News From USJFCOM: Congressional staffers see real world modeling and simulation up close and personal

Image of Rep. Forbes and Adm. Giambastiani

Rep. J. Randy Forbes (R-Va. listens as USJFCOM Commander Adm. Edmund P. Giambastiani explains a modeling and simulation system. Click on this image by Marc Benshetler to get a high quality version of this image.

Congressional staffers see real world modeling and simulation up close and personal

U.S. Joint Forces Command showcased various modeling and simulation efforts to the House of Representatives Modeling and Simulation Training Caucus during a recent visit to the command.

By Jennifer Colaizzi
USJFCOM Public Affairs

(SUFFOLK, Va. - July 18, 2005) -- Staff members from the House of Representatives Modeling and Simulation Training Caucus visited U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) today to see modeling and simulation working to support the warfighter of today and of the future.

USJFCOM officials told the visiting staff members that modeling and simulation is absolutely essential to effective joint training and joint experimentation.

"Modeling and simulation is a critical enabler for Joint, coalition, and interagency experimentation, training, integration and interoperability. This enhances the effectiveness of current operations in support of joint force commanders" said Air Force Maj. Gen. James N. Soligan, USJFCOM chief of staff.

Soligan also emphasized that modeling and simulation (M&S) works exercises and strengthens important partnerships between the Defense Department, State Department, Homeland Security, and regional and local stakeholders.

The caucus, formed in February, by Rep. J. Randy Forbes (R-Va.), toured the USJFCOM M&S facilities and witnessed first hand how USJFCOM's M&S work provides capability to the joint warfighter, ultimately saving lives.

"I'm absolutely committed to the fact that it is a national security benefit for us to make sure that we remain at the cutting edge of technology in this area and we don't allow other countries to usurp that from us," said Forbes during his visit to USJFCOM.

According to Forbes, it is important that USJFCOM is in the forefront of modeling and simulation.

"