In 2013, Lieutenant General (LTGen.) John A. Toolan, former Commanding General (CG) of First Marine
Expeditionary Force (I MEF), requested incorporating previously non-interoperable and ‘stove-piped’ virtual and
constructive Training Aids, Devices, Simulators and Simulations (TADSS) at I MEF’s First Marine Expeditionary
Brigade’s (1st MEB’s) Large Scale Exercise 2014 (LSE-14) to demonstrate that Live, Virtual, Constructive (LVC)
TADSS could collectively stimulate a Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Commander’s Common
Operational Picture (COP). The expected outcome would be an operationally-effective MEF with capabilities to
conduct full-spectrum military operations with a COP stimulated with data feeds from LVC entities; while providing
training to both the primary (battlestaff) and secondary (supporting unit) training audiences. The objective of this
assessment was to measure the training value gained. A measurable training value of utilizing virtual TADSS in a
live exercise could have the potential to impact the historical and traditionally biased paradigm to train everything
live whenever possible within the Marine Corps.
This paper presents the results of the training value assessment of augmenting the live training event with virtual
TADSS. It provides impacts of virtual integration on training efficacy achieved for primary and secondary training
audiences. Included is the training value construct, defined assessment approach, limitations, results (both
immediate and post event impacts), and efficiencies in terms of cost plus cost avoidance. Recommendations and
discussions focus on: (1) identified needs for improvements in exercise planning and tools to facilitate more efficient
satisfaction of training objectives for primary and secondary training audiences, (2) develop training-related human
performance measures in TADSS to measure performance against training objectives, and (3) define an
encompassing methodology for assessing training value of training solutions to inform requirements and acquisition
decision makers.