Combined arms training: measures and methods for a changing world

Abstract

It is clear that the way the military prepares for combat is rapidly changing. Doctrine and mission objectives are changing at a faster rate than ever before. The operational tempo is faster than it has been in the past. Yet leadership demands a prepared military force. - no performance drop-off is acceptable. In fact, we will need to discover how to train in novel ways, in novel places, on novel tasks, to meet the requirements. While technology is not the whole answer to the puzzle, it must play a part. Determining how simulation and gaming technologies can be brought to bear on readiness will be key. Measures of effectiveness that equate to readiness are also needed. Much of what is done today is subjective in nature. There needs to be an improved mix of subjective and objective measures that can be used to "roll up" readiness from the individual on up to an entire force. Identifying opportunities for simulation and gaming that really improve individual and team performance and that are deployable so that they can be used in theatre are essential to success. We have been working with the United State Marine Corps at Twentynine Palms, California this past year on the beginning of a research program designed to (a) determine a baseline measure of how effective current training methods are towards readiness standards, (b) document the training measures and methods of team training used at 29 Palms, and (c) identify how simulation and gaming technologies can be used to enhance current training methods, and how these technologies should be integrated with conventional training. The paper will document our progress to date and will forecast what is happening next towards this important research goal that will have broad applicability beyond the Marine Corps to all NATO military training.