Developing and Fielding a QuickStrikebased Air Support Operations Center ASOC Training System

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Developing and Fielding a QuickStrike-basedAir
Support Operations Center (ASOC) Training System

• Rich Jones, LtCol, USAF (ret), VT MÄK

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Air Support Operations Center (ASOC)

• The ASOC
• Subordinate element of the Air Operations Center
  (AOC) and the principle command and control (C2)
  node in the close air-ground battle
• Responsible for managing air assets in support of
  ground maneuver and in the execution of Close Air
  Support (CAS)
• Plays a critical role in ensuring the Army and
  the Air Force operate effectively together

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Post-deployment Training Review

• 111th ASOC training prior to deployment was
  intense and rigorous but incorrectly focused
• Deployment training had focused on a traditional
  linear fight
• Training available does not accommodate multiple
  models of warfare
• C2 systems in theater were different than those
  systems trained with
• Chat was a primary means of communication
• A training solution was needed so future training
  had the right focus and exposure to correct C2
  tools

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Leadership Guidance

• Find a way to capture the experiences we learned
  in theater so we can prepare better for the next
  time.
• Caveat Ensure the resultant approach was
  flexible enough to allow for a variety of warfare
  models, not just reactionary effort to the
  Afghanistan experience.

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Preliminary System Design

• Investigation determined
• Constructive simulation the most effective method
• A commercial-off-the-shelf solution was the most
  cost effective
• Requirements
• Cheap to purchase
• No ongoing contractor support required
• Could be run by an average squadron operator
• Unclassified for simple fielding and storage

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Initial Simulation Screening

• Three viable simulations were evaluated
• Decisive Action - A Division and Corps level
  simulation that depicts combat with maneuver
  brigades and battalions along with supporting
  artillery, air strikes. This game was used by US
  Army Command and General Staff College as a
  training tool for officers.
• Joint Conflict and Tactical Sim (JCATS) - A
  simulation sponsored by U.S. Joint Forces Command
  and managed from the commands Joint Warfighting
  Center. The military uses JCATS for training,
  analysis, mission planning and rehearsal.

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Initial Simulation Screening (cont)

• 3. Battle Command and its USAF version
  QuickStrike
• Designed with a game-like feel to support Army
  battalion and brigade commands and their staff
  officers in preparing and executing operations
  orders. The simulation is a military tactical
  trainer that allows commanders and their staffs
  to practice planning and execution skills in a
  simulated environment.
• QuickStrike was based on Battle Command but
  specifically designed for the US Air Force.

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Simulation Selection

• Battle Command was chosen as the best initial fit
  for the simulation engine
• Unclassified
• Easily operated with little instruction
• Provided free by MÄK Technologies (Now VT MÄK)
• With a minimum of familiarization training,
  squadron staff could drive the simulation as
  well as design and create new scenarios

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Game-like Interface

• Windows-like functionality
• Drag and drop objects
• Intuitive selection of entities
• Icon or menu selection of function
• No server requirement, load sharing
• LAN or WLAN multi-player capability
• Simple unit planning
• Pause and greater then real time capability
• Unit editor and terrain development tools
• AAR digital recorder with annotation function

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The ASOC Battle Simulation

• 111th ASOC had created the ASOC Battle
  Simulation. Radios, Joint Automated Deep
  Operations Coordination System (JADOCS), Tactical
  Air Control Party Close Air Support System (TACP
  CASS) were incorporated to provide more fidelity
  to training events.
• 111th ASOC also experimented with using the
  simulation in conjunction with Joint Terminal
  Attack Controller (JTAC) training events in the
  field.

