USJFCOM announces training milestone

One of the centerpieces of joint training's transformation recently reached its initial operating capability with an ultimate goal of joint warfighters who train in live, virtual, and constructive environments will experience realistic warfighting conditions.

By USJFCOM Public Affairs

(SUFFOLK, Va., Oct. 4, 2004) -- Training transformation achieved a major milestone when the Joint National Training Capability (JNTC) reached its initial operational capability (IOC).

The initial operational capability is significant to present and future warfighter training operations according to USJFCOM Joint Warfighting Center officials who are transforming warfighter training through the development of JNTC. Their work began in early 2002.

As the centerpiece of the Department of Defense's training transformation plan, this effort broadens and deepens the reach of joint force training. The other DoD transformation of training initiatives are the Joint Knowledge Development and Distribution Capability (JKDDC) led by the Joint Staff training office, and the Joint Assessment and Enabling Capability (JAEC) led by the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) Personnel and Readiness Office.

"Implementing JNTC enhancements involves changing current training methods and enhancing the joint context in military training. The services play an integral role in shaping this effort," said Navy Capt. David Frost, JNTC Joint Management Office director. "The goal is to provide warfighters with the most realistic joint mission experience possible - outside real-world operations - so that they are better prepared when called on for action."

Using a mix of live forces, virtual (simulators) and constructive simulations in an integrated network of training sites, this enhanced training environment offers 24-hour capability giving training audiences a common, real-time battlefield picture. This helps warfighters quickly identify and correct disconnects before they are involved in a real-world operation.

USJFCOM determined JNTC IOC as the ability to conduct three special categories of events to include:

• Horizontal: enhanced existing service training to improve interoperability and joint operation issues
• Vertical: strategic to tactical components joint training to improve vertical command integration
• Integration: enhanced existing joint exercises to address joint interoperability training in a joint context

"It was important that we conduct a series of tests and training events to evaluate new processes and technological infrastructures at a variety of training sites," said Frost. "Because JNTC is designed to address the full spectrum of warfare, we conducted different types of events that targeted various levels of interaction."

The major JNTC training events for 2004 included:

• Western Range Complex Horizontal Training Event - January 2004 According to JNTC officials, this event successfully demonstrated how JNTC could improve the value of the already superb training being conducted by the services through live, virtual, and constructive enhancements to the joint operational environment.

The event was the first tactical exercise of joint close air support (JCAS) with all service participation assessed to defined JCAS joint tactical task conditions and standards. It enhanced an adaptive and credible opposing force through the addition of fixed and rotary wing threats, unmanned aerial vehicles, threat emitters, threat targets, decoys, and civilian play.

• Combined Joint Task Force Exercise 04-2 (CJTFEX 04-2) - June 2004 This was an integration exercise that included multinational elements. JNTC enabled improved joint context and combat realism through virtual enhancements to Joint Close Air Support missions executed by AC-130 aircraft and the Army's Dismounted Battle Lab.

Joint command and control was improved when JNTC provided a Joint Data Translator in the target area, which allowed for the development of a deployable Blue Force Tracking Network which provided live feeds to an Internet-based operational picture.

A JNTC-enhanced opposition force operated against a multi-national amphibious assault and provided air assets against fleet and joint tactical air and missile defense units. CJTFEX 04-2 included forces from Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Peru, and the United Kingdom.

• Determined Promise 04 - August 2004 This was a vertical training event that featured a consequence management scenario and improved joint context through the interaction of U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM), the Department of Homeland Security and a host of local fire and emergency response organizations.

DP 04 featured the first use of a JNTC modeling and simulation enhancement that joined two models, the Joint Theater Level Simulation and the Joint Conflict and Tactical Simulation. The exercise also used Web-based tools to help improve collaboration and analysis specifically looking at weapons of mass destruction incident response.

• Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC)/Air Warrior II 04-09 - August 2004 This event served as the second horizontal training event that added joint virtual and constructive capabilities, enabling expansion of close air support.

According to command officials, key elements of this event included providing virtual communications and aircraft as well as improving the joint context by adding Air Force, Marine and special operations forces to a traditionally Army exercise.

The four pre-IOC events demonstrated through the JNTC environment, the ability to identify and correct disconnects in decision-making and command and control say USJFCOM officials. These events also set the stage for developing processes to certify training sites and accredit organizations and training programs as meeting given standards and technical capability to support and conduct joint events with appropriate context.

The next step in development of JNTC involves working towards full operational capability (FOC) on track for 2009.

By 2009, the DoD Strategic Plan for Training Transformation calls for the capability to train any audience - combatant commands, services, multinational and interagency -- in the full joint warfighting context.

According to current plans, at full operational capability, JNTC will provide warfighters and trainers access to:

• A persistent network to support a distributed live, virtual and constructive joint training environment, with a robust fully deployable mission rehearsal capability.
• A variety of certified sites and systems to allow for training on specific joint tasks in accredited training events.
• A technical gateway for improved interagency and multi-national joint training opportunities.
• A fully integrated environment for lessons learned, tests and experiments, and other warfighting capability development efforts.