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Army Low Overhead Training Toolkit in Reserve Component Training

Wednesday June 11, 2014

What is it?

The Army Low Overhead Training Toolkit (ALOTT) is a suite of four basic computer simulations designed to train unit staffs in basic staff functions and operations at a unit’s home station. The ALOTT simulations provide reserve component (RC) unit staffs basic command and staff team building and military decision making process training while simulating or stimulating more than a dozen of the Army’s battle command systems, such as Command Post of the Future (CPOF), Maneuver Control System (MCS), and Force XXI Battle Brigade and Below (FBCB2).

What has the Army done?

The Army introduced ALOTT in fiscal year 2012 as part of its Live, Virtual, Constructive, Gaming – Integrated Training Environment (LVCG-ITE) strategy, fielding the simulation system at 10 locations including the 75th Training Command (Mission Command) and Camp Dodge, Iowa.

First Army, U.S. Army Forces Command’s executing agent for RC training support, began integrating ALOTT into its RC collective staff training strategy in fiscal year 2013. RC units, ranging in size from small groups to division staffs, now have the capability, with First Army assistance, to train at home station using simulations of a wide range of military operations including decisive action, stability and civil support and attack the network (counter-improvised explosive device).

What continued efforts does the Army have planned for the future?

First Army’s use of ALOTT helps fill the gap between RC home station training of unit staffs with minimal resources and large-scale constructive exercises requiring significant amount of support personnel, facilities and equipment. Learning to operate ALOTT requires relatively little user and support personnel training time, so RC unit Soldiers can prepare for training exercises at home station while practicing on their actual mission command systems.

First Army planners have successfully used ALOTT’s combat operations application during the Ohio National Guard’s 16th Engineer Brigade command post exercise at their home station. This exercise validated First Army’s integration of ALOTT into the entire RC training process, from designing the simulation exercise, through creating and executing scenarios, to providing a detailed after- action review.

Why is this important to the Army?

First Army’s LVCG-ITE objective is to enhance RC unit readiness through technology at the point of need, using the most up-to-date, effective, efficient and economical LVCG techniques. ALOTT allows First Army to integrate technology into RC training support, offer more realistic learning experiences and better prepare RC Soldiers for missions by replicating their operational environments in training scenarios.

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