DMOC - Massive Simulation
The Distributed Missions Operations Centre of the US Air Force entrusts Presagis STAGE to create thousands of entities for its large-scale training events.
The United States Air Force Distributed Missions Operations Center of Excellence (DMOC) entrusts STAGE from Presagis to create thousands of entities for its large-scale training events.
The USAF DMOC is one of the largest simulation facilities in the world. As part of the US Defense Secretary's Training Transformation Initiative, DMOC's mission is to develop and support theater-level synthetic battlespace events for Air Force, joint, and coalition warfighters, spanning training threads from the operational level through the tactical level of combat.
Specifically, the DMOC develops and integrates joint Distributed Mission Operations (DMO) warfighter training, testing, and experimentation, often combining training and testing simultaneously, where applicable. This is achieved through full-spectrum DMO for warfighters and testers, through true Air Force/joint/coalition DMO interoperability, and through seamless DMO support for communities with varied training and testing objectives.
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Rather than hosting many local simulations, DMOC conducts large-scale events that link distributed simulators to create an environment in which training or testing may take place. DMOC's specialty is to provide a robust environment that enables training for the operators in simulators who plug in to the DMOC battlespace. This robust environment is designed around a best-of-breed approach with respect to computer generated forces. DMOC's flagship event is called Virtual Flag (VF), which is a joint quarterly exercise that trains hundreds of Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marine personnel through sophisticated, real-world scenarios and operational plans. Training so many people in so many fields for real-world interactions requires massive simulations. According to Major d'Artagnan R. de Anda, Chief of the Distributed Warfare Center, a best practices organization within the DMOC, "The intrigue of DMOC and VF is in the sheer size of the combined fight we generate. Our development shop can create simulations for just about anything." In fact, the resources of DMOC are now being increasingly used as part of pre-deployment training. As de Anda explains, DMOC is "gearing up to support Major Combat Operations training in at least 75% of the VFs that we conduct." Furthermore, the DMOC has been chartered by Higher Headquarters to start delivering one Coalition-focused VIRTUAL FLAG each year starting in 2009. |
The intrigue of DMOC and Virtual Flag is in the sheer size of the combined fight we generate. |
STAGE Joins the Blue Team
In 2001, DMOC began using Presagis STAGE as its blue-air environment generator. According to de Anda, "STAGE is used primarily for three functions. First, it is used to operate constructive blue-air entities that can be driven by White Force operators into the event. White Force operators at the DMOC may or may not be mission qualified in the STAGE airframe they are operating. The need to be able to bring an airman up to speed to fly STAGE aircraft in minimal time is critical. New STAGE operators traditionally are commanding aircraft in the synthetic battlespace within an hour of being on console. Second, it supplements the air picture as seen from the cockpits, adding significant quantity to the blue force that is being presented. Operators in simulators around the world don't know whether the wing-man they're flying with is another manned simulator, or a constructive replication coming from STAGE. And, third, it increases our capabilities to realize effective communication and other training objectives."
One of the key reasons that DMOC chose to use STAGE is because of its intuitive User Interface. Explains de Anda, "Our White Force personnel change out every VF, so we need an intuitive UI that lets us get straight to flying the constructive simulations. STAGE provides this capability as our White Force drivers pick up on the interface in short order."
Additionally, DMOC needed a powerful solution since typical VF events require the generation of thousands of blue-air entities. STAGE was more than up for this challenge. Says de Anda, "STAGE can handle on the order of 10,000 entities. This is the going requirement to support VF-size events. In fact, during VF testing and integration, STAGE showed no discernable fidelity degradation when tested against 9,000 blue-air entities."
Bringing STAGE On Board
When it came time to integrate STAGE into their environment, DMOC turned to Presagis' Professional Services for Program Start Up and Content Creation services. According to Laura Schmid, Director of Professional Services at Presagis, "DMOC has a complex high tech environment composed of many disparate simulators. Our consultants gave guidance on optimal methods for integrating the new STAGE tool into their environment and assisted with the integration."
During the integration process, several customization requirements for DMOC were uncovered. Engenuity consultants were hired to quickly build these customizations so that DMOC could make full use of the tools as quickly as possible. In addition, the consultants helped the DMOC team learn best practices and guidelines for using and further customizing STAGE.
Developing Large-Scale Events
A typical VF event begins with a planning cycle about 270 days before the event is to be conducted. The DMOC is planning two to three VFs in various stages of development throughout the year. At 120 days out, disparate units are invited to an Exercise Planning Conference to discuss training requirements. Following this conference, DMOC designs the network architecture and scenario development that will support the training objectives requested from the training audience. It is at this point that the team begins working with STAGE to put constructive blue-air entities into the event.
Two weeks prior to the event, they begin integrating the distributed sites and battlespaces. And, on the last Friday of integration, trainees are given the opportunity to become familiar with the actual system. The event itself is conducted for four 12 hour days, which include planning, briefing, executing, and debriefing. Each of these four days contains a 3 to 4 hour run. Following the training, an After Action Report takes about 30 days, during which time DMOC captures the lessons learned and forwards the results of the exercise to leadership."
In such large-scale event simulations, there are significant opportunities for commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) tools. However, as de Anda explains, “COTS vendors will have to remain competitive on price, incorporate open standards, such as those implemented by SISO, and work with government intelligence communities to deliver systems that work with predefined formats.”
Because of its interoperability, DMOC has already committed to maintaining STAGE as an integral part of its VF event development. To this end, DMOC has purchased the rights to the STAGE code in order to be able to modify it for their own use. And, as they move forward, DMOC will continue to roll their in-house modifications into the next baseline version of STAGE.
STAGE can handle on the order of 10,000 entities. This is the going requirement to support VF-size events."
Major d’Artagnan R. de Anda,
Chief of the Distributed Warfare Center