Fort Drum.

In the proof of principle, the CTC operational environment was exported to the 10th SB via a one-way feed of the common operating picture via the command post of the future mission command information system. With the tactical context being provided by the 3/10 IBCT at JRTC, the 10th SB simultaneously executed a sustainment exercise out of the Fort Drum Mission Training Complex, leveraging the JDLM simulation.

The end result of the proof of principle was that we proved that a unit at home station could take advantage of the operational environment being provided by a CTC rotation to achieve specific training objectives. The proof of principle was so successful that Combined Arms Support Command is looking to institutionalize the concept for sustainment training across the Army. O MT2 19.1 | 19

PEO: Dr. James Blake (SES)

2014

Deputy PEO: Rob Reyenga (SES)

Acquisition Center Director/ PARC: Joe Giunta

Business Operations: Steve Davis

Project Support: Traci Jones

Special Staff

Customer Support: Scott Pulford

PM Training Devices: Col. Vince Malone

20

Top

PM CATT: Col. Harry Buhl

PM ITTS: Col. Sharlene Donovon

PM ConSim: Col. Wayne Epps

PM Field OPS: Russ McBride

Contracts

Simulations and Training Omnibus Contract II Multiple $17,500,000,000

Common Army Ranges and Target Systems Multiple $400,000,000

Synthetic Environment Core Science Applications International Corporation $222,000,000

Joint Land Component Constructive Training Capability Lockheed Martin Corporation $146,000,000

Warfighter Field Operations Customer Support Contract Raytheon Technical Services Company $11,200,000,000

Urban Operations Training Systems Lockheed Martin Corporation $287,000,000

Live Training Transformation General Dynamics C4 Systems $200,000,000

Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System – Individual Weapon System Cubic Simulation Systems $134,083,565

Flight School XXI Computer Sciences Corporation $1,410,000,000

Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance Electronic Consulting Services $270,560,046

Range Radar Replacement Program General Dynamics C4 Systems $538,772,054

Operational Test – Tactical Engagement System Argon St Inc. $251,000,000

Instrumented Ranges – Digital Range Training Systems Lockheed Martin Corporation $450,000,000

Constructive Training System General Dynamics Information Technology $227,763,420

20 | MT2 19.1

IT Support Contract NCI Information Systems $169,062,152 U.S. Air Force Wargaming Support General Dynamics Information Technology $160,964,947 Combat Training Center Instrumentation System Northrop Grumman Technical Services $$154,005,017

Close Combat Tactical Trainer – Concurrency Upgrades Lockheed Martin Corporation $123,797,113 Virtual Clearance Training Suites FAAC Inc. $105,480,548 Project Raven General Dynamics $100,000,000 www.MT2-kmi.com

Capability Provider

Q& A

Addressing Training Devices as a Joint Task Force Rob Reyenga Deputy PEO PEO STRI Q: Can you describe the relationship between PEO STRI and its industry partners?

A: We maintain a strong and open relationship with our industry partners. In the past several years, we have placed significant emphasis on providing accurate, timely and thorough information to our industry partners. We understand the importance of this information in their efforts to respond to our requirements. In addition to frequent scheduled and ad hoc meetings at all levels of the PEO and industry, we have several routine communications that support our goals of providing information to industry. We believe that these are very well received by the industry participants.

Each month we conduct a procurement administrative lead time update that provides information from both our contracts and program management folks to industry on ongoing procurements. This allows industry to inquire and comment on multiple procurements and has provided excellent insight for us on our business decisions. Each year at the Training & Simulation Industry Symposium [TSIS], we provide a synopsis of every new business opportunity we are planning. These briefings are always available on our website: www.peostri.army.mil.

Following up on this, each year at the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference, we provide updates to our TSIS briefings. Throughout the year we routinely conduct industry days to highlight large business opportunities we are working on. We also have an ombudsman who works with industry on specific issues or concerns.

Q: What can industry do in the future that would further enhance the relationship?

A: As I addressed in the first question, I believe that good communication is fundamental to an effective relationship. I’ve seen several examples in the recent past where some actions on our part may have impacted industry’s ability to respond effectively and efficiently to our requirements.

