TacOps In Armed Forces Journal

[MajorH TacOps Developer]

The U.S. Army has been using "TacOps v4" under the title "TacOpsCav" (v400 through v402 ) since late January. The June-July 2002 issue of Armed Forces Journal Training & Simulation 2002 has an article on recent Gauntlet training exercises conducted at the Armor School at Fort Knox. TacOpsCav is prominently mentioned. When released, "TacOps v403" will be similar to "TacOpsCav v403", except for a different splash screen and a limit of 20 players in network play.

I could not find a way to get to the article at the Armed Forces Journal web site by using the table of contents for this issue, however the direct link shown below should get you to it.

http://www.afji.com/T&S/Mags/T&S2002/June_July/armytraining.html

The article does not appear to be copyrighted so I will repeat the text below for the benefit of those having trouble locating the original article at the web site.

Best regards, Major H.

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[begin quoted article]

US Army Training

Fighting 100 Battles

Maj. Doug Henry, US Army

[Armed Forces Journal Training & Simulation 2002, June-July 2002, page 30.]

For almost two years, leaders, soldiers, and civilians at Fort Knox, KY have engaged in transforming our leader development courses and training methodology from knowledge-based, classroom-centric instruction to experience-based, battle simulation exercises. These exercises are called Gauntlets, and their purpose is to develop self confident, adaptive leaders who are prepared to lead combat-arms formations in an Army transforming itself to an Interim Force and then to an Objective Force. By fighting repeatedly ("fighting 100 battles") across the constructive, virtual, and live training environments, we provide a number of experiences by which the combat leader builds skills in pattern recognition, thus shortening the required decision-making time.

On 20 March, in an attempt to share this training methodology, the home of Armor and Cavalry hosted, umpired, and fought in a constructive Gauntlet exercise with students and cadre from other US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) schools.

WHAT IS A GAUNTLET?

Gauntlets are multi-echelon, multi-grade, battle-focused leadership experiences conducted in constructive, virtual, live, and distributed training environments. These exercises involve noncommissioned officers from the NCO Academy; lieutenants from the Lieutenants Course; scouts from the Scout Leaders Course; captains from the Captains Course or Cavalry Leaders Course; and, when possible, lieutenant colonels and colonels from the Pre-Command Course, all working together as a team to solve complex tactical problems.

The merging of several grades of students, overseen by a common cadre, is the key to the Gauntlet approach. This organization for training is in sharp contrast to today's more traditional peer-based training models. The Gauntlet exercises provide command and leadership experiences that are evaluated by trained small-group instructors serving as observer/controllers, thus providing each student with valuable insights that are considered by many as "just-in-time" training for their future assignments.

Our Army has 170,000 soldiers and civilians deployed and stationed around the globe in 120 countries, gaining different experiences across the full spectrum of operations. They are training for war, they are keeping the peace, and they are combating terrorism. They are also counting on their leaders and our training institutions to get it right.

The Gauntlet training methodology closes the experiential gap by immersing our leaders in exercises that demand that they fight more and talk less, and evaluates them on whether they win or lose in the short-sword fight. These professional experiences provide memorable battlefield wisdom to our future leaders, not written exams that are soon forgotten. Each battle reinforces the realistic physical and mental demands and choices necessary for training our leaders for battle command.

DISTRIBUTED CONSTRUCTIVE GAUNTLET

The 20 March exercise hosted by Ft. Knox was titled the Distributed Constructive Gauntlet. This first-of-its-kind event would not have been successful without the participation of other TRADOC schools-Ft. Benning, GA (Infantry); Ft. Bliss, TX (Air Defense); Ft. Leonard Wood, MO (Engineer and Military Police); Ft. Rucker, AL (Aviation); and Ft. Sill, OK (Artillery). In future distributed exercises, we plan to expand the number of schools involved by integrating those whose training focus is combat support and combat service support.

Students assigned to small groups from each school participated and gained a combined-arms experience focused on battle command and those battlefield operating systems within their formations. This training experience replicated realistic unit-like conditions that are uncommon in the traditional institutional training experience. Armor Pre-Command Course students (colonels and lieutenant colonels) served as brigade and task force commanders for this exercise, while officers (majors and captains) and non-commissioned officers (sergeant first class and staff sergeants) served in their respective brigade and battalion staff and company command positions.

The scenario for the brigade offensive operation took place in the state of Kamhairistan, where a significantly large al Qaeda network was present. The al Qaeda and its Taliban allies were attempting to destabilize the nation and its neighboring countries.

THE SIMULATION TOOL

The primary constructive simulation used in TRADOC's Distributed Constructive Gauntlet exercise was TacOpsCav, version 4.01, which was delivered to Ft. Knox on 23 January 2002. The simulation was introduced in 1999, when Captains Course students began using it to develop and direct their orders in a classroom environment. By giving our instructors the necessary training strategies, the students began seeing the results of their actions like never before.

