PEO - MISSION TRAINING AND PREPARATION SYSTEMS
On October 1, 2006, the Program Executive Office for Mission Training and Preparation Systems (PEO-MTPS) was established to execute the acquisition, management, and life cycle support for the more than $500 million SOF training system enterprise. The MTPS portfolio will include all mission training and preparation (planning, preview and rehearsal) systems used by air, ground and maritime SOF. Colonel James Geurts, U.S. Air Force, is the acting program executive officer for Mission Training and Preparation Systems.
The SOF training domain encompasses the full range of “live–virtual– constructive” training capabilities. The domain extends from classrooms at the three SOF university centers to the fullmotion realism of aircraft simulators and the use of distributed mission training and exercises linking individuals, teams and units together into a seamless, realistic environment.
When live training is prohibitive due to cost, operational security or danger to the operators, SOF relies on the computer-driven, virtual simulations which replicate actual systems capabilities, mission environments and mission scenarios. These systems emulate real-world equipment operating within a virtual battle environment. Most of the SOF training and rehearsal is conducted in a fully immersive “mockup” system with form, and function; three-dimensional views; computergenerated forces; synthetic communications; environmental conditions; and sensory cues.
These systems allow operator qualification, sustainment training and mission rehearsal for real-world mission operations, as well as development and refinement of tactics, techniques and procedures. To facilitate larger scale, distributed training events, mission rehearsal devices as well as part-task trainers can be incorporated into the training networks to enhance the command and control and inter-coordination training that is essential to joint SOF operations.
USSOCOM has fielded and maintains many types of training systems to enhance mission readiness under different initiatives focused on individual services and/or SOF components. The MTPS portfolio currently includes AFSOC training systems (AC-130H, AC- 130U, MC-130E, MC-130H, MC-130P fixed-wing aircraft, the new CV-22 tiltrotor aircraft, and the MH-53 helicopter), the USASOC training systems (MH-47E, MH-47G, MH-60K, MH-60L and MH- 6M), and systems used throughout the services (SOF Air Ground Interface System (SAGIS)). NAVSPECWARCOM systems (SEAL Delivery Vehicle and Advance SEAL Delivery System) and systems for the newest USSOCOM component, MARSOC, will be integrated into the MTPS portfolio in FY 2008.
Mission planning and execution processes throughout SOF have been automated for several years and are improved annually. The Special Operations Mission Planning Environment (SOMPE) is a computer-based suite of software programs that display two-dimensional and three-dimensional views of mission routing, threat positions and/or ranges, weapon system performance data, route deconfliction, and friendly positions. This suite also addresses planning coordination and is used from the tactical level up to the theater level. SOMPE is an integral part of the MTPS family of systems in that all planning and rehearsal can now be integrated across air, ground and maritime networks, training exercises and distributed mission operations events.
The MTPS family of systems offers SOF warfighters realistic training and preparation scenarios to challenge operators during all phases of operations. Realistic, fully immersive mission training and preparation provides SOF with individual, team, and command and control skills needed for joint and coalition mission execution. Warfighters can now “train like they fight” to maintain superiority on the battlefield. ♦