Tool for Rapid Assessment of Cognitive Readiness in Teams (TRACR-T)

Cognitive readiness (CR), is the fit of cognitive state to a task or mission. High CR enables successful execution of tasks and missions and supports good decision-making under the complex and dynamic conditions common to military operations. In these environments, where the consequences of poor performance can be catastrophic, CR assessment could enable leaders to ensure that individuals and teams are ready to maintain safety and attain mission success. CR assessment could also improve training effectiveness and performance in real-world tasks by focusing limited pre-deployment training time on critical knowledge and skills for tasks they are not cognitively ready to execute. In Phase I, Aptima worked with the US Marine Corps Training and Simulation Division to identify CR assessment as a potentially powerful method for improving Small Unit Decision Making training for dismounted soldiers, who are the most vulnerable warfighters. Aptima developed a proof-of-concept Tool for Rapid Assessment of CR in Teams (TRACR-T), which will provide timely assessments of CR using relevant measurement tools and measures. Scientific objectives of this work include: (1) identifying reliable and valid measures for CR assessment; (2) evaluating the effectiveness of TRACR-T in assessing CR; and (3) identifying CR assessment benefits within dynamic training environments.