BATTLE II: Battlefield Airmen Training Technologies for LVC, ground-based Environments

Effective Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) training methods have been underutilized within ground-based training operations. More specifically, Battlefield Airmen training has not adopted the recent advances in blended reality (BR) technologies into their training due to specialized training requirements. To address this issue, the Aptima team plans to continue develop on a training system known as BATTLE, or Battlefield Airmen Training Technologies for LVC, ground-based Environments. The BATTLE system and associated technical components will provide a rugged BR prototype that facilitates, evaluates, and hopefully enhances LVC training for outdoor operation. The proposed solution will use a combination of existing BR technology and custom software to allow Battlefield Airmen trainees (e.g., Pararescue specialists [PJs], specifically) to interact with both live and virtual environments simultaneously. The BATTLE system will also serve as a training platform to evaluate learner engagement and training performance. The proposed system will increase effective training resource allocation by optimizing staff workload and lessening the need for live asset utilization, such as aircraft, hostile and friendly forces, and munitions. In summary, the BATTLE system proposes to alleviate the logistical, technical, and economic constraints that currently plague the utilization of BR in ground-based training.