Development and Assessment of Battlefield Visualization Training for Battalion Commanders

摘要

Visualization--the art and science of developing situational understanding, determining a desired end state, and envisioning how to move the force from its current state to the desired end state--is critical to successful battle command, Unfortunately, the most common method of training battle command in today's Army is not the most effective method for developing expert visualization skills. Recent research on expertise indicates that experience alone, be it real or in simulated battle, is not adequate (Shadrick, Lussier, & Fultz, 2007). Instead, expertise is more likely to be attained through a combination of education, training, practice, and experience. For those reasons, the U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences (ARI) initiated an analysis to better understand how expert battalion commanders visualize battlefields, and to develop a structured, theme-based training program. Results of that analysis revealed four distinct dimensions of visualization (Build, Synchronize, Assess, and Exploit) and seven associated skills. The dimensions and skills provide the framework for End State: Commander Visualization at the Battalion Level, End State is an interactive training program designed to provide field grade officers and battalion commanders with education, training, practice, and experience in battlefield visualization. The training uses 3-dimensional animated coaches to relay the knowledge and perspectives of expert commanders and to provide immediate performance evaluation and feedback. In this paper, we discuss an analysis that led to the visualization framework and skills, the development of End State training, and the results of initial tests of End State with battalion commanders.