We received some excellent feedback and ideas from industry on things we could do that would help them be more efficient, and ultimately offer better, more cost-effective solutions to us. They recommended several improvements and ways to work together on solutions that help us to collectively provide better quality products and services to our customers: our Army, our soldiers and others who depend on us to support their mission.

Q: Can you explain the importance of PEO STRI’s foreign military sales (FMS) program and how it impacts industry?

A: The FMS program is centered on building partner capacity, which is a national security strategy. Besides providing friendly countries www.MT2-kmi.com

much needed training devices and services, our FMS program affords the residual benefits of improving foreign relations through developing long-term, positive relationships with the foreign government entities and military forces. This comes into play both during the procurement process and when working side-by-side with the foreign nationals while training them on using the end product.

Industry plays a big role in FMS because they are actively marketing the products they produce for PEO STRI. Industry’s marketing, along with PEO STRI’s expertise in the FMS process, has led to several FMS benefiting the customer, industry and the U.S. Army over the last several years. FMS at PEO STRI exceeded $400 million in FY13, which represents an increase of 649 percent from FY03. The FMS program is popular with industry as it provides millions of dollars in revenue and continues to build working relationships within the PEO STRI/industry integrated product team. Our FMS programs can also benefit our programs for U.S. forces by sustaining industry capacity, extending product line capabilities and retaining key management personnel.

Q: How is the uncertain budget environment impacting what you do at PEO STRI? A: It has certainly consumed a large amount of work hours developing plans and alternatives and assessing the impact of various contingencies.

It is causing us to take a very careful look at our portfolio to ensure it is aligned with the training priorities of the future as the Army faces a drastic reduction in troop strength, as well as the Army’s move toward regionally aligned forces. To ensure we are aligned with the Army’s priorities, we work closely with our counterparts at the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command and the Army’s G-3 to determine the future needs.

MT2 19.1 | 21

With the shift to regionally aligned forces, there will be a much more robust need to immerse soldiers during their training cycles into the culture, language and landscape for the particular area of responsibility to which they would be deployed. The new doctrine of regionally aligned forces also includes deploying as a joint task force comprised of other U.S. military services, interagency and coalition partners. Therefore, our training devices need to address training as a joint task force in preparation for deployment.

Regardless of the budget environment, PEO STRI will focus our efforts to meet the chief of staff of the Army’s strategic priorities in regards to training our soldiers. That is, to “conduct tough, realistic multi-echelon home station training utilizing our live, virtual and constructive capabilities to efficiently and effectively assure individual, leader and unit competencies.”

Q: What is the current status of fielding the live, virtual, constructive capabilities?

A: Since introducing the live, virtual, constructive-integrating architecture (LVC-IA) at Fort Hood in 2012, we have been applying the lessons learned with each fielding and LVC-IA is working as advertised. Units are now beginning to conduct training exercises with LVC-IA. The initial exercises focus primarily on the virtual and constructive interoperability in the integrated training environment (ITE). We are confident as experience and expertise develop, these ITE-enable training events will increase in both frequency and complexity.

Feedback from the units involved has indicated that they have been very pleased with the level of training provided by LVC-IA. Each unit has indicated that LVC-IA allows them to stress their tactical operation center’s organizational structure and procedures in ways previously only achieved in large field exercises, which are expensive to execute.

The field is excited about the upgrades coming with Version II. Expanding the level of integration with mission command systems and adding games for training will increase the number of potential participants and put even more stress on the unit’s mission command execution. Moving forward, we will field one site per quarter in FY14 and then three per fiscal year until the total basis of issue plan is complete with a total of 18 designated sites.

Q: What is the integrated threat force (ITF) and is there any relation as far as capabilities with the network integration evaluation (NIE)?

A: The ITF is being developed using mission control, visualization and collaboration tools to provide a scalable and reconfigurable representation of opposing force structure and capabilities. The ITF, currently established as an initial operational capability (IOC), accomplishes this through the integration of multiple threat representative information operations assets across all functional areas that are interoperable via a robust mission control backbone. Coupled with scalable visualization and collaboration tools, the ITF enables reconfigurable data fusion functionality for the purposes of managing threat fidelity and establishing complete control of live, virtual and constructive threat assets.

