Modeling and simulation of combat scenarios during training can provide opportunities for developing tactical decision-making skills without the risks or resource outlays of actual combat or large-scale situational and field training exercises. The success of a tactical decision hinges on a leader's ability to rapidly assess the situation at hand, make a decision, and communicate that decision to his subordinate leaders. At present, there appears to be little, if any, institutional or unit training focused on developing the tactical decision making abilities of inexperienced Infantry platoon leaders through the use of tactical simulations.

This paper describes fuzzy cognitive maps (FCM) as useful decision support tools due to their ability to model scenarios consisting of relevant concepts or events and the causal relationships among them. FCMs are particularly suitable in situations where complex interactions among concepts or events make it difficult to construct an analytical model. FCMs are also relevant where the nature of information and knowledge about the tactical battlefield during actual engagements with enemy forces is imperfect and incomplete. Knowledge of critical decision factors relevant to actual combat engagements and how they influence one another can be elicited from subject matter experts (typically, veterans with recent combat experience) and reflected in cognitive maps. Each such FCM can be used to model a possible course of action (COA) for a given tactical situation that requires a leader decision. Simulation of such models can produce comparative values representing measures of success for different courses of action. The FCMs also provide a platform for student self-directed analytics and after action reviews, which serve to reinforce the lessons learned in tactical decision making. This paper describes the structure of CM-TDSS - the Cognitive Map-based Tactical Decision Support System currently under development at Columbus State University, GA. The theoretical basis, structure and functionalities of this system, and its use as a tactical decision making training tool are presented.