On 30 September 2000, the 16th Cavalry Regiment at Ft. Knox contracted for the Army-wide usage and distribution license for a custom version of TacOps, called TacOpsCav. Since then, small group instructors, students, and others have collaborated with developer I. L. Holdridge, Major, USMC-ret., in testing and improving upon the capabilities of earlier versions of TacOps. Significant improvements to this constructive simulation, which is used widely at Ft. Knox, include a network capability that allows multiple computers to fight battles with multiple players. During the TRADOC Gauntlet exercise, 28 computers participated, at Ft. Knox. An additional 13 computers were located at sites other than Ft. Knox. Each player was given an identification number to identify the player's own forces and allow the host/umpire to make rapid task-organization changes, which are absolutely necessary on today's fluid battlefield.

Meeting the demands of the contemporary operational environment, TacOps can place civilians - by type (policemen, non-governmental organizations, dignitaries, and others) - on the battlefield. The host/umpire can control the situational awareness of each player by enabling friendly-vs.-friendly "fog of war" scenarios, where players can only observe each other by line of sight and use what the characteristics of terrain provide them. The host/umpire also can set the rules of engagement for each color-vs.-color permutation to either "free-fire" or "self-defense" modes. In addition, TacOps reflects a marked improvement in the capability to use engineers to shape the operation by building or removing obstacles, minefields, entrenchments, bridges (by classification), and landing zones.

COMMON OPERATING PICTURE

The common operating picture (COP) for this exercise was provided to the brigade and subordinate unit commanders through two mediums: students fighting and observing their unit's actions on computer monitors, and staffs using battle-tracking maps in command posts. The COP was displayed at a scale and level of detail that meet the information needs of each echelon of command. As a result, the situational understanding developed through the COP fostered initiative in subordinate unit commanders by reducing, although not eliminating, uncertainty. This is exactly what we want our future leaders to experience in the institutional environment.

All radio nets for this exercise were replicated by open teleconferences between the multiple sites. Small groups from each of the schoolhouses reported all operational and administrative traffic related to their units in this manner.

ORGANIZING FOR COMBAT

The exercise director for the Distributed Constructive Gauntlet was the Armor School and Center's Deputy Commanding General. He was responsible for inviting other TRADOC schools to participate in this training event and demonstrate "a way" for distributed constructive training across TRADOC commands.

The deputy exercise director is the squadron commander responsible for the conduct and training of captains attending the Captains Course. The intent, guidance, and concept of this exercise, given to his staff and small group instructors, were instrumental in setting the conditions for a first-class exercise.

The exercise controller was a major assigned to the Armor School, who was responsible for all technical aspects related to TacOpsCav, connectivity between schools, and teleconference communications.

The higher controller was an Australian major assigned to the Armor School, who was responsible for tactical orders and role-playing higher headquarters.

The Chief Observer/Controller was a major who operates our Captains Course. His responsibilities included developing both a collection plan for the observer/controllers and the tactical after-action review. All after-action reviews supported bottom-up, two-way conversations that furthered the professional growth of all participants and improved how we conduct future distributed exercises.

Small group instructors at the schoolhouses ensured that all exercise participants understood the constructive simulation and the scenario.

PRECEDENT-SETTING EXERCISE

The Distributed Constructive Gauntlet conducted by TRADOC schools in March set a precedent for how we want to train battle command across the different echelons and grades in the institutional environment. We have only scratched the surface on the possibilities of what can be accomplished when we invest some intellectual capital and share ideas, while training outside the walls of our respective institutions. There is much merit to the thought that distributed Gauntlet exercises may facilitate a future combined-arms environment that doesn't necessitate a change towards having several distinct centers. Such creative thinking, with the use of 21st century training tools such as TacOps, is just one example of how the Army has begun developing the characteristics of Objective Force leaders in the institutional environment.

[End of quoted article]

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[minmax]

Major,

Well congrats sounds like TacOpsCav is a big hit at Armor University.

I have one question and it may already be on the infamous wish list. Is there code for random vehicle breakdowns. I was considering this the last time I was using TacOps Vers. 3.1.1 to work a tactical problem over a long distance. Well enjoy the rain and heat in Texas.

[MajorH TacOps Developer]

>Is there code for random vehicle breakdowns.

No.

[Redwolf]

In multiplayer mode the umpire will be able to go around and damage and repair vehicles.

[LibertyOrDeath]

<The scenario for the brigade offensive operation took place in the state of Kamhairistan, where a significantly large al Qaeda network was present. The al Qaeda and its Taliban allies were attempting to destabilize the nation and its neighboring countries.>

I wonder which map they used. Or is this classified info?

[MajorH TacOps Developer]

It was probably one of the NTC Ft Irwin maps.