U.S. Army National Simulation Center wins top prize at Innovation Connection

By Stephen P. Kretsinger Sr., PQC contractor with the U.S. Army Combined Arms CenterAugust 10, 2016

U.S. Army National Simulation Center wins top prize at Innovation Connection
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Beth Colbert, acting director of the Office of Personnel Management, presents Lt. Col. Jeffery Bevington, chief leader of development education and training for the U.S. Army SHARP Academy, and Maj. Timothy Migliore, capabilities developer at the U.S... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
U.S. Army National Simulation Center wins top prize at Innovation Connection 2
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Timothy Migliore, capabilities developer at the U.S. Army National Simulation Center , presents the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Command Team Trainer -- also known as ELITE SHARP CTT -- at the Second Annual Kansas City Feder... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

The U.S. Army National Simulation Center won top honors at the Second Annual Kansas City Federal Executive Board Innovation Connection held at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library Tuesday, Aug. 9. The team presented the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Command Team Trainer -- also known as ELITE SHARP CTT. The NSC pitted the software against eight other techniques and products submitted from various government agencies. The event was presented in collaboration with the Office of Personnel Management.

Beth Colbert, acting director of OPM, presented the award to Lt. Col. Jeffery Bevington, chief leader of development education and training for the U.S. Army SHARP Academy, and Maj. Timothy Migliore, capabilities developer at the NSC, after the results were announced at the end of the event. Colbert acted as one of three judges with the responsibility of choosing a winner at this year's showcase.

"The three of us had a hard task choosing a winner, "Colbert said. "There were a lot of really interesting, important, innovative, creative, high-impact ideas that were presented."

Her advice to the different teams was keep working on their ideas whether they were awarded or not.

"My feedback to all of the entrees is: Please keep going," Colbert said. "These are all things that are worth doing, they are making a difference and they will make more of a difference in the future. We know we've caught you on one step of your journey and we'd encourage you to keep taking those next steps."

The ELITE SHARP CTT is a laptop training application and was developed under the guidance of the SHARP Program Management Office and in collaboration with the U.S. Army SHARP Academy. The purpose of the program is to provide U.S. Army command teams the knowledge, skills, confidence and ability to successfully execute the SHARP program. The ELITE SHARP CTT content incorporates U.S. Army-approved SHARP doctrine -- AR 600-20, evidence-based instructional design methodologies, and research technologies from the University of Southern California Institute for Creative technologies.

According to the USC website, The Elite SHARP CTT helps create a challenging yet engaging training experience using virtual humans, story-based scenarios and intelligent tutoring technology.

As stated on the USC Website, "The ELITE SHARP CTT software features three scenarios. These scenarios are based on relevant real-world Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault incidents that Command Teams may face on the job. Each scenario offers the user a chance to practice skills required by Command Teams to successfully respond to incidents of Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault. The package includes three phases: Up-front Instruction, Practice Environment, and an After Action Review."

According to the FEB website, Innovation Connection "was designed as a variation of a 'science fair' centered on innovations in the Federal Government. Federal employees submitted ideas or solutions to work-related issues focused as Samples, Exhibits, Handouts, Methodologies or Dashboards all designed to spark further creative efforts around the ideas or to push for implementation in daily business."

ELITE SHARP CTT is available for download on the MilGaming web portal at https://milgaming.army.mil.

Related Links:

U.S. Army National Simulation Center

U.S. Army SHARP Academy

Greater Kansas City Federal Executive Board

ELITE SHARP CTT