Empirical research is confirming that crew resource management (CRM) should be an integral part of tactical aircrew training. This study evaluated the link between CRM and mission performance for 16 MH-53J rotorcraft aircrews during preparation and execution of a complex combat scenario in a networked training simulation. A strong correlation of .84 was obtained between CRM and mission performance. All CRM categories (e.g., mission evaluation, risk management, situation awareness) were highly correlated with mission performance; however, the categories were differentially predictive of mission performance in the various mission phases (communication was the best predictor in mission preparation, task management in infil/exfil, tactics employment in low-level). This study extends the findings of earlier research with MC-130P aircrews, where comparable CRM-mission performance correlations were obtained. Despite differences in the missions, flight profiles, and capabilities of the two aircraft, a number of key CRM behaviors emerged as common across the two weapon systems. As an example, the best crews in both aircraft immediately identified threats while enroute and classified them as "planned" or "unplanned." There were also some notable differences between the two weapon systems. One example is that the nature of communication among the crewmembers differed, with the MH-53J crews exhibiting more general, crewwide interaction, while communication within the larger MC-130P crew centered around pairs of crewmembers communicating specific information at specific times. A major implication of this body of research is that a core behavior-based tactical CRM curriculum can be tailored to reflect the tactics and unique demands of each individual weapon system. The networked training mission afforded an excellent opportunity to observe important coordination and communication activities within the larger tactical team context. The results underscore the importance of broader team coordination and the need to formally train these team skills.
Crew Resource Management and Mission Performance During MH-53J Combat Mission Training
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