We use the ITF extensively in the support that we provide to the NIEs. Our efforts are integrated into the NIE’s opposing forces capabilities and completely coordinated through the OPFOR unit’s tactical operations center. Representing a vigorous threat force using electronic warfare and computer network operations is an essential element for realistic operation testing. Having ITF woven into the NIE provides exactly that.

22 | MT2 19.1

Q: What are some of the training devices or systems PEO STRI will be focusing on fielding or upgrading in the next few years?

A: Along with focusing on LVC-IA fielding, one of the major undertakings is in conjunction with meeting General Raymond T. Odierno’s strategic priority of maintaining a ready and modern Army. Upgrading the combat training center (CTC) complexes at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) in Fort Polk, La., and the National Training Center (NTC) at Fort Irwin, Calif., falls under that strategic priority umbrella.

We will be focusing primarily on modernizing the instrumentation systems at the CTCs and, more specifically, the range communications system (RCS), which currently uses technology from the late 1990s. The modernization of the RCS will include updating and replacing the system’s voice, video and data instrumentation, the live fire communications subsystems and network. Our goal is to have an IOC at the NTC by the third quarter of FY15 and have full operational capability (FOC) in the second quarter of FY18. At the JRTC, we plan on having the IOC by third quarter FY17 and the FOC by third quarter FY18.

Q: What is the greatest challenge when acquiring and developing training systems to meet the requirements of the warfighter?

A: I think the context of the question should include not just “acquiring and developing training systems,” but encompass “providing an effective training capability to our commanders to train soldiers.” That’s really our purpose here: to enable the training of soldiers. Achieving this greater scope relies on alignment and synchronization of identifying needs, defining requirements, programming resources, developing specifications, awarding contracts, designing solutions, producing devices and fielding capabilities. And vertical capabilities (such as task trainers) are not adequate; we must provide horizontally-interoperable capabilities integrated with operational systems, including the breadth of mission command systems. If aligning and synchronizing these efforts across multiple Army stakeholders is challenge enough in a steady state environment, doing so in a resource constrained and dynamic environment such as currently exists makes the challenge ever greater. I want to place more emphasis on the end result, the capability. Sometimes our systems put more emphasis on the process than the product.

At the tactical level, we need to understand the environment in which the training is conducted, and deliver capabilities that are well suited for that environment. Capabilities that are much easier to use take less time to install or prepare for training, require much less support from outside the training unit, and can be quickly updated with changes needed resulting from technology or concurrency. Many practices in the commercial sector provide examples for us to achieve these goals.

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

A: These are challenging times for everyone associated with ensuring our Army remains mission ready through dynamic, realistic training that will ensure they are the most professional yet lethal land force in the world. From all indications, we will continue to face budgetary restraints that will put everything we do under a fiscal microscope. I have no doubt, though, that through the close professional relationships we have formed with industry and our confidence in their capabilities, we can continue to ensure the best, most cost-efficient training devices and systems for our soldiers. O www.MT2-kmi.com

MISSION

+ TECHNOLOGY CONNECTIONS THAT WORK. At SAIC, we believe full spectrum operations require full spectrum training and simulation solutions. SAIC delivers training services and solutions for complex missions where mental, physical, and operational resiliency are critical.

SAIC ― training our warfighters and bringing smart solutions to a complex world.

15-0001

Visit SAIC at AUSA Winter Show Booth 1017, Huntsville, AL © SAIC. All rights reserved. Use of military imagery does not constitute or imply U.S. Department of Defense endorsement.

NYSE: SAIC

Military Training Technology recognized the ribbon winners of our 2013 Top Simulation & Training Companies competition at I/ITSEC 2013. The featured companies are from around the world and have made a significant impact on the military training industry across the spectrum of technologies and services. These companies’ products and services allow U.S. airmen, Marines, sailors, soldiers and Coast Guardsmen to train and rehearse for missions in theater or to prepare for deployment at homestation.

Those who made the most significant contributions to the training community are recognized with one of the following awards: Best Programs, High Revenue, Innovation, and Up & Coming. Featured are photos from I/ITSEC.

