onds. The Air Force was fully combat ready when desert storm arrived. The army itself was equally prepared but had to wait a little longer.The Army was interested just as much as the Air force in real combat simulation but for them it took longer to get the technology to make it feasible. That all changed with the introduction of the Multiple Integrated Laser Targeting System (MILES). MILES uses an eye safe laser beam that gets attached to the sights of a weapon and allows units to "fire" at each other, when the beam hit the receiver of a unit a light would go on signaling a "kill". With this system the army could conduct huge live fire exercises and experiment with various tactics. For that the army created the National Training Center at Fort Irwin. Here was the heart of the army simulated combat training program. Based at Fort Irwin was:-A professional opposing force (OPFOR). Its full-time mission was to emulate in maneuver, in war fighting, and in doctrine the most likely enemy of the U.S. Army -A core of maneuver experts to accompany the Blue (training unit) and to help advise them as they learned by doing. These people were called observer controllers.(OCs)-A system to promote learning.Now unparalleled large scale engagements could be fought and knowledge would be gained by everyone that participated. One of the central aspects of Training at Fort Irwin was the focus on learning. After every engagement thee was to be and After-Action Review (AAR) . This was truly groundbreaking in its execution. "The seminars were broken down into many components: What was the unit trying to do? What actually happened? And why the difference? The key part of the AAR was to have subordinates speak up, comment both favorably and unfavorably on their commanders performance." what was so amazing about this system was that it promoted ideas to be generated. It was not just the commander that was the focus but his subordinates ...
