Allied Command Transformation takes Distributed Learning to higher level

“We have to work more together, and not just side by side with individual nations, must also share more, exercise together and train together so that we can fight together.”

This was the perspective of Lieutenant General Karlheinz Viereck, NATO’s Allied Command Transformation Deputy Chief of Staff Joint Force Trainer, on the future of joint training and e-Learning during a panel discussion in Orlando, Florida Wednesday 30 November.

As NATO continues to work toward perfecting “Smart Defense”, training and education has been one of highest priorities for NATO and NATO Members.

During the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC), NATO launched its new e-Learning concept online, which will provide nations the opportunity to develop training to a NATO standard. This is one major project that Joint Force Trainer (JFT) has completed as NATO continues toward furthering training and education processes across nations.

According to Viereck, the next challenge is “to enhance training and education to benefit the new NATO Force Structure,” he went on to say that “training is a vehicle for soldiers across all nations to train together in a standardised fashion.”

During the conference, ACT also had the opportunity to demonstrate a new virtual training program called “Village Survey”. This program is developed by Engineering and Computer Simulation (ECS) and has helped in the training of leaders in both military and civilian organizations.

According to U.S. Navy Commander Jo Sarmiento, an ACT Modeling and Simulation-representative, the “Village Survey” is a virtual program designed to mitigate the stress that can occur between military and civilian organisations during operations.”

“ACT looked for a tool to help minimise the friction that can occur between the military and civilian leadership conducting operations, humanitarian aid and other missions around the world. This program has the potential to go into cross-cultural understanding and communication,” said Sarmiento.

During the conference, ACT had the opportunity to demonstrate this capability to industry-leaders, academia and representatives of NATO and other countries to get their buy-in on e-Learning and the Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) program.

“This conference is a great way to find out what agencies are working on similar projects and how we can collaborate with them in creating and implementing more cost effective and efficient programs for service members and civilians,” said Sarmiento.