Engineer presents professional information designed to keep U.S. military and civilian engineers informed of current and emerging developments within their areas of expertise for the purpose of enhancing their professional development.
Issue link: https://engineer.epubxp.com/i/145930
By Mr. Robert B. McFarland T he new Maneuver Support Center of Excellence (MSCoE) Digital Training Facility (DTF), Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, offers professional military education students an enhanced educational experience. The DTF is a 62,000-square-foot, stand-alone, state-of-the-art educational facility with a focus on the use of Army common digital communication systems, gaming platforms, and constructive simulation exercises to educate and train the institutional force (U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command [TRADOC]) and the operational force (U.S. Army Forces Command [FORSCOM]) for the current operational environment. In addition, new technologies can be incorporated as they arise. Before the opening of the new DTF, digital training took place in the MSCoE Battle Simulation Center. A phased transfer of equipment and instructors began in September 2012; and within a month, instruction was underway in the new DTF. By November 2012, the DTF was operating at full capability and all instruction that was previously conducted in the Battle Simulation Center was occurring in the DTF. More than 12,000 TRADOC and FORSCOM Soldiers were trained in the Battle Simulation Center and DTF during 2012, and it appears that the number will be exceeded for 2013. May–August 2013 Planning for the DTF facility began in 2001. In 2004, an engineering frm presented the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with a 35 percent design plan. The funding necessary to proceed was received in 2008, and an architectural frm was hired to complete the initial part of the project. The Kansas City District, Northwestern Division, Corps of Engineers, supplied the project manager. The second part of the project—the actual construction—began in the fall of 2011. The DTF supports the Army decision to embrace the use of digital platforms for the training and education of TRADOC and FORSCOM forces. These digital platforms, which are available in a variety of confgurations, fall under the auspices of several program offces. The MSCoE DTF supports— ■ Mission command instruction on common digital communication systems (such as Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below [FBCB2] with Joint Capabilities Release (JCR) software and Command Post of the Future [CPOF]) and on other digital systems (such as Tactical Ground Reporting [TiGR]). Furthermore, unique applications such as the Joint Effects Module (JEM) and the Joint Warning and Reporting Network (JWARN) are integrated to support the education of U.S. Army Engineer 39