I/ITSEC 2007 Preview
MORE THAN 17,000 ATTENDEES AND EXHIBITORS EXPECTED FOR THE PREMIERE MODELING, SIMULATION AND TRAINING CONFERENCE IN THE WORLD
This year’s theme for the 2007 Interservice/ Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) in Orlando, Fla., is “Maintaining the Edge …Transforming the Force.” The message is appropriate for a U.S. military at war as well as one that is increasingly depending on simulation technology as a means to improve training and mission performance. More than 17,000 attendees and exhibitors from around the world are expected to attend this year's conference. The mission of I/ITSEC is to promote cooperation amoung the Armed Services, industry, academia and various government agencies in pursuit of improved training and education programs, identification of common training issues and development of multi-service programs. John Scott Williams, media relations director for the National Training Simulation Association, told MT2 That I/ITSEC is a “unique function” because it is the one time annually when all these different groups can interact with one another and exchange information. NTSA helps to put on the annual event. “It’s really an opportunity for the military and for industry to acquaint each other with the latest thinking and the latest breakthroughs,” said Williams. “It is also an opportunity for smaller corporations who have a niche product or a niche service to make those services and products known to larger corporations that are thinking about bidding, you know, prime contractors that are thinking about bidding on request for proposals, and need subcontractors who have these specialized skills and that sort of thing.” The increased role that simulations technology has taken on in the military training realm has also added importance and intrigue to this year’s show. “At a time when the military is strapped for resources, primarily financial resources, simulation technology is getting so sophisticated now that you can do a lot more with simulated environments than you could in the past,” Williams said. “It is a continuing development. It is really taking over.”
I/ITSEC HISTORY
Initiated in 1966 as the Naval Training Device Center/Industry Conference, the event has evolved and expanded through increased participation by the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and industry. In 1979, it became known as the Interservice/Industry Training Equipment Conference. The services have steadily evolved toward a total systems philosophy in the acquisition of training equipment and training delivery systems. In 1986, the conference name was further refined to the Interservice/Industry Training Systems Conference (I/ITSC) to recognize the increased importance of manpower, personnel and training aspects in the systems acquisition process. In 1992, the name was further changed to the Interservice/ Industry Training Systems and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) to reflect the consolidation of the Manpower and Training Committee (MTC) and the Technology and Innovation in Training and Education (TITE) Conference with I/ITSEC. This change emphasized the importance of education and the man-machine interface in meeting force-training requirements through simulation training, according to officials. In 1997, to reflect continued growth and changes in the industry, the conference name was refined to the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC).
ATTENDEES & EXHIBITORS
More than 17,000 attendees and exhibitors are expected for this year’s show, with about 20 percent of the attendees coming from foreign nations, according to I/ITSEC officials. The 160,000 square foot exhibit hall will feature over 500 exhibitors, giving attendees the unique opportunity to explore the latest developments and to talk with many of the contacts in industry, government and academia. Some of the previous exhibits at I/ITSEC have included displays on: training programs, medical applications, computer based 3-D graphics, advanced distributed learning, simulation equipment, communications, aerospace, convoy trainers, flight simulators, distributed simulation training, SCORM, national academia and information technology.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
This year’s service keynote speaker will be U.S. Air Force General William R. Looney III, commander, Air Education and Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. As commander, Looney is responsible for the recruiting, training and education of Air Force people. His command includes the Air Force Recruiting Service, two numbered air forces and Air University. Air Education and Training Command consists of 13 bases, more than 92,000 active duty, reserve, guard, civilians and contractors, and 1,750 trainer, fighter and mobility aircraft. The industry keynote speaker will be General Larry D. Welch, USAF (Ret.) and president of the Institute for Defense Analyses. Welch returned to the position of president and CEO of IDA on September 11, 2006. He had been a senior fellow at the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) since November 1, 2003. Prior to that, he served 13 years as the president and CEO of IDA following his retirement from the U.S. Air Force in 1990. He is a former chief of staff for the U.S. Air Force. During 38 years in the Air Force, Welch served in operation and staff assignments in training organizations and tactical fighter units worldwide to include combat in Vietnam. The Air Force is the lead service for this year’s show.