1

7

13 1. AEgis Technologies: Del L. Beilstein, Lindsay Silverberg 2. Janus Research Group, Inc: Michael Click, David Teeples, Reggie Smith, Jay Griffith, Scott Martin, Stacey Warner, Kurt Anderson, Vance Sounders, and Michael Wright 3. AVT Simulation: Rick Easton, Lindsay Silverberg, Robert Abascal

24 | MT2 19.1

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

2

3

8

9

14

15

Christie: Zoran Veselic, Lindsay Silverberg CAE: Raymond Duquette, Brian O’Shea Boeing: Brian O’Shea, Dean Queathem Saab: Steve Parrish, Henrik Hojer, Brian O’Shea MetaVR: Skylar Sanders, Brian O’Shea, Karl Meissner

www.MT2-kmi.com

4

6

10

11

12

16

17

18

9. DiSTI: Scott Ariotti, Andy Rossetter 10. Cubic: Dave Schmitz, Ray Barker 11. General Dynamics: Alphonse Whitmore, Brian O’Shea 12. Cole Engineering Services, Inc: Bryan Cole, Lindsay Silverberg, Michael Chandler 13. Calytrix: Shawn Parr, Brian O’Shea, Buck Connor

www.MT2-kmi.com

5

14. Valkyrie: Brian O’Shea, Terry Bimler 15. L-3: Brian O’Shea, Daniel Kelly 16. Lockheed Martin: Scott Lusk, Chester Kennedy, Lindsay Silverberg, Heather Kelly 17. Defense Logistics Support Inc.: Trevor Kräcker, Lindsay Silverberg 18. Adacel: Jeff Tyrcha, Brian O’Shea

MT2 19.1 | 25

Taking Training to the EDGE As the military continues to look at the most innovative and cost-effective ways for training their soldiers, they continue their outreach, collaborating with others who have similar needs and inviting them to leverage both the intellectual and financial investments. One of the prototypes that has seen recent acceptance and use within the community of first responders is the Enhanced Dynamic Geo-Social Environment (EDGE) platform, developed by the Army Research Lab, Human Research and Engineering Directorate, Simulation and Training Technology Center (STTC) in partnership with U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command G2 and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

EDGE is a government-owned prototype designed to provide the most realistic virtual environment for training. “We wanted to have a platform in which you could develop whatever environment you want,” said Tami Griffith, associate branch chief, U.S. Army Research Lab Simulation and Technology Training Center. “We [the federal government] own the source code and can share it with whatever developer we want to expand the functionality. That flexibility is critical.”

Griffith said this ownership gives the government a lot of flexibility with the ability to share it with other federal agencies, and with each share, each agency adds functionality that complements all the sponsors. The premise is that any federal agency can request the use of the platform to develop something specific to their need, and they’ll get all the benefits of the work those before them have accomplished, plus what they developed, because it is incorporated back into the baseline. Any new functionality benefits all system users.

“The whole idea is that we don’t need to keep reinventing the wheel,” said Griffith. “Everybody benefits from the lessons learned, and that means that you can invest $1 million, but get $2 million worth of value, and that’s really turning your dollar into more than just your dollar!”

26 | MT2 19.1

By Dolly Rairigh Glass

EDGE is a government owned prototype designed to provide the most realistic virtual environment for training.

[Photo courtesy of Team Orlando]

“For example, Department of Homeland Security wants to integrate EDGE with the Oculus Rift (the virtual reality headset worn for immersive gaming),” explained Griffith. “All of us benefit from that. And because we’ve done some preliminary work, they get to leverage what we’ve done and add whatever additional functionality, so everybody gets that benefit.”

One of the first groups of users to request the training tool outside of the military was first responders, who worked with DHS to utilize EDGE. Through DHS, they wanted to invest in the platform— and did. With a minimal investment, they produced what Griffith called an “impressive training.”

Griffith, as well as others representing STTC, traveled to Sacramento to participate in an EDGE training event for first responders, supported by the DHS. Because of STTC’s extensive experience in simulations and exercise control, they assisted with the training and helped facilitate the experience to make sure it went flawlessly with regard to important components like IT support, necessary hardware, etc.

“Several agencies participated in this training, including law enforcement, fire and rescue, SWAT and dispatch,” said Jennie Ablanedo, a UCF Institute of Simulation and Training research associate for EDGE. “There were intelligent, coordinated active shooters who created a scenario that each of the agencies needed

to work together to resolve. They have never trained together in one place and the experience gave them a better understanding of the challenges they might face in a real-life situation.”

