A Framework for Delivering Contextually Appropriate Opportunities for Warfighter Practice

Computer-based modeling and simulation has been a training staple in the military domain since the first aircraft simulators were adopted. More recently, virtual environments based on modeling, simulation and serious games, have introduced relatively low-cost, yet high value additions to the learning environment. As these virtual environments have proliferated, many researchers have investigated the relationship between theoretical foundations of learning, learner development and content delivery, and applied their findings in an attempt to bolster learning, yet performance deficiencies continue to exist. This study asserts that performance deficiencies exist in part because of insufficient contextually appropriate opportunities to practice. This work is multi-disciplinary in nature. Its foundation is modeling and simulation engineering; the use of technology to deliver training. Educational psychology and human factors concepts explain the theoretical basis for modeling and simulation as an effective training delivery agent. The study\u27s thesis is that a framework for delivering contextually appropriate opportunities for warfighter practice can be applied to discover whether modeling, simulation and game-based virtual environments have the potential to improve individual performance for learners beyond the Novice Stage (e.g., Competent Stage) of skills acquisition. Furthermore, this conceptually appropriate practice (CAP) framework can be used to assess the potential of low fidelity virtual environments to provide targeted practice and to improve individual performance, not only during training in high-fidelity virtual environments (near transfer) but also in the live environment (far transfer). To evaluate the thesis, this study investigates the relationship of technology and learning science, and features an empirical evaluation of training effectiveness afforded by delivering additional training repetitions using both low-fidelity virtual environment simulator systems and high-fidelity aircraft simulators

Automatic Target Recognition Classification System Evaluation Methodology

This dissertation research makes contributions towards the evaluation of developing Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) technologies through the application of decision analysis (DA) techniques. ATR technology development decisions should rely not only on the measures of performance (MOPs) associated with a given ATR classification system (CS), but also on the expected measures of effectiveness (MOEs). The purpose of this research is to improve the decision-makers in the ATR Technology development. A decision analysis framework that allows decision-makers in the ATR community to synthesize the performance measures, costs, and characteristics of each ATR system with the preferences and values of both the evaluators and the warfighters is developed. The inclusion of the warfighter\u27s perspective is important in that it has been proven that basing ATR CS comparisons solely upon performance characteristics does not ensure superior operational effectiveness. The methodology also captures the relationship between MOPs and MOEs via a combat model. An example scenario demonstrates how ATR CSs may be compared. Sensitivity analysis is performed to demonstrate the robustness of the MOP to value score and MOP to MOE translations. A multinomial section procedure is introduced to account for the random nature of the MOP estimates

Personnel, the Class 0 Supply Item: A Logistics Management Approach to Supplying Combatant Commanders with Warfighters

The Air Force\u27s end strength has drawn down from 530,000 to just over 332,000 in the past 20 years. All indications are that resources will continue to become more restricted in the future, including manpower. Meanwhile, studies indicate that the Air Force will likely continue to withdraw permanently stationed forces overseas and rely increasingly on the Air Expeditionary Force (AEF) construct for rapid mobility and force projection. With the AEF and efficient manpower utilization projected to become increasingly important, this study provides the first examination of the AEF as an overarching process for improvement opportunities. It proposes that the concept of AEF requirement fulfillment is actually a supply chain designed to supply Combatant Commanders with equipment and warfighters. It focuses on the fulfillment of manpower requirements, identifying them as a Class 0 Supply Item, and uses Supply Chain and Logistics Management principles to conduct an initial examination of the process to identify overarching relationships and process flow. Using the information gathered, it then maps the conceptual relationships and develops a statistical probability model to aid leaders and future researchers in analyzing expected costs and benefits of various targeted changes within the current construct. The study proposes new methods for managing AEF manpower capabilities and a new application of SCM principles. It also hopes to be a solid platform for a multi-phase study aimed at reengineering the AEF, from force reporting to sourcing in an effort to maximize manpower utilization and provide senior leadership and the planning community with more accurate force accountability

LVC Interaction within a Mixed Reality Training System

The United States military is increasingly pursuing advanced live, virtual, and constructive (LVC) training systems for reduced cost, greater training flexibility, and decreased training times. Combining the advantages of realistic training environments and virtual worlds, mixed reality LVC training systems can enable live and virtual trainee interaction as if co-located. However, LVC interaction in these systems often requires constructing immersive environments, developing hardware for live-virtual interaction, tracking in occluded environments, and an architecture that supports real-time transfer of entity information across many systems. This paper discusses a system that overcomes these challenges to empower LVC interaction in a reconfigurable, mixed reality environment. This system was developed and tested in an immersive, reconfigurable, and mixed reality LVC training system for the dismounted warfighter at ISU, known as the Veldt, to overcome LVC interaction challenges and as a test bed for cuttingedge technology to meet future U.S. Army battlefield requirements. Trainees interact physically in the Veldt and virtually through commercial and developed game engines. Evaluation involving military trained personnel found this system to be effective, immersive, and useful for developing the critical decision-making skills necessary for the battlefield. Procedural terrain modeling, model-matching database techniques, and a central communication server process all live and virtual entity data from system components to create a cohesive virtual world across all distributed simulators and game engines in real-time. This system achieves rare LVC interaction within multiple physical and virtual immersive environments for training in real-time across many distributed systems

