The U.S. Army uses virtual systems for collective skills training. This report examines the needs for fidelity in simulators and associated costs to support effective and efficient collective training.

"The U.S. Army Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation Command (STRICOM) is developing the Close Combat Tactical Trainer (CCTT) to support maneuver training for platoon and company units. The CCTT is the first part of the Combined Anms Tactical Training (CATT) system providing operational training for combined arms foroes on a virtual battlefield. The U.S. Army Research Institute (ARI) also is developing structured CCTT training support packages TSPs) for required mission and task training. Successfiil structured training in the Virtual Training program (VTP) with Simulation Networking (SIMNET) established a model for similar CaT training. This report examines integrated system management needed to implement suceessfull training with the CCTT and its TSPs. While CCTT development has focused on simulation requirements, and TSP development has focused on training requirements, total system management has been a secondary consideration. Conceived in a Total Quality Management (TQM) framework, the report proposes processes designed to sustain and improve the training effectiveness of the CCTT thronghout system life. The emphasis is on continuous monitoring of training proces and products to provide management feedback, and establishing process action teams to define and solve system problems. The report identifies some training process indicators, and possible management Support tools."--DTIC.

"This report provides an historical account and analysis of the U.S. Army Research Institute's (ARI) research and development (R & D) efforts on structured simulation-based training (SST). These R & D efforts have led to the development of 30 research reports, 14 conference papers, and over 200 training support packages (TSPs). The developed TSPs focused on optimizing the simulation-based training opportunities for armor and mechanized infantry platoons and companies, and their battalion and brigade staffs. The TSPs have also been developed for representatives of a battalion's or a brigade's combat support and combat service support elements. This report's findings indicate that the developed TSPs would, if utilized properly, help the U.S. Army more fully exploit its advanced simulation-training systems. In addition, 43 lessons learned have been derived from these SST projects. The present report provides a central information source on ARI's SST efforts, and has important implications for future SST research and development efforts."--Stinet.

Discusses how to plan a staff ride of a battlefield, such as a Civil War battlefield, as part of military training. This brochure demonstrates how a staff ride can be made available to military leaders throughout the Army, not just those in the formal education system.

A series of research and development programs on structured simulation-based training (SST) were conducted during the period 1993-1999. These programs focused on developing SST training Support packages (TSPs) to meet collective training requirements for the combined arms at echelons of brigade and below. An SST development methodology was also produced. The purpose of the methodology was to support future TSP developments as requirements for them are identified. This report represents the second portion of a two-part examination of issues related to SST. The first report described the history of these programs and their lessons learned. This report presents findings in three areas which were either not directly addressed or insufficiently resolved in published SST reports. These areas are: the respective roles of the constructivism and behaviorism/Systems Approach to Training instructional theories in designing the SST TSPs; needs for additional information and SST- related research; and planning and logistical requirements for integrating and maintaining SST as a part of the U.S. Army training system. The information needed to address these three areas was obtained from structured interviews and questionnaires.