America's Longest Established Simulation & Training Magazine 12TH ANNUAL 2013 MUL TOP SI ATION & TRAINING COMPANIES LVC Integrator Col. Franz M. Plescha www.MT2-kmi.com Commander September 2013 Air Force Agency Volume 18, Issue 6 for Modeling and Simulation Command Profile: U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence Maritime Simulation O Distance Learning Range Instrumentation 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 Proven. Reliable. Effective. architecture means the FATS® M100 provides meggitttrainingsystems.com September 2013 MILITARY TRAINING TECHNOLOGY Volume 18, Issue 6 Features Cover / Q&A Command Profile: Special Section: U.S. Army Aviation Center of 2013 Top Simulation & Excellence Training Companies The U.S. Army Aviation This is the 12th annual competition Center of Excellence that recognizes companies that have trains soldiers on made a significant impact in the military leadership skills and training industry throughout the current the integration of fiscal year in simulation, distributed aviation war fighting learning, serious gaming, visual doctrine in support of systems, embedded training, targets unified land operations. and ranges, database modeling and any A big part of that is air-ground other training component. Companies integration. are selected based on various criteria, 27 which includes total military sales, end- user feedback, innovation and need for COLONEL FRANZ M. PLESCHA the solution. Commander Air Force Agency for 11 13 Modeling and Simulation 6 8 30 DISTANCE LEARNING MARITIME SIMULATION KEEPING RANGES READY BROADENS, DEEPENS Simulations play a role in Range instrumentation is an “I believe the Distance learning plays almost every aspect of essential part of live-fire and an increasing role in all military training throughout other weapons and tactical key to success, all branches, and maritime training. It will have to keep sorts of defense training with regard to and education. Training operations are no different. pace with changing needs, specialists would like to The U.S. Navy and U.S. even when funds are short. command, is see it stretch even further, if Coast Guard use a variety of BY HENRY CANADAY security concerns and other simulators to train sailors in first to listen— challenges can be met. order to help lower costs and BY HENRY CANADAY minimize real-world training. listen to your By Brian O’SHEA customers, headquarters Air Force, Departments Industry Interview the major 2 EDITor’s PersPECTIVE GARY NESTA commands, 4 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS/PEOPLE Vice President of Business 12 DATA PACKETS Development the readiness L-3 Link Simulation & Training 34 TEAM ORLANDO and training 35 RESOURCE CENTER 36 experts, and ultimately the warriors at As one of the largest providers of “Civilians on the Battlefield/Roleplayer training the tip of the services to the US Government, Tatitlek has enabled spear.” over 150,000 military warfighters better understand their adversaries in theater-specific operations. - Col. Franz M. Plescha www.tatitlek.com Military training EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVE technology Volume 18, Issue 6 • September 2013 Recognized Leader Covering The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released a report All Aspects of Military concerning the Army and Marine Corps’ use of simulation based training. The report Training Readiness cites that before 2000, simulations were primarily used by the aviation community in tasks such as takeoffs and emergency procedures that could not be taught safely Editorial Editor live. However, due to advancing technology and situations in Iraq and Afghanistan, Brian O’Shea [email protected] the use of simulations for ground forces has increased to counter increased rollovers Managing Editor Harrison Donnelly [email protected] and vehicle evacuation training, for example. Online Editorial Manager Laura Davis [email protected] The two military branches are also collaborating on ground simulation devices, Copy Editor which comes with a cost savings. Sean Carmichael [email protected] Correspondents “For instance, according to Marine Corps officials, the service reused 87 percent Brian O’Shea J.B. Bissell • Christian Bourge • Peter Buxbaum EDITOR Henry Canaday • Danielle Cralle • Hank Hogan of the Army’s Homestation Instrumentation Training System’s components in its Karen Kroll • Cynthia Webb own training system, achieving about $11 million in cost avoidance and saving an art & dEsign estimated seven years in fielding time,” the report said. Art Director Jennifer Owers [email protected] Usage of ground-based simulation devices has shown improvements in performance in live training exercises as Senior Graphic Designer Jittima Saiwongnuan [email protected] well as operational cost savings. However, the GAO report said that the services lack specific metrics to show exactly what Graphic Designers the benefit of simulation based training is. Scott Morris [email protected] Eden Papineau [email protected] “Both services rely on subject matter experts, who develop their training programs, and after-action reports from Amanda Paquette [email protected] Kailey Waring [email protected] deployments and training exercises for information on how servicemembers may have benefited from simulation- advErtising based training,” said the report. “However, neither service has established outcome metrics to assist them in more Associate Publisher precisely measuring the impact of using simulation-based devices to improve performance or proficiency.” Lindsay Silverberg [email protected] The report goes on to say that once simulation-based training devices are fielded, the services neither re-evaluate KMi MEdia group cost information as they determine the mix of training nor have a methodology for determining the costs associated Publisher Kirk Brown [email protected] with simulation-based training. Chief Executive Officer The GAO recommends that the services develop metrics and a methodology to compare live and simulation-based Jack Kerrigan [email protected] Chief Financial Officer training costs. GAO believes the services may not be considering some important simulation-based training costs and a Constance Kerrigan [email protected] specific methodology is needed to more fully identify the universe of costs needed for comparison purposes. Executive Vice President David Leaf [email protected] While DoD partially agrees with the recommendations, it said they capture all relevant costs needed for decision- Editor-In-Chief Jeff McKaughan [email protected] making. Measuring the benefits of simulation-based training is Controller difficult to do and it will be interesting to see what they come up with. 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