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Analysis of Infantry Situation Awareness Training Requirements
Abstract
The application of emerging digital technologies promises to revolutionize information acquisition and distribution on the battlefield of the near future. With more rapid information flow, even minimally experienced officers will be pushed to achieve faster decision-action cycles, reducing the time to make and implement decisions. With this advent, officers will increasingly require robust abilities to rapidly develop and maintain high levels of situation awareness (SA) in the harsh, dynamic, and confusing environment of Infantry combat. To date, no training programs have been developed specifically for the purpose of enhancing SA in Infantry forces. This study focused on identifying areas of low and high SA, especially those areas where training can be employed to reduce deficits in SA, among less experienced officers. A literature review was conducted to explore research into SA, with an emphasis on the Infantry domain. In addition, data from a prior study were examined to explore the relationships between SA, and decision-making. Finally, trainers were surveyed to solicit their input on specific strengths and weaknesses in the SA, of new platoon leaders. Results of the investigation include recommendations for training programs to improve SA, in Infantry forces.
... While the SA requirements of a pilot who relies heavily on cockpit instrumentation for information vary greatly from the SA requirements of an Infantry platoon leader, it is plausible that many of the general findings will have validity in both situations. A literature review identified six general principles believed to be highly relevant in many domains ( Strater et al., 2001). ...
... In addition to analyzing existing research, it is also essential to solicit input from experienced operators or trainers in the targeted domain. To support the development of our Infantry SA training program, a survey was developed and distributed to both commissioned and noncommissioned officers who train platoon leaders (Strater, Jones, & Endsley, 2001). Survey respondents were asked to identify, for each activity, whether it (1) was not a major SA problem, (2) caused moderate SA problems, or (3) caused frequent SA problems for new platoon leaders. ...
The term situation awareness (SA) has been around since World War II. Although originally associated with military pilots, over the last several years it has emerged as a field of research in its own right and is now being examined in other domains, such as army operations, air traffic control (ATC), nuclear power plant operation, and medical applications (Bolstad, Riley, Jones, and Endsley, 2002; Collier and Folleso, 1995; Endsley, 1995a; Gaba, Howard, and Small, 1995; Sollenberger and Stein, 1995; Wright, Taekman, and Endsley, 2004). At its core, SA involves being aware of what is happening around oneself to understand how information, events, and one’s own actions will affect one’s goals and objectives, both now and in the near future.
... More simply stated, SA involves being aware of what is happening around you to understand how information, events, and your own actions will affect your goals and object ives, both now and in the near future. Research indicates that SA is a fundamental construct driving human decision-making in complex, dynamic environments [5], [6], [7], [17], [7]. These works motivate the idea that effective decision-making requires developing and maintaining SA at three levels, as described below. ...
This paper describes a machine learning approach to evaluate the relationship between trust behavior and Situation Awareness (SA) in the context of a 3-player Iterated Diner's Dilemma game. Our experimental setup consisted of a set of 24 supervised studies in which participants played against computer opponents with different cooperation strategies. Three user interfaces were evaluated in the study, each corresponding to a specific level of SA (Perception, Comprehension, and Projection). Two concepts of trust are explored in the study: Empirical trust behavior was recorded as the degree of cooperation imparted by the participant in a given condition, and Self-reported trust assessments were also collected at regular intervals throughout the study. To explore the relations that exist between these two concepts of trust, and different SA Level conditions, a machine learning approach was applied to train a variety of models to accurately predict trust behavior in each condition. Our best performing algorithm was a J48 rule-based learner, which leveraged SA Level, strategy, and self-reported survey data to predict trust behavior to 76% accuracy, and 67% accuracy using only SA Level and opponent strategy. This is a relative increase of 43% and 24% respectively over a benchmark majority class predictor. These results indicate that support at a level of SA and opponent strategy are good predictors of trust behavior in the Iterated Diner's Dilemma game. Our results also show that trust-prediction models perform best when they are trained on a combination of self-reported data, and strategy / SA Level information.
... Formally, SA is defined as "the perception of elements in the environment within a volume of time and space, the comprehension of their meaning, and the projection of their status in the near future" (Endsley, 1995). Research indicates that SA is a fundamental construct driving human decision-making in complex, dynamic environments (Endsley, 1988;1993;1995;Strater, Jones, & Endsley, 2001;Endsley, Bolte & Jones, 2003). Endsley (1995) details how effective decision-making requires developing and maintaining SA at three levels, which are described below. ...
