Photo By Spc. Charles Leitner | U.S. Army Sgt. Jake Gilson, a combat Headquarters Support Company, Headquarters and...... read more read more
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FORT RILEY, Kan. – During the last iteration of the four-part Danger Ready exercise, a large-scale combat simulation, division staff elements continued to test their decision-making capabilities while preparing for warfighter (AC24) across various locations across Fort Riley, Kansas, between Jan. 29 and Feb. 2, 2024.
The soldiers serving in the U.S. Army undergo continuous training and development. The 1st Infantry Division, in particular, employs large-scale combat simulations to ensure their units are effective and ready for the ever-changing nature of modern warfare. By integrating multi-domain operations doctrine into their simulated training, the ground forces in the 1st Infantry Division are better equipped to tackle real-world challenges.
“Using the synthetic training environment allows us to execute staff functions at scales that we couldn’t do without procuring large quantities of land,” said Maj. Sean Meade, chief of current operations at the 1st Inf. Div. “My role as the chief of current operations (CUOP) is to utilize the integration process to achieve the desired results, ultimately leading to the accomplishment of the commander’s intent.”
Simulating combat operations through training exercises has been a common practice for many years. Whenever a commander needs a clear view of a unit's area of operations, military strategists, staff officers, and soldiers work together to create simulated environments to prepare allied forces for upcoming engagements. Even before the founding of the country, military commanders had large maps drawn to visualize battle strategies.
In preparation for the Normandy invasion, significant efforts were made for Operation Overlord. Commanders and planners made extensive arrangements to provide proper training to thousands of troops from different countries and branches of the military. They devised training methods that conserved vital resources and minimized the overall training area, as there were constant threats of espionage and sabotage.
Veterans of the U.S. Army's most recent engagements in Afghanistan and Iraq recall the use of large sand tables molded from the earth. They used backhoes and excavators to create hyper-realistic terrain models large enough for command teams to stand in. This method enabled them to view an active battlespace from different perspectives, such as from inside deep valleys or city blocks.
“Twenty years ago, the simulation was very elementary because computers were still coming into the mainstream," said Maj. Michael Swientek, the 1st Inf. Div. simulation officer. "The computing power wasn't there to provide the number of entities we provide in the simulation today. That will continue to grow as we look towards how we will do training in the future.”
Simulated training exercises have proven to be successful on the battlefield at every level. With the advancement of technology, particularly the availability of more powerful computing options, Soldiers now have access to more comprehensive training simulations. This has allowed for the creation of more realistic problem sets, enabling Soldiers to train in a broader range of environments. Since the development of more advanced technologies, especially with the rise in more commercially available computing options, Soldiers have been given more comprehensive access to the means to produce even more realistic problem sets, therefore increasing their ability to train in more diverse environments.
“The fundamental concepts of combat for the 1st Inf. Div. have not changed," said Swientek. "Even though the technology has continued to evolve and change, the basic requirements of what we do are still there. We still have fires. We still have maneuver. We still have sustainment requirements. The speed and the technology definitely have changed and will continue to evolve, but the basics still exist.”
The Danger Ready simulation, constructed under a set of guidelines dictated by Maj. Gen. John V. Meyer III, commander of the 1st Inf. Div., was designed to give Soldiers the most realistic opportunity to train under conditions present during large-scale combat operations.
“We’re seeing it daily as the Army goes through its redesign and how we organize our divisions to fight,” said Swientek.
Simulation officers and strategists have the ability to modify and control almost every aspect of a training scenario to match the training requirements of a unit. Various departments within the division, such as armor elements, infantry platoons, legal departments, and public affairs shops, can also be tested. Various situations that can impede combat operations, such as ineffective supply chains or adverse weather conditions, can be observed, experienced, and resolved. Commanders can leverage advanced technology to enhance the range of challenges that their decision-makers might face, providing more opportunities to learn and enhance their skills.
“It doesn't help if we go right out of the gate and they encounter OPFOR (Opposing Force), and they're not able to achieve those training objectives, and they're fighting through problems from the start," said Swientek. "We have to tailor where they're able to learn and grow, but we are creating realistic, challenging problems for the division to work through.”
Simulation officers have several ways to improve realism within simulated environments. The adjustable dials are designed to tailor training to the specific needs of each unit. Controlled training environments can create large-scale problems that mimic real-world scenarios and challenge division staff elements to identify and counter them as long as they align with the commander's training objectives.
“You can simulate effects like the weather, the enemy, the terrain, etc. Anything that you want to, you can simulate to train against it," said Meade. "You lose the value of being able to get out and actually walk the terrain, but the resources necessary to get out and walk the terrain on the scale that we're doing this exercise is not feasible. So, it is a very good training value to be able to use the simulation.”
Danger Ready training progressed with each iteration, incorporating broader training levels that integrated units from the U.S. Army's V Corps and other global partners and allies. As a culmination of this program, Lt. Gen. Alfons Mais, the Chief of the German Army, visited Fort Riley to interact with soldiers and officers during their training, with the aim of fostering interoperability among partners and allies.
As the 1st Inf. Div. prepares for AC24, opportunities to improve the division's warfighting capabilities will continue with it's Year of Victory initiative.
| Date Taken: | 03.04.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 03.06.2024 09:49 |
| Story ID: | 465262 |
| Location: | FORT RILEY, KS, US |
| Web Views: | 74 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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