WARSIM 2000: combining multiple expert opinions from subject matter experts to generate requirements for staff training at battalion level and above

When fully developed, Warfighter's Simulation (WARSIM) 2000 will support warfighter exercises, command post exercises, and seminar training events from battalion through corps. Currently, such training is primarily conducted in three modes: live exercises, constructive computer simulations, and virtual computer simulations. Clearly, there is no substitute for live, tactical exercises where soldiers, unit leaders, train using their equipment in real-world situations. However, as training costs for field exercises continue to increase, combined with environmental constraints on training, the Army is shifting from large-scale unit field training exercises to simulated command post exercises and seminars. The WARSIM 2000 is being developed for this purpose. We present a WWW-based database tool that will help reduce developmental costs of the WARSIM system. The WWW tool will be used to elicit multiple expert opinions from experts across the Army using Standard Query Language. This approach has enabled WARSIM 2000 developers to collect, analyze, combine, and display the expert: opinions collected. Over 20 standard queries are available to aid the WARSIM 2000 developers in determining which mission training plan tasks to focus on during the software development phase of the military operation simulation.