The Strategic Role of UCATT Standards to NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence Mission
(Room S320A)
27 Nov 18
4:30 PM
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5:00 PM
The undertaking of field training exercises (FTX) has always been the foundation of the militaries’ preparations for war or for operations other than war (OOTW), like peace-keeping, peace-enforcing or disaster response operations. Even though these exercises are far more expensive than virtual training or on-the-map staff training, they serve an irreplaceable purpose in unit readiness training. Live training offers friction that virtual and constructive training (purposely) doesn’t. Friction and logistical problems that a field commander will have to deal with during the deployment of his unit. Field training exercises also offer the training audience the necessary training of the mental component that is delivered by the terrain, weather and sleep deprivation. In 2002, a Team of Experts from NATO Army Armaments Group (NAAG) completed a feasibility study to investigate the need for a generic set of requirements for NATO/Partnership for Peace (PfP) countries in relation to live instrumented training. The conclusion was that several potential interoperability areas were identified and assessed to be worthy of further investigation. In accordance with NATO policy, an Urban Combat Advanced Training Technologies (UCATT) Product Development Group was then instated through SISO and continues to expand the requirements set and standards for Live training. This paper will highlight the added value of live simulation and live training in current-day and the “post-Afghanistan and Iraq” era. It will also illustrate the purpose and return-on-investment of M&S standards in a very pragmatic way, by means of present-day cases and examples. Finally, the modus operandi of the UCATT Working Group (and predecessors) will be highlighted, together with an outlook towards future interoperability efforts of the group and its vision on alliance interoperability in the live domain.