Microgames for the Assessment and Augmentation of Cognitive Readiness Skills (MAACRS)

Despite improvements in procedural assessment and training, little advancement has been made in enhancing cognitive readiness, the mental preparation needed to flexibly sustain high levels of performance in unpredictable combat environments. Existing assessment tools, including psychological batteries and computer-based instruments (e.g., the Army Cognitive Readiness Assessment battery) are inaccessible to warfighters for a number of reasons: 1) they present information that requires psychological interpretation, limiting their usefulness to warfighters and commanders; 2) they often require controlled environments, significant time periods, or complex equipment, making them unavailable while deployed; 3) they fail to address both assessment and augmentation requirements; and 4) they fail to engage warfighters, reducing incentive to continue assessment and training. To address these issues, we propose to design a suite of Microgames for the Assessment and Augmentation of Cognitive Readiness Skills (MAACRS). MAACRS will include three components: 1) an Assessment and Augmentation Suite that provides accessible and engaging microgames to evaluate and train essential cognitive readiness competencies; 2) a Cognitive Readiness Skills Model that provides a tailored curriculum and microgame objectives for individual warfighters; and 3) a Cognitive Readiness Review Application that provides summative performance results to improve individual warfighter and commander understanding of readiness.