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The ASOC Battle Simulation

• 111th ASOC hosts training conference
• ASOC Battle Simulation Demo for all ASOC
  representatives
• Training gap fill capability recognized by other
  ASOCs
• AFRL, Mesa, Air Combat Command initiate action to
  place this training capability at all ASOC
  mission squadrons
• System fielded to all squadrons Turnkey
  approach
• All hardware laptops, keyboards, additional
  monitors, network, cabling, projector, screen for
  COP
• All software QuickStrike, C2PC, JADOCS,
  FalconView, mIRC chat and server, MS Open Office
• On site setup network setup and training,
  operator training, scenario development training,
  control group training
• Iraq and Afghanistan scenarios and terrain
  provided

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Initial Configuration
JADOCS / FALCONVIEW / C2PC ALSO
AVAILABLE
C2PC COP
SOF Role-player and OC
Army Fires Role-player and OC
PRC 117f
QS
QS
MIRC
MIRC
MIRC
MIRC
MIRC
FDO
FDT
INTEL
Event Editor
Role Players JTAC/Aircraft Regional Cmds N, S,
E, W
COP
PRC 117f
Projector
QS
QS
QS
MIRC
MIRC
VOIP
MIRC
QuickStrike Facilitator and CAOC role player
QuickStrike Driver
1972S
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Expanded Configuration
1. TBMCS 2. JARN 3. ESTAT
4. C2PC 5. mIRC 6. UAV VIEW
Projected Screens
C2PC COP
ESTAT FLOW
UAV View
4
4
5
4
3
4
7
1
2
1
5
8
3
PRC 117f
JARN
INTEL
PC
ATOM
ASM
SIPR VOIP
PRC 117f
NIPR VOIP
QS
QS
QS
QS
DSN
1972S
CAOC
CRC
Aircraft
JTAC
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Fielded at all ASOCs Worldwide
RAF AOCC-L Netheravon UK
4th ASOS Mannheim, Germany
25th ASOS Hickam AFB Hawaii
ASOC - IQC Nellis AFB Nevada
111th ASOC Camp Murray Washington
168th ASOS Peoria Illinois
682nd ASOS Shaw AB South Carolina
712th ASOS Ft. Hood Texas
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Impact

• 111th ASOC deployed to Afghanistan in 2007
• Support to International Security Assistance
  Force (ISAF)
• ASOC embedded in Joint Operations Center, Kabul
• Advance team reported back to 111th
• Operational conditions
• Tempo
• C2 structure
• Tactics / techniques / procedures

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Impact (cont)

• 111th training managers easily updated scenarios
  and C2 configuration
• Pre-deployment training was focused
• Operators trained to combat readiness based on
  ASOC Battle Simulation checkride
• Spin-up time in theater minimal
• New arrivals already familiar with the toolsets,
  tempo, and processes
• Response to Troops-in-Contact situation
  standardized
• On-the-job training requirement significantly
  reduced
• Unit preparedness and performance vastly improved

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Training Shortfalls

• Modeling of training C2 system overly simplistic
• Training simulation of C2 based on US doctrine
  rather than NATO system in Afghanistan
• Understanding finer elements of NATO C2 structure
  required On-the-Job training
• Constrained by role-playing in stand-alone
  configuration
• No opportunity to participate in interactive
  exercise with other NATO agencies and understand
  their idiosyncrasies
• FDOs and FDTs required some time to adapt once
  deployed

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The Way Ahead

• Ability to model more complex C2 architectures
• Ability to integrate into a broader simulation
• Air Operations Center (AOC)
• Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTAC)
• Airborne Warning and Control Systerm (AWACS)
• Control and Reporting Centers (CRC)
• Wing Operations Centers (WOC)
• Employ the ASOC Battle Simulation to familiarize
  non-ASOC personnel with the CAS mission
• Army JOC staff
• AOC staff
• Incorporate preplanning aspects of air-ground
  support
• Ability to stimulate a simulated Army Air Support
  Request structure
• Integrate actual Army requests in a distributed
  simulation environment
• Maintain continuity in ASOC training staffs
• Keep trainers trained and flexible in adapting to
  new battle environments
• The continued effectiveness of the ASOC Battle
  Simulation rests with those charged with
  designing the training syllabus and developing
  the scenarios

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Conclusion

• ASOC Battle Simulation opened new era in ASOC
  training
• Affordable, mobile, turnkey system
• Flexible, extensible, game-like simplicity
• Lessons learned easily incorporated into
  scenarios
• The ASOC Battle Simulation has given every
  squadron with the ASOC mission the capability to
• Train to Win

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Developing and Fielding a QuickStrike-basedAir
Support Operations Center (ASOC) Training System

Rich Jones, LtCol, USAF (ret), VT MÄK