The Department of Defense recently published the roadmap for transforming future military training in the document Strategic Plan for Transforming DOD Training. Distributed learning technologies play a key role in the DOD training transformation strategy and support life-long learning, a key component of the Army's training transformation strategy. The U.S. Army Training & Doctrine Command (TRADOC) is leveraging distributed learning capabilities as a means to improve training effectiveness, reduce training costs, and improve overall soldier readiness. Research continues in the Army to improve distributed learning technologies as well as its ability to incorporate these technologies in both resident and non-resident training programs.

Newly commissioned infantry second lieutenants are trained at the US Army Infantry Officer Basic Course (IOBC) at Ft. Benning, GA. To successfully complete the course, IOBC students must demonstrate an understanding of individual and small unit infantry skills by participating in live-fire battle drill exercises. Resource constraints limit the number of students who can perform in leadership roles during the live-fire exercises, thus preventing many of the students from fully demonstrating their knowledge and skills. Distributed learning technologies are helping to address this training shortfall. A research effort led by the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command's Simulation Technology Center is producing a PC-based, web-enabled, rapid decision trainer, enabling all IOBC students to participate as the leader in a "virtual live-fire exercise." The trainer will successfully demonstrated the use of distributed learning technology to enhance live training.

The trainer incorporates web-enabled 3D graphics and audio content built upon open source technologies. Training scenarios are delivered through Extensible Markup Language (XML). A Learning Management System (LMS) will provide instructors with feedback and a summary of student performance. The trainer will use existing government standards such as the High Level Architecture (HLA) and the Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM).