The VMT, an immersive 3D coaching software constructed to assist Aegis Weapon System (AWS) upkeep coaching, is a part of the Director, Floor Warfare’s (OPNAV N96) program of document, Floor Coaching Superior Digital Setting-Fight Programs (STAVE-CS). These VMT options are at present delivering the fitting coaching, on the proper time, in the fitting approach in our faculties, so Sailors are prepared to keep up their tools at peak functionality and reliability to win the high-end combat.
“In an effort to optimize this initiative, we wish to take a look at the effectiveness of standalone VMT methods to assist upkeep ability, proficiency coaching, and upkeep assist,” mentioned SCSTC’s Commodore, Capt. George A. Kessler, Jr. “Our purpose is to get the SPY-1D(V) Radar and Aegis Pc Community Technician [ACNT] VMTs out to the fleet to find out how our ships, coaching groups, and upkeep groups would possibly make the most of the instruments to assist simply in time coaching previous to a upkeep verify, casualty troubleshooting assist and upkeep coaching proficiency. SCSTC will then take that suggestions to replace the methods and supply a scaled-up plan to raised assist the fleet.”
From April 2023 by means of October 2023, SCSTC will accumulate and analyze information captured from two Baseline 9 (BL 9) Know-how Insertion (TI)-16 ships, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers USS Frank E. Petersen, Jr. (DDG 121) and USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123); Regional Upkeep Facilities (RMCs) in San Diego and Pearl Harbor; and supporting SCSTC waterfront detachments. To facilitate the supply of those instruments, SCSTC loaded VMT functionality on standalone laptops and supplied them to every location to be used.
SCSTC and the producer then supplied coaching at every location to cowl system specifics to incorporate performance, operation, employment, and information assortment. The preliminary Prepare the Coach (TtT) session was carried out with Frank E. Petersen, Jr., Hawaii RMC, and SCSTC Detachment Center Pacific, 18-20 April. Separate periods had been carried out with Southwest RMC, SCSTC Detachment Southwest, and Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee. The coaching was effectively acquired and set the baseline for the execution of the pilot over the following six months.
Why have VMTs aboard ships?
A information refresher software for technicians would be the major use of VMT aboard ships. The VMT will present technicians a chance to refresh themselves on correct procedures, instruments, abilities, and strategies wanted to assist preventive upkeep efforts whereas at sea.
“Sometimes, technicians have a variety of rare upkeep duties that they should carry out on their methods,” defined Mr. Christopher Odachowski, a administration analyst for SCSTC HQ’s technical assist directorate, N9, and first lead for the pilot initiative. “These duties that assist preventive upkeep might be difficult for technicians in the event that they haven’t carried out it in a very long time, or have restricted expertise. The VMTs can be utilized to apply upkeep nearly in a secure setting to refresh information and construct confidence previous to bodily performing the verify on the tactical tools. Technicians can even apply complicated repairs to the system previous to execution.”
The secondary use of a VMT aboard a ship is for Fight System Coaching Crew occasions.
“The VMT might be employed within the coaching setting to simulate system casualties the ships at present prepare to deal with all through the fundamental and superior part of coaching,” Odachowski mentioned.
The VMT offers real looking casualty management and restore eventualities at a stage not seen up to now on the waterfront. The Fight Programs Coaching Crew (CSTT) can shift from yellow sticky notes and speaking by means of the casualty response to the technicians truly working by means of the signs, executing the related work packages, and getting their ship again within the combat.
Execution of pilot aboard ships
The VMT hosts software program that may be a virtualization of the technical insertion TI-16 AWS {hardware} set together with a virtualization of SPY-1D(V). Frank E. Petersen, Jr. and Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee had been chosen for this pilot to maximise applicability since each ships have the TI-16 {hardware} and AN/SPY-1D(V) with Multi-Mission Sign Processor (MMSP) radar. The ships will conduct a six-month take a look at interval comprised of two components; free play and particular coaching occasions, with 557 ACNT eventualities and 247 Aegis SPY-1D eventualities at their disposal.
“DDG 121 and DDG 123 will use the VMT as desired and the system will document utilization and doc technician proficiency,” defined Lt. Shane Ortiz, SCSTC HQ’s coaching directorate’s, N7, waterfront coordinator. “Through the preliminary load-out and coaching, the ships can even determine particular, upcoming rare upkeep checks to conduct focused coaching previous to execution and accumulate suggestions upon conclusion of upkeep.”
Why have VMTs at particular waterfront areas?
Sometimes, technicians and Instructors on the RMCs and SCSTC’s waterfront detachments have been educated in earlier variations of the ACNT or SPY methods however don’t obtain the precise schoolhouse coaching on the latest methods that they may have duty for of their space of operation.
“Having a VMT onsite, together with preliminary coaching on the use and operation of the VMT, will assist technicians and Instructors develop their information of those newer methods,” defined Mr. Ron Lavold, a administration analyst for SCSTC HQ’s N9 and secondary lead for the pilot program. “The VMT isn’t solely for apprentice stage technicians. This pilot will help us with our total purpose in increasing the VMT’s utilization throughout all ability ranges.”
One other purpose of this pilot is to judge the VMT as a possible distance assist software on the RMCs. The VMT is designed as a distributed coaching software, with Voice over Web Protocol (VoIP), and actual time dwell pupil monitoring. These built-in capabilities probably might be employed to assist ahead deployed technicians with troubleshooting of their methods when casualties are past their technical experience.
Execution of pilot at RMCs and SCSTC waterfront detachments
SCSTC and the RMCs will create a really helpful coaching plan for technicians assigned to the RMC upkeep and SCSTC waterfront detachment groups to develop and keep proficiency on BL 9 and SPY-1D(V) with MMSP radar. RMCs will then execute the really helpful coaching proposals, consider the VMT for viability as a possible distance assist software for the fleet, and supply targeted suggestions on VMT usefulness in preparation for upkeep actions.
Suggestions course of
SCSTC has created a suggestions staff that will likely be accumulating quantitative and qualitative information from VMT customers all through the six-month interval to find out effectivity of the VMT as a coaching software.
“Quantitative information will likely be collected from the VMT recordsdata recorded in every person profile, bi-weekly utilization emails, and a person questionnaire,” mentioned Mr. Eric Corridor, a administration analyst for SCSTC HQ’s N7. “Qualitative
information will likely be collected throughout targeted fleet suggestions discussions.”
Publish Pilot
SCSTC will present a abstract of findings to Navy management and advice for subsequent steps if the VMT functionality aboard ships and onboard RMCs and supporting SCSTC waterfront detachments proves to be useful.
“The launch of this VMT initiative is a results of an unimaginable quantity of teamwork between headquarters and our studying websites and detachments, SCSTC AEGIS Coaching and Readiness Middle, SCSTC Det Center Pacific, SCSTC Det Southwest; Regional Upkeep Facilities; and our trade companions,” mentioned SCSTC’s Govt Director, Mr. Brian Deters. “We’re excited and sit up for the outcomes of this necessary occasion.”
For details about the Floor Fight Programs Coaching Command, go to https://www.netc.navy.mil/SCSTC
Go to SCSTC on Fb https://www.fb.com/SurfaceCombatSystemsTrainingCommand
