Training for Night Operations - Research Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract : For millennia, planners of military operations have used the cover of darkness to advantage to prosecute vitally important missions. A majority of critically important missions now occur when darkness provides a measure of covertness. Those who are properly trained and equipped to operate at night will possess a tactical advantage over those who are not similarly prepared. Training environments providing credible representation of the night environment and associated effects are vital to help prepare Warfighters for tactical success in night operations, yet night training opportunities often are limited. A survey of all exhibits at a premier training and simulation conference in 2011 revealed that only 2.5% showcased anything that represented the night environment and/or the associated unique effects. This suggests that development of products for training night operations receives relatively little attention despite the number and criticality of missions that may occur during darkness. To address this apparent imbalance, this paper briefly reviews technical aids commonly used by Warfighters during night operations, and examines simulate vs stimulate approaches and tradeoffs in night training simulator environments. The paper then focuses on research challenges and opportunities associated with creating credible virtual and constructive night training environments, with a discussion of equipment, networked simulations, essential representation effects, and standards.