SPECIAL EVENTS
This year’s I/ITSEC conference will include several special events. One such event is the Warfighters’ Corner, a forum where airmen, soldiers, sailors, marines and coast guardsmen will share their personal experiences with the public about their duties and experiences overseas. There will be a session each day of the show that will feature recently returned veterans from the combat zones. Service representatives will tell their stories, their personal experiences, and present their views of what has or has not been effective in terms of tactics, techniques and equipment as relates to their day-to-day operations and training. Many of the speakers have served multiple tours in theater and have a sense of perspective of important issues over time. All Warfighters’ Corner sessions will be “joint,” meaning that representatives of each of the services will be present at every session. The presenters will discuss joint operations and also provide insights into the role of allies, international organizations and private organizations in theater.
CONGRESSIONAL MODELING AND SIMULATION CAUCUS
The Congressional Modeling and Simulation Caucus will hold a M&S Caucus panel at this year’s show to discuss issues in the M&S industry. The purpose of the M&S Caucus, which now has 24 members, is to showcase modeling and simulation initiatives, promote the M&S industry and be a forum to understand the policy challenges facing this growing and versatile technology. This past year, Caucus Chairman Randy Forbes (R-Va.) and members Bobby Scott (D-Va.), Tom Feeney (R-Fla.) and Ric Keller (R-Fla.) served on a panel that discussed a wide range of topics, including how the United States can utilize M&S technology in different ways, such as national issues like immigration. Participants also discussed the “humanelement” technology development, the advancement of M&S as a career path and the need to attract math and science students to the field. The most recent significant event of the caucus is the passage this summer of House Resolution 287. It is legislation declaring modeling and simulation a national critical technology that provides unparalleled advancements in American competitiveness, develops new and innovative ways to protect the nation’s homeland and warfighters and brings high-tech jobs and economic prosperity to U.S. communities.
DOD TRAINING—IMPACT OF GAMING TECHNOLOGIES
The “DoD Training—Impact of Gaming Technologies” special event will address how games and/or associated technologies may be leveraged in the future to maintain readiness and transform the force. The goals of this event are: (1) to provide DoD with an opportunity to articulate their training roadmap and identify areas ripe for insertion of gaming technology and (2) have leaders in serious gaming initiatives respond on the state of gaming technologies and discuss what needs to be done to meet these needs and identify areas how standards, specifications, tolls and pedagogy can contribute to this vision. Speakers from each service represented will provide their service’s vision of the future for how gaming, and associated technologies, may fit into training, simulation, education or even other areas such as operations, planning or acquisitions. Each service representative will have between five and seven minutes to paint the picture for how their respective service may use games and/or gaming technology in the future, identify what challenges are associated with making that vision a reality and what current or future efforts they are undertaking to meet those challenges. After the service representatives present their vision, another panel of learning technologists and gaming experts will discuss existing or necessary tools, standards, interfaces, methodologies and approaches that could help both the services and industry meet those challenges.
JOINT TRAINING TRANSFORMATION
The Joint Training Transformation Special Event (JT2SE) will include live, virtual and constructive simulation assets. U.S. Joint Forces Command, the services, international and industry participants on the I/ITSEC exhibit floor will demonstrate joint training capabilities for a global war on terrorism scenario. The theme of this year’s event is Building Partner Capacity. The JT2SE starts with a multinational peacekeeping/nation building operation in an African country. The peace of the country is disturbed by a terrorist attack against a school built by international aid workers and a chemical plant near the capital city. Multinational forces, government agencies and non-government aid agencies rush to assist the population of the African country. The multinational military forces begin hunting down the terrorists. They find a large training site and a safe house in the capital. The military forces sweep in from air, ground and sea destroying the terrorist training camp. A live counter-terrorist team secures the terrorist safe house and frees hostages held there. The school is rebuilt by multinational government agencies.
OTHER SPECIAL EVENT EXERCISES
Other special event sessions include: “Beyond Traditional Training: Emerging Needs for Medical Simulation,” “Transforming the Future through Medical Simulation—Meeting the Challenge. Fulfilling the Promise. Saving Lives,” a General/Flag Officer panel, and a White Papers/Authors presentation period. ♦