Innovative Training System to Accelerate Rapid Formation of Fully Functional Teams

This project will develop an innovative training system to deliver advanced instruction in HQ staff officer competencies that will produce effective joint task force (JTF) teams. Stalwart (System of Training to Accelerate Learning in Joint Warfighting Teams) blends on-line training with small-team scenario-based exercises to accelerate JTF HQ staffs’ acquisition of key compe-tencies (knowledge, skills, attitudes) identified in Phase I. Stalwart will present students with a sequence of learning events, linked to training objectives, that address tactics, techniques, and procedures expected of newly-designated staff. Web-enabled software controls training delivery, where interactive learning aids (ILAs) personalize the learning experience and accelerate acquisition of KSAs whose mastery will transfer to the operational environment. Training concludes with a capstone exercise, yielding a scorecard of an individual’s “readiness” to join an extant JTF staff. ILAs forming the training scaffold are a “wiki” to promote JTF terminol-ogy comprehension, multi-media documents with drill-down functionality to promote concept knowledge, interactive organizational charts and expertise profiles to promote transactive memory, avatar-directed tutorials for “virtual visits” to understand tactical issues at an operational level, and visualization tools to promote effects-based thinking. System effectiveness will be demonstrated through a Kirkpatrick-based multi-level evaluation and a controlled comparison to a no-treatment control.