1. Collection of Command and Control Exercise Data
Mark Ashforth
Dstl Information Management Dept
Portsdown West

2. Contents Background Iterative development of a model
Plan for data collection at a real exercise
Application of data to model
Conclusions from exercise experience
Conclusions from the study
Recommendations
27 February 2019

3. Background - Current Situation
Perception that not enough use is made of exercises as sources of data
Data collection at exercises is ad hoc and generally not well coordinated
C2 Modelling, especially V&V, perceived “too difficult”
C2 Activities and processes not well understood
27 February 2019

4. Model-Test-Model Paradigm
27 February 2019

5. Iterative Development of a C2 Model
Model elements & parameters
Hypothesise C2 model
Model elements & parameters
Define data needed to validate hypothetical model
Propose new model elements
Data definitions
Fail
Attend exercise
& collect data
Pass:
validated model
Test model hypotheses
Raw data
Ordered data
Analyse data collected
27 February 2019

6. Planned Data Collection Procedure
Attend exercise
& collect data
Analyse data collected
Hypothesise C2 model
Define data needed to
validate hypothetical model
Raw data
Data definitions
Model elements & parameters
Ordered data
Report
27 February 2019

7. Exercise SAIF SAREEA II
AIM
“To deploy, sustain, exercise and recover a medium
scale warfighting Joint Task Force at strategic distance
into a key strategic area, as identified in the SDR.
(In order to demonstrate the JRRF Concept.)”
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8. Typical deployed HQ at Saif Sareea
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9. Ex SAIF SAREEA II Reasons for failure to attend in person:
Timing of funding
Difficulty of defining data requirement
No willing military sponsor in field
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10. Actual v Planned Collection Procedure
Attend exercise
& collect data
Analyse data collected
Hypothesise C2 model
Define data needed to
validate hypothetical model
Raw data
Data definitions
Model elements & parameters
Ordered data
Report
Report
Model elements & parameters
Attend exercise & collect
data where possible
Analyse data collected
Hypothesise C2 model
Define data needed to
validate hypothetical model
Haphazard raw data
Examples of application to OODA
Identify and brief
‘second-hand’ analysts
Data definitions
Analysts with interpretation of goal
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11. Example use of data Time taken to access information:
Access to information
Access to IT tools/ equipment
Speed of access to information
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12. The ‘OODA Loop’ - a typical C2 model
Orient
Decide
Observe
Act
Col John Boyd USAF
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13. Using the SS2 Data in OODA
Observe
Orient
Act
Decide
Time to access
strategic planning
info
Time to
access mission
doctrine
Intelligence
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14. Conclusions from Ex SS2
“Real-life” problems - things do not run smoothly
Need for military sponsorship of longer-term research data support - our own experience
Demonstration of applicability of data to OODA loop model
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15. Study Conclusions The importance of models to OA The nature of C2
The importance of exercises as sources
Analyst attendance at exercises
The need for effective data gathering
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16. Recommendations Plan to exploit each exercise Data Collection Planning
Model elements & parameters
Hypothesise C2 model
Model elements & parameters
Define data needed to validate hypothetical model
Propose new model elements
Data Collection
Planning
Data definitions
Fail
Attend exercise
& collect data
Pass:
validated model
Test model hypotheses
Raw data
Ordered data
Analyse data collected
27 February 2019

17. Recommendations Plan to exploit each exercise
Identify the rationale for exercise exploitation
Ensure coherence of exercise exploitation with studies and other research
Collect data in accord with Dstl’s Data Collection Strategy
Ensure that exploitation of exercises is authoritatively supported by MOD
Gain the support of exercise commanders in the field
Exploit or create working-level coordination in exercise exploitation
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18. Questions?
27 February 2019