Sensemaking of narratives: informing the capabilities development process

This capstone project determines whether sensemaking of soldier narratives can inform the Department of Defense‘s (DOD) capability development process (CDP). Sensemaking is the process of creating awareness and understanding in situations of high complexity or uncertainty. The authors gathered service member narratives concerning their use of fielded equipment, which created metadata for both quantitative and qualitative research and analysis. This capstone compares results from sensemaking of narratives with results from the Warfighter Technology Tradespace Methodology (WTTM), a system designed for the rapid fielding of equipment for small forward operating bases (FOBs) and combat outposts (COPs). The capstone finds that 1) soldier narratives inform the fielding process by providing an additional layer of meaning and context, and 2) soldier narratives do not replace current feedback mechanisms; rather, they play a complementary role. This capstone finds that narratives as a feedback mechanism can be applied during operational testing of newly developed or fielded equipment for the DOD‘s CDP.http://archive.org/details/sensemakingofnar1094542657Major, United States Army;Major, United States Army;Major, United States ArmyApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Army Decade in Space

In the twelve short years since the announcement of the SMDC-ONE satellite initiative by Lieutenant General Kevin Campbell, then Commanding General of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC), SMDC has put in place an active program of satellite technology development and a Low Earth Orbit Investment Strategy that holds great promise for providing low-cost, responsive data from space as the next major evolution in technology to enable Multi-Domain Operations for the Army of 2028 and beyond. The first fruits of that initiative were seen ten years ago with launch and successful mission of the first SMDC-ONE satellite. This small satellite strategy has gained traction with Army and DoD leadership who embrace the small satellite paradigm. This paper discusses Army progress and lessons learned in the past ten years of small satellite efforts, discusses relationships with other organizations and looks forward to potential capabilities enabled by technology advancements and innovative partnerships

Joining the Department of Defense Enterprise Resource Planning Team: The Air Force\u27s Role in the Enterprise

Over time, the Air Force (AF) built customized legacy logistics data and information systems, which have evolved into an inflexible network of obsolete systems that are costly to maintain and upgrade, and struggle to share data in a timely and coherent manner. The Department of Defense (DoD), to include the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), the US AF, the US Army, and the US Navy, have all recognized the need to modernize and integrate their legacy systems to improve warfighter support. The DLA, the US Army, and the US Navy all see Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) technology as a commercial best practice, and consequently as the best way to replace their legacy systems. They are all in the process of implementing ERP pilot tests. The AF has adopted a watch and learn\u27 position on ERP, while continuing to upgrade its legacy systems piecemeal

Quantification of Mandatory Sustainment Requirements

To emphasize the importance of sustainment, the DoD Joint Requirements Oversight Council addressed sustained Materiel readiness and established a mandatory Key Performance Parameter (KPP) for Materiel Availability; it also established supporting Key System Attributes (KSAs) for Materiel Reliability and Ownership Cost (Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Manual (CJCSM) 3170.01C, 2007). Current guidance requires two numbers: a threshold value and an objective value (Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Manual (CJCSM) 3170.01C, 2007). No distinction is made between the approaches in establishing these values for major system acquisitions, versus smaller, modification-focused efforts for existing systems. The Joint Staff proposed guidance to assist in determining these values for major acquisition programs, but the guidance has yet to be tested on modification contracts. To assess its applicability, we performed a case study of a recent acquisition program under consideration by Air Mobility Command. We sought to apply the principles put forth in this draft guide prepared by the Office of the Secretary of Defense in Collaboration with the Joint Staff. This research seeks to assist the combat developer and program manager to develop an objective, standard, repeatable method for quantifying the mandatory Materiel Availability KPP and the associated Materiel Reliability KSA values established by the Joint Requirements Oversight Council

Using Decision-Making Techniques in Support of Simulation Training Transfer Selections

A general methodological approach for determining the selection of military training simulations with respect to military training requirements has not been developed. This thesis undertakes a literature review, which indicated that there was a need for a multi-criteria decision making model to assist acquisition and/or training planners in making training selection decisions. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) Model was selected from a multi-criteria decision-making model candidate list for evaluation of its efficacy in selecting military training simulations based upon the military training requirements. Four separate trainee populations, Alpha, Beta, Charlie, and Delta, were evaluated. Results from the Alpha study case showed evidence of the AHP model providing consistency between the participants\u27 preferred choice and their demographic background. This indicates that the AHP model may be a useful multi-criteria decision-making method for acquisition and/or training planners. These results indicate that decision-makers should: I) allow for more than a low-level of effort on the front-end when creating the necessary AHP input, 2) reflect on the selection of attributes as a critical step in establishing the AHP model hierarchy, and 3) consider the level of detail needed for input into the AHP model. Further, results from the Beta, Charlie, and Delta populations indicate that an approach has been developed which is consistent across groups and displays strong alternative preferences that are consistent

Investigating Capability Development Management for the Air Force Strategic Development Planning and Experimentation (SPDE) Office

The Air Force provides unique capabilities for the defense of our nation. Capabilities do not come to fruition instantly; they must go through a development process. Managing the development of a capability is a difficult but necessary task. In 2016, a report from the Air Force Studies Board prompted the Air Force to focus on the Capability Development Process and its improvement. In response to the report, the Strategic Development Planning & Experimentation (SDPE) Office was formed. The SDPE Office is tasked to support Enterprise Capability Collaboration Teams (ECCTs), which are, in turn, tasked to research and solve prominent issues articulated by Air Force leadership. To support ECCTs and the Capability Development Council, the SDPE Office must manage capability development. This research investigates how other Military Services and civilian service sectors handle capability development. The results from this analysis will provide the SDPE Office recommendations for managing responsibilities, based on the best practices found among the organizations studied