CW21-JFLCC: Enhancing Joint Task Force Cognitive Leadership Skills

Educators require quick and inexpensive methods to familiarize Joint Task Force staff with the "cultures" of other Services, governmental and non-governmental agencies, as well as multi-national forces and populations of other countries in which operations are occurring in order to integrate their operations in a joint warfighting environment. Joint staffs need to be better prepared to deal with the human issues especially the differences between the Services with respect to Doctrine, Organization, Training and Education, Materiel, Leadership and Personnel. Hexagon has been developing computer technologies since 1998 that incorporate concepts enabling simulation of the challenges of increased "jointness" amongst the services. Following enthusiastic evaluation of Hexagon's Cyberwar XXI (CW21) prototype by Air Force, Army and other educational entities in 2004, they reported that they required a rigorous classroom tool like CW21 rather than a converted entertainment product. This Phase I effort will research the needs of the grounds forces component in cooperation with Army and Marine educational establishments for a course mediated by a version of the CW21 software tool. The Phase II objective is to develop a JTF computer-mediated training program to rapidly enhance the cognitive leadership skills and collaborative effectiveness of ground component staffs in a Joint Operation.