Captain Glen Smith

1
Preliminary Research on Position and Personnel
Selection Criteria for MALE UAV Sensor Operators

• Captain Glen Smith
• Canadian Forces Experimentation Centre
• Ottawa, Canada

2
The Changing Nature of Work

• what are the implications of changes in the
  Canadian workplace into the next millennium for
  job analysis? Will the role, methods,
  procedures, and outcomes of job analysis change?
  What workplace changes are likely to have the
  most direct impact? What practical assistance
  can Canadian I/O psychologists provide in
  assisting new employers, employees, unions, and
  society in tailoring job analysis to meet these
  new emerging needs? R.D. Hackett, 1999

3
Changes in Military Thought

• Shift from conventional strategy to inclusion of
  net-centric warfare capabilities
• Use of modern technology to inform, control, and
  influence battlefield outcomes
• Through advanced technologies, multi-sensors on
  air, land, and sea assets are connected via
  secure internets to facilitate better command
  control

4
Ontology of Net-centric Warfare

• C4ISR Information Feedback is enhanced by
• Decrease in feedback time
• Increase in volume of information available
• Verification of ISR through real-time images

Wisdom
Strategic
Strategic decisions based on all available info
sources
Global plans and procedures
Understanding
Operational
Local plans and procedures
Status and adjustments
Optimal use of emerging technology verifies,
increases speed and accuracy of success
Tactical
Knowledge
Individual unit requirement and status
Provides a firm Basis for area/global actions
and decisions
Continuous cycle of task/re-task until objectives
achieved
5
What is Net-centric Warfare?
6
UAV Roles

• UAVs offer a new approach to ISR
• Low aerial profile, long endurance
• Fine detailed images relative to altitude and
  distance
• Constant ISR vigilance over areas of interest
• Sensor capability becomes eyes of the
  battlefield

7
Acceptable Overlap
Job Analysis
Knowledge
Skills
Military Occupations
Tasks
8
Initial Phases of Job/Personnel Studies with MALE
UAVs

• Field observations
• Robust Ram, Operation Grizzly, PLIX
• Instrument Development
• Structured interview schedule
• Electronic survey piloted
• Human Factors Survey initiated
• Job, task analysis projected to determine
  requirements

9
Subsequent Phases

• Simulation studies
• Based upon prioritized occupations
• Crew studies in concert with research conducted
  on other MALE UAV positions
• Field observations and experimentation
• Use of research for actual employment in upcoming
  field experiments integrating UAVs
• Final reporting and recommendations through
  appropriate chain of command

10
MALE UAV Sensor Operator

• Selection, training essential to effective
  development of CF air component of net-centric
  warfare, ISR enhancement
• Understanding of task, skill, knowledge
  determine human effectiveness of UAV support to
  ISR

11
Distribution of Knowledge for MALE UAV Sensor
Operator
12
Distribution of Tasks for MALE UAV Sensor Operator
13
Knowledge/Tasks Association by Duty Area for MALE
UAV Sensor Operators
A. Combat Information Organization B.
Operations C. Communications D. General
Aircrew E. Administration
F. Information System Management G.
Electronics H. Tactics I. Navigation J.
Infrared K. Radar
14
Current Job Personnel Findings

• Aircrew operational experience dividend
• Knowledge, ability to organize sensor information
  efficiently/effectively
• Knowledge applied to radar, infrared,
  navigational tasks

15
Conclusions

• Uninhabited aerial ISR makes sense and will be
  introduced into the CF in 2005
• Essential occupational abilities reside within
  the CF currently to operate, maintain, and
  support this emerging technology
• Job analysis, individual crew simulations
  concurrent to UAV introduction facilitate a
  smooth transition in human-technology related
  issues