The best part about the virtual environment for training for these first responders is that it’s a safe environment that looks just like their community and buildings within their community.

Through this training, they learn how to work with one another and be better communicators. They learn what works and what doesn’t. They revisit the scenario afterward, discuss what worked and what didn’t, and through this training have the opportunity to practice until it becomes second nature. This way they are prepared for the experiences they might encounter at a major critical event.

EDGE was designed to be easy to use, like the games on the commercial market, and one of the benefits to EDGE is there is no per seat license, allowing as many people as needed to use the environment at once. Additionally, there isn’t a limit on the ownership length of time.

“People from all corners of the world have been reaching out to us and telling us they need this training and they need it now,” Griffith said. “Right now it’s a science and technology prototype, but we’re moving toward the ability to transition it to a training platform that’s readily available. We plan to have the hardware and software ready to deploy by April.” O www.MT2-kmi.com

The advertisers index is provided as a service to our readers. KMI cannot be held responsible for discrepancies due to last-minute changes or alterations.

MT2 RESOURCE CENTER Advertisers Index AEgis Technologies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 www.aegistg.com/flightsim.html Disti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 www.disti.com/ves General Dynamics Information Technology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C4 www.gdit.com Meggitt Training Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C2 www.meggitttrainingsystems.com MetaVR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 www.metavr.com SAIC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 www.saic.com The Tatitlek Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 www.tatitlek.com USGIF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C3 www.geointsymposium.com

www.tatitlek.com

Thank you...for all you do.

Calendar February 19-21, 2014 AUSA’s ILW Winter Symposium & Exposition Huntsville, Ala. www.ausa.org

NEVER STOP LEARNING Considering a new degree?

Advising your troops on their education options?

You need Military Advanced Education’s 2014 Guide to Military-Friendly Colleges & Universities!

Check out the searchable database at www.mae-kmi.com for the details prospective students and commanders are looking for!

•

•

Access all the survey answers from the hundreds of schools that participated in MAE’s 2014 Guide to Military-Friendly Colleges & Universities Compare and contrast institutions with all the info MAE used to score and designate our top schools

April 7-9, 2014 Navy League Sea-Air-Space National Harbor, Md. www.seaairspace.org

NEXTISSUE

April 2014 Vol. 19, Issue 2

America's Longest Established Simulation & Training Magazine

Cover and In-Depth Interview with:

Vice Adm. David Dunaway Commander Naval Air Systems Command

Special Section

Unmanned Aircraft Systems Training Unmanned systems are a critical part of military operations, and the warfighter needs to be thoroughly prepared to operate these costly aircraft.

Command Profile: Mine Warfare Training Center

Features Squad Training

LVC Training

Maritime Simulations

Insertion Order Deadline: March 24, 2014 Ad Materials Deadline: March 31, 2014 www.MT2-kmi.com

MT2 19.1 | 27

INDUSTRY INTERVIEW

Military Training Technology

Jeff Tyrcha Vice President Business Development & Marketing Adacel Systems Inc. Jeff Tyrcha received his B.S. from Purdue University, M.S. from the University of Oklahoma. He began his career as an officer in the U.S. Air Force and held engineering, program management, and business development positions in the aerospace and defense industry. In 2013 he was distinguished as a recipient of the Purdue University Outstanding Aerospace Engineer award. He joined Adacel in 2011 to lead their global business development efforts.

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

A: Adacel was founded in Australia in 1987 and later expanded into Canada and the United States in the late 1990s. It was the expansion into North America that led to our initial contract with the U.S. Air Force [USAF] in 2002 for more than 90 air traffic control [ATC] tower simulators. This was a major milestone for us as it established Adacel as the leader in the application of speech recognition to simulator operations and sparked our growth both in the U.S. and abroad.

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

A: The foundation for our DoD business resides in our air traffic control simulation products. It started with the USAF and Marine Corps and has grown throughout the military to include many tower and radar systems, as well as other specific purpose simulators and training devices. In October, Adacel was selected under the U.S. Army’s ATC Common Simulator program to supply a multi-function, transportable ATC simulator to all Army units covered by the program. Finally, together with Sandia National Laboratories, we developed and installed a state of the art simulator for security control room operator training at a number of U.S. Navy high security facilities.

Q: What are some of the new training/ simulation technologies Adacel is developing in 2014?

