Distributed Training For The Armor School: An Army Test For Training Modernization

The U. S. Army's overwhelming victory over Iraq in Operation DESERT STORM demonstrated the superior training our soldiers have received from the TRADOC school system. Maintaining battlefield superiority, however, requires continued research, development, and acquisition of training methodologies and devices incorporating the latest technological advances. The challenge facing the Army with the approach of the twenty-first century is to be ready to deploy and fight well-equipped enemies around the world in conflicts that span the full spectrum of intensities, with little or no warning. To prepare for diverse contingencies, the Army must continue to train to rigorous standards using the full scope of advanced training technologies (for example, computer-based instruction, video tape, video teletraining, simulators and simulations) for individual and collective training. The versatility of advanced training technologies in a military environment has already been proven during Operation

SHIELDETORM.

The Combined Arms Tactical Training Center (CATTC) at Ft. Knox, Kentucky, prepared reservists, Armor School students, and supported unit training for several tank battalions with simulation training to ment information that facilitated deployment to Southwest Asia without sending their transportation officers to the resident course. The Army's Distributed Training Program (DTP) will apply several advanced training technologies (in addition to printed lessons) to modernize resident training and ensure continued soldier excellence. The program will enable soldiers to pursue pre-resident. self-development. leader development, and Beginning in FY 1994. the U. S. Army Armor School will implement DTP pilot courses for BNCOC. ANCOC, and AOAC. Students scheduled to attend these classes will receive a pre-resident package of instructional materials covering current instruction. The material should be received at least 26 weeks prior to the beginning of the course. Lessons and tests must be completed prior to attendance at the resident course. Distribution of the AOAC Distributed Training Program Media Preresident Course (DT) Program course material will not shorten the resident course of instruction. It will remain 20 weeks in length and requires student PCS. The Distributed Training Program will promote training effectiveness by ensuring that all students enter the resident portion of BNCOC. ANCOC, and AOAC with a common base of knowledge learned during pre-resident instruction. This reduces student frustration and boredom associated with repeating material aC ready mastered by some, yet new to others. Students aniv-ing for the resident course of instruction will have a higher average knowledge level of course material. This will 8n- able them to "hit the ground running' and proceed at a rate of instruction that stimulates, motivates, and challenges all in attendance. Conversely, pre-resident in-reinforce tactical skills prior to deployment sustainment training at their homestation. struction will enable students to proceed at to the desert. The CATTC facility was also DTP is now in the proof-of-principle phase. their own rate to ensure maximum learning used for the train-up of replacements in Several proponent school courses were se-of prerequisite course material. Distributed theater. Other soldiers received live, inter-lected as pilots for reconfiguration and dis-Training will also enable soldiers to perform active Arabic language refresher courses, tribution. These include 12 Basic Noncom-their duties more effectively in their units using video teletraining, at their garrisons missioned Officer Courses (BNCOCs), four and enhance unit readiness. Industry stud-from the Defense Language Institute at Ft. Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Cours-ies have demonstrated that using ad-Ord, California, before deploying to Saudi es (ANCOCs). and eight Officer Advanced vanced training technologies has signifi-Arabia. Reserve officers completed the Unit Courses (OACs). Initially, pilots will consist cantly increased knowledge retention and Movement Officer course at their home sta-of course lessons reconfigured for distribu-job performance. tions, using lessons disseminated by video tion using printed instructional material. For more information, contact the U. S. teletraining and video tape from the US. Later, pilots will indude advanced training Army Armor School, Distributed Training Army Transportation School and the Army technologies to modernize, improve, and Office, Directorate of Training and Develop-Training Support Center at Ft. Eustis. Vir-enhance resident instruction and distribute ment, Ft. b o x, Ky. (DSN 464-6753 or ginia. Reserve units received critical move-courseware to the field. commercial (502) 624- 6753). ARMOR - 49