The USAF Battlestaff Training School (BTS) provides command and control training opportunities for the Joint Force Air Component Commanders (JFACC) and their staffs who man the Joint Air Operations Centers. The JFACC is responsible for all allied air operations in a theater of war, and produces the Air Tasking Order for each day of the war. The BTS conducts this joint-service training via three BLUE FLAG exercises yearly for thousands of warfighters. The training emphasizes the use of real-world plans, procedures and C4I equipment. The BTS employs extensive computer simulation and uses distributed technology to train warfighters at local and deployed sites.

This paper describes the BTS's training philosophy, strategies, and assets. In addition, it explores certain training challenges and opportunities which BTS is currently addressing. Applied R&D is being used to examine a number of techniques and technologies which may enhance the BTS's capability.

For example, the BLUE FLAG exercised have traditionally been based solely on constructive wargame models. This approach has worked well given the main objective of the BTS is improvement of command and control decision making. However, wide area networking and the use of Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS) has now made it possible to link BLUE FLAG exercises with live and virtual assets. The use of Advanced Distributed Simulation (ADS) techniques has enhanced the ability to stimulate the Command and Control equipment with real-world datalinks and operational feeds. BTS has participated in demonstrations of this capability, but there are still many questions that remain about the utility of making these links. Will overall command and control training effectiveness be improved as a result of these interactions? What part of JFACC training might benefit most from distributed networking? These and a number of other networking questions are being explored and are discussed.

Another topic of interest is developing better techniques for providing accurate and timely feedback to the JFACC staffs about their performance during BLUE FLAG exercises. Possible future approaches to automating the analysis and feedback function for use by the hundreds of warfighters involved in BLUE FLAG exercises are described.