Problems with Internet reliability and limitations to data networks have surfaced as major obstacles to content delivery. Internet connectivity is limited and local base firewalls strip files or block transmissions. Bandwidth is limited and usually dedicated to the operational mission. These technical problems are compounded by the expeditionary nature of today's Air Force and the resulting challenge to provide learning opportunities to Airmen in deployed locations.

The Air Force Institute for Advanced Distributed Learning (AFIADL) partnered with Second Air Force to address these problems. The result was a proof of concept for harnessing the capabilities of three Air Force enterprise assets--the Air Technology Network (a satellite interactive television network), the Air Force Integrated Learning Center (a SCORM-conformant learning management system (LMS), ADL object repository, and electronic customer service center), and the Air Force Expeditionary Classroom (deployed learning labs and resource centers). When fully integrated and implemented, the resulting capability--dubbed the Expeditionary and Global Learning Environment or EAGLE--will provide learning and information on demand.

This paper describes the proposed EAGLE vision, architecture, and fielding plan. Also presented are the results and lessons learned of a proof-of-concept study to determine the ability to successfully migrate content and student data between the master LMS at AFIADL and an LMS at a deployment site via datacasting over the Air Technology Network. This proposal is still conceptual in nature and has not been approved for final deployment.