"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.

"This report discusses tile Army's initial research into converting Force 21 Training Program (FXXITP) products to meet the increasingly pressing training needs of digital battle staffs. The report describes tile activities and outcomes of tile U.S. Research Institute for tile Behavioral and Social Sciences (ARI) Force 21 Training Program Digital (FXXITP-D) project. The project developed an approach that supports tile conversion of existing training products in order to meet new training needs. During tile project, the conversion approach was employed to research and enact conventional to digital conversions of selected FXXITP products, including tile Battle Staff Training System (BSTS) and Combined Arms Operations at Brigade Level, Realistically Achieved Through Simulation (COBRAS) vignettes, Brigade Staff Exercise (BSE), and Brigade and Battalion Staff Exercise (BBSE). In addition to tile conversion approach and prototype digital training products, tile project identified a number of lessons for tile continuing development of digital training and the digital force."--Stinet.