28 | MT2 19.1

A: This year promises to be a very exciting for Adacel. At I/ITSEC in December, we unveiled a new speech recognition platform called Lexix. This next leap forward in technology was developed in response to the need for a performance-optimized system targeted directly at the simulation and voice command markets. A key element is the capability to edit command phraseology virtually ‘on-thefly’. While Lexix will be available for our own training solutions, we also intend to provide Lexix in a development kit to other suppliers in the industry with a need to integrate speech recognition into their products.

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

A: I believe we are in a very strong position.

The fundamental capabilities of our systems and our ability to cost-effectively support them was re-affirmed in the fall by the USAF and U.S. Army wins. The U.S. military is very aware that synergy generates savings when they utilize a common simulation software baseline across multiple applications, and Adacel is best positioned to deliver that value.

Nonetheless, we have no intention of letting up and are working every day to add more capability and make our solutions more cost effective with broader platform application.

Our new Lexix speech technology is a prime example of our commitment to develop innovative ways to help our military customers achieve training goals as efficiently as possible.

Q: What is Adacel’s connection with the defense community?

A: I love that question because our connections are very deep, and as a veteran, I’m so pleased that we have such a connection with the people who defend us every day. We have successful programs in place with all branches of DoD and have always felt a deep responsibility to our military customers in helping them accomplish their training mission in the most effective manner. Outside the U.S., we are also fortunate to have excellent longterm programs with the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force, among others. Primarily these programs relate to ATC training, but the integration of our speech technology into operational and simulator platforms is also a key link.

Q: What is an example of your success in the military, and what are some of your goals (specific to the training/simulation industry) over the next year?

A: It is difficult to isolate just one. Most recently, winning the U.S. Army ATC common simulator program is a great example of how training capability can be delivered with a very small footprint. As for our goals, we are convinced direct speech input is the way forward in the industry, so we intend to press ahead with Lexix both for our own systems and with other interested industry partners.

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

A: There are inherent advantages to having the largest customer base in the ATC simulation industry. While each client has their own unique requirements, often their individual experience leads to improvements for all. Our expertise within the operational air traffic management sector and in speech recognition keeps us on the leading edge, which in turn generates advances in our simulator capabilities. The knowledge base and infrastructure we have built up over the years is something you can’t achieve overnight, and it enables us to efficiently deliver and support both small- and large-scale projects. O

jeff.tyrcha@adacel.com www.MT2-kmi.com

REGISTER NOW F R E E F O R M I L I TA R Y & G O V E R N M E N T

The Largest Intelligence Event of the Year

APRIL 14-17, 2014 TAMPA CONVENTION CENTER

•

TAMPA, FLORIDA

*Due to the October 2013 government shutdown, the GEOINT Symposium was postponed to April.

We’ll avoid wasteful spending by adhering asterisks instead of reprinting all our great signage. Embrace the asterisk!

RECONFIRMED SPEAKERS INCLUDE The Honorable James R. Clapper

Ms. Letitia A. Long

LTG Michael T. Flynn, U.S. Army

ADM William H. McRaven, U.S. Navy

Director of National Intelligence (DNI)

Director, Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)

Director, National GeospatialIntelligence Agency (NGA)

Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)

Ms. Betty J. Sapp Director, National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)

LTG Joseph Votel, U.S. Army

Commander, Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC)

Mr. Shel Israel

Co-Author of Age of Context; and CEO of SI Associates

Joint Presentation Robert Scoble

Co-Author of Age of Context; and Startup Liaison for Rackspace

• Take part in more than 20 hours of training and education sessions • Network and share best practices with other geospatial technology & remote sensing professionals • Discover hands-on the latest technology, solutions, and services in 200,000 square feet of exhibit space with 250+ exhibitors

Brought to you by the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation

GEOINTSYMPOSIUM.COM

TEACH

TEACH

Creative, Effective

General Dynamics IT is a key member of the Warrior Training Alliance and ready to meet PEO STRI’s training, education and coaching needs. Offering the broadest range of training systems and solutions available, General Dynamics IT continues to lead the way, enhancing combat readiness for any mission, in any situation.

• Exercise Management and Support • Constructive Education • Training Related Ancillary Support • Instructional Support • TADSS Sustainment

www.gdit.com