Stand-to! update Beginning May 2022, STAND-TO! will no longer be published on Army.mil and/or distributed to its subscribers. Please continue to learn about the U.S. Army on www.army.mil and follow @USArmy on our social media platforms. Thank you for your continued interest in learning about the U.S. Army.

Emergent Leader Immersive Training Environment

Monday, September 29, 2014

What is it?

Emergent Leader Immersive Training Environment (ELITE) is a state-of-the-art, training platform that uses a video program to train cadets, junior officers and non-commissioned officers on a range of counseling skills necessary to develop effective Army leaders.

ELITE provides junior leaders with an interactive, self-paced instructional experience followed by an opportunity to apply their counseling skills to five simulation practice exercises:

  • –A dispute between sergeants
  • –A Soldier with financial problems
  • –A Soldier arrested for driving under the influence
  • –A female Soldier asking for a transfer after hearing inappropriate comments
  • –A fight between two Soldiers over comments, one them made about a female Soldier

For each scenario, ELITE provides users a menu of questions to ask an avatar representing the Soldier who needs counseling. The users’ choices affect the video’s storyline. At the end of the scenario, users receive an after-action review assessing their performance.

What has the Army done?

The Maneuver Center of Excellence, the Fires Center of Excellence and the U.S. Military Academy submitted a requirement for a serious game that would address soft leadership and counseling skills. The request resulted in a collaborative effort involving the:

  • –University of Southern California Institute for Creative Technologies
  • –Army Research Laboratory, Human Research & Engineering Directorate, Orlando, Florida
  • –Army Sexual Harassment/Assault Response Prevention (SHARP) Program Office
  • –Army Games for Training Program at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

In August, the Combined Arms Center – Training at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, accredited ELITE. West Point cadets began using ELITE as part of a leadership course this fall. ELITE is available for a free download at the Milgaming web site, which is a Common Access Card site.

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

The Army is working on another iteration of ELITE that will address SHARP issues for company-level officers and NCOs.

Why is this important to the Army?

Leveraging the Army Learning Model, ELITE uses technology to help young leaders hone their counseling skills. Those skills are critical to help leaders reach their full potential and prepare units to accomplish any mission.

Resources:

Subscribe to STAND-TO! to learn about the U.S. Army initiatives.