FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (July 16, 2009) -A,A A team of 482 military, civilian and contractor personnel from the National Simulation Center, the Battle Command Training Program and Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation's Program Manager - Constructive Simulations recently conducted an operational readiness evaluation of the Army's emerging training simulation capability for division and higher collective battle command training.

The Multi-Resolution Federation-Warfighter's Simulation May 11-22 at Fort Leavenworth's Battle Command Training Center was a unique composition of the Joint Land Component Constructive Training Capability.

The Army is phasing out its use of the Corps Battle Simulation, which has for many years been the primary simulation of the JLCCTC MRF used to support corps and division warfighter exercises and mission rehearsal exercises, and replacing it with Warfighters' Simulation. WARSIM provides the detailed modeling required to adequately represent modern operations, both lethal and non-lethal, and the wide range of combat multipliers and operational/strategic factors that must be coordinated to ensure mission accomplishment.

WARSIM is designed to provide realistic modeling of operational activities and phenomena to enable training and mission-rehearsal activities for Army and, when linked to selected other simulation tools, joint commanders and their staffs, for operations across the spectrum of conflict.

WARSIM is a computer-based software simulation that runs on Army-approved hardware to support the planning, decision-making and operational execution of unit commanders and their staffs from division through theater level as well as the training events in educational institutions. Designed and built using modern computer technology, modern software engineering techniques, and verified and validated algorithms and databases, it will allow units worldwide to train using their organizational real-world command and control equipment.

Brig. Gen. Robert Abrams, then-deputy commander, Combined Arms Center - Training, directed NSC and BCTP in June 2008 to determine the feasibility of employing the MRF-W in a real-world exercise construct, as a methodology for ensuring a highly comprehensive MRF-W operational readiness exercise. This year's ORE objectives were to test MRF-W under a "near-warfighter scenario" to determine if it was capable of providing adequate simulation/stimulation support for a typical BCTC WFX/MRX, and to provide feedback to PEO-STRI/PM-ConSim on areas of strength, weakness, and/or failure of the MRF-W to provide acceptable support.

NSC and BCTP tested the system continuously for four days and nights. The MRF-W ORE exercise network was international in scope, with simulation system workstations located in the BCTC and NSC at Fort Leavenworth, and in the Korea Battle Simulation Center at YongSon, Korea.

The major participants in this effort brought unique responsibilities and capabilities to the combined effort.

The TRADOC Capability Manager - Joint Land Component Constructive Training Capability is the Army's constructive training simulations Combat Developer, responsible for identifying and documenting requirements for training simulation capabilities, and then translates those requirements for the Army's material developers. Supported by the NSC, TCM-JLCCTC ensured a constructive training simulation "toolkit" provided realistic and relevant simulations to support collective battle command training and mission rehearsal, and also education activities at the various schools and centers.

BCTP conducts or supports combined arms training that replicates joint, interagency, intergovernmental and multi-national operations in a full spectrum contemporary operational environment at worldwide locations, in accordance with the Army Forces Generation Model for brigades, divisions, corps, Army service component commands and joint force land component commands. BCTP creates training experiences that enable the Army's senior battle commanders to develop current, relevant, campaign-quality, joint and expeditionary battle command instincts and skills.

The Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation in Orlando, Fla., develops integrated, relevant simulations and stimulations for Army users to conduct training and mission rehearsal exercises. PEO-STRI operates in support of BCTP for the MRF-W ORE.

The operational evaluation identified some previously undocumented yet significant flaws, and the NSC and BCTP reported to PEO STRI that the MRF-W had some fixes that needed to be made before it was ready for a full warfighter exercise. The PM-ConSim expressed confidence that the critical fixes could be accomplished relatively quickly, and identified an opportunity for a follow-on ORE at a 2nd Infantry Division exercise in November 2009.

An improved version of the MRF-W will be used for an ORE with command post exercise, preceded by a ramp-up and rehearsal in October 2009. All parties are planning and working as a team to bring about the next phase of evaluation and feedback to ensure the best possible simulation capability is provided to the Army when the MRF-W is formally delivered in early 2011.