Leveraging Technology to Maximize Soldier Training and Performance
CSDA: Leveraging Technology to Maximize Soldier Training and Performance
by Lieutenant General Michael A. Vane, U.S. Army
In the past few weeks and months numerous points and counterpoints have been made regarding CSDA…Connecting Soldiers to Digital Applications. Many of these points are valid; many are not. I would like to take a few minutes to clarify some of the concerns or misperceptions regarding this Army initiative.
First of all, there is no denying that the world as a whole and our Army in particular are in the midst of a technology firestorm. The explosion of smart phones in the civilian sector highlights the potential of these technologies and digital applications for the Army. If we do not get on board these evolving technologies, then the rest of the world will leave us standing at the station. The potential returns from these technologies are simply too great, particularly for enhancing training and tactical functions.
That’s why the Army Capabilities Integration Center (ARCIC) and the Army’s Chief Information Officer have initiated a pilot program under CSDA to explore the value for the individual Soldier. CSDA is not a materiel acquisition program, but a series of pilots and assessments that will evaluate the value added of smart phones and cellular connectivity to support new training approaches of the Army Learning Concept 2015 and the creation of a persistent learning environment. These assessments will also explore smart phone potential for accessing operational and institutional information. The great potential by employing commercially available devices is that it may permit the Army to rapidly update and share information at a fraction of the cost of developing military unique solutions via traditional methods.
CSDA seeks to exploit the digital generation’s comfort with off-the-shelf media technology. This allows the Army to supplement, extend, and partially transfer the training content out of the classroom and into the Soldier’s hand through smart phone technologies. From an initial pilot program, we found that students achieved improved training proficiency. Metrics, data collection and assessment of on-going pilots will help determine if Soldiers learning from hand-held technologies may be able to pick up course materials much faster and have greater retention when dealing with basic tasks. We will also determine the extent to which delivery of training content in this method may reduce the amount of time spent in class listening to lectures, but rather prepare Soldiers to engage in collaboration, problem solving and practical exercises when they come together in the classroom environment. Initial findings and tactical feedback from Soldiers with combat experience assigned to the Army Evaluation Task Force (AETF) already show great promise as exemplified by these comments: “Greatly improved my situational awareness…We could see what was going on in real time.” “The smart phone provided communication to the lowest levels…It helped us to see the positions of our battle buddies through a live tracker…Better than anything we already have.” Additional feedback gave high marks to Blue Force Tracking applications, increased battlefield visualization, and the ability to take pictures of the enemy, their weapons, and materials and send this information to the company TOC. Other battlefield applications under operational concept review that have great potential include: Threat Act Program that enables Soldiers to continuously search and update data sources for enemy activity in their area; Soldier Eyes that uses phone sensors for situational awareness on location and is tied to data sources that provide location, directions, and distances to enable appropriate movement; Media Share that allows Soldiers to submit photos or video helpful in the collection and analysis of intelligence; and an ISR feed providing day or night live video from a vehicle mounted camera. We are only scratching the surface. The Army plans to continue to exercise, evaluate, and search for more tactical applications that will connect the Soldier to the tactical network while protecting the data accessed by the phones, a concern and a challenge for information assurance.
Presently, the mechanism for providing smart phone capability to all Soldiers is still being explored. We are currently working to identify a strategy and business model which would allow the Army to conduct a firm cost benefit analysis for providing each Soldier with a smart phone. However, this decision has not been made since we are still at the concept exploration stage. The bulk of CSDA resides in eight pilot programs being tested and evaluated simultaneously by AETF Soldiers and students at Army training centers and schools. When implemented, CSDA will fundamentally change how Soldiers access information, data, and training content in both garrison and operational environments. The potential is much too great to stop now.
SWJ Note: Lieutenant General Michael A. Vane is the Director, Army Capabilities Integration Center, United States Army Training and Doctrine Command.