This paper studies the relationship between trust and Situation Awareness (SA) in a 3-Player Iterated Diner's Dilemma game. We ran an experiment in which 24 participants each played against two computer opponents for six blocks of gameplay, with different opponent strategies in each block. Based on SA theory and design principles, we developed three different user interfaces, each supporting a specific SA Level. Each SA Level is inclusive of components from the previous level(s). We assess several trust-related metrics during the study, including percentage of cooperation over time and subjective level of self-reported trust towards the opponents, and analyze the interdependencies of trust, SA, and opponent strategy. Results from the experiment reveal highest levels of cooperation at SA Level 1 overall, and a higher level of cooperation for the group of cooperation-encouraging opponent strategies at SA Level 1 and 2 compared to cooperation-discouraging strategies. There is also a positive relationship between self-reported trust in the opponents and cooperation behavior for these strategies, but this relationship was not present in the cooperation-discouraging group. These results show that participants do respond to strategy type in terms of behavior, and that cooperation level is an indicator of the trust that participants place in the opponent players when cooperation emerges.
... SA is a crucial component for successful infantry operations, such that enhancing SA will yield utility in multiple domains such as information dominance, security and 3 survivability, and optimization of lethality (Strater, Jones, & Endsley, 2001). However, unlike other military assets, infantry units are unique because they may enter combat from multiple sources (i.e., aircraft, boat, ground vehicle, or on foot), operate in many different environments, and discriminate and engage highly specific targets. ...
Previous research indicates that information reliability may influence warfighters’ situation awareness (SA). The purpose of the current study was to assess the impact of unreliable information on SA and performance in a computer-simulated, infantry-based search scenario. Thirty-six students navigated a simulated combat zone. The experiment followed a one-way repeated measures design, where participants were provided with information that was associated with a certain reliability level (100%, 75%, or 50%). This information could be used to complete a simulated mission and answer SA assessment questions. The content of the information was perfect in regard to accuracy, and the only aspect of the information that changed across conditions was the stated reliability. The results revealed that stated information reliability had no significant impact on any level of SA. However, more reliable information resulted in locating a hidden objective faster, increased success rate for finding the hidden objective within the time limit, and increased ability to avoid dangerous areas. These findings further highlight the importance of information reliability on the battlefield and the need for accuracy when selecting an associated reliability level.
ABSTRACT. This chapter investigates the influence of introducing new generation aircraft on the training of Air Force pilots. New generation aircraft (Cirrus SR20 and Pilatus PC-21), equipped with novel capabilities (glass cockpit and embedded training), represent a
technological disruption that is likely to affect the nature and diversity of pilots’ competencies, and more globally the learning process that leads to their development. Building on past research projects that the authors conducted for the Air Force Staff and Pilot Training Schools, this chapter first shows that the new functionalities offered by next generation aircraft are not neutral on how future pilots develop fundamental technical skills (“flight basics”) during the initial phases of the training process. Second, it identifies the conditions enabling a consistent exploitation of embedded simulation techniques for training pilots.
L’article interroge les changements induits par l’introduction d’aéronefs de nouvelles générations sur la formation des pilotes de l’armée de l’air. Ces nouveaux aéronefs (Cirrus SR20 et Pilatus PC-21), dotés de capacités nouvelles (glass-cockpits et simulation embarquée), représentent une rupture technologique susceptible d’affecter la nature et la diversité des compétences des pilotes, ainsi que le processus de formation qui gouverne leur acquisition. Capitalisant sur plusieurs études technico-opérationnelles conduites par les auteurs au profit de l’état-major de l’armée de l’air et des écoles de formations du personnel navigant, l’article montre, d’une part, que les nouvelles fonctionnalités offertes par ces aéronefs ne sont pas neutres sur le processus d’acquisition du socle de compétences techniques de base (« les basiques ») lors des phases initiales de la formation des pilotes. D’autre part et plus largement, il identifie les conditions favorables à une exploitation raisonnée et efficace des capacités de simulation embarquée en matière de formation des pilotes de combat de l’armée de l’air.
Over the past decade, irregular warfare has dominated the focus for U.S. military forces, requiring interaction with civilian populations for extended periods of time. Effective understanding of the impact of cultural factors and maintaining higher Cultural Situation Awareness has become imperative for success in the emerging environment. Based on knowledge elicitation sessions with hundreds of Soldiers across a variety of military occupation codes, and hands-on research and design experience, this paper examines the application of situation awareness theory to help build, improve, and maintain higher Cultural Situation Awareness from requirements to design. Copyright 2012 by Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Inc. All rights reserved.
The confluence of increasing future urbanization of world population, along with the DoD's vision of full spectrum dominance, enabled by the network-centric concept of shared situational awareness, drives the question of what benefits the military can expect from shared situational awareness when attacking an enemy in a city. Research demonstrates that shared situational awareness will open new alternatives for the operational commander, improving the probability of defeating an enemy in a city. These new alternatives stem from the faster operating tempo and improved synchronization provided by shared awareness. But achieving the level of shared awareness to obtain these advantages requires overcoming several obstacles. Sensors and communications networks must be improved to overcome the challenges of the urban environment. Additionally, the military must become more effective at fusing data from a variety of sensors into useable information that aids the warfighter in completing his mission. Finally, the military should develop doctrine and training to ensure personnel understand how best to achieve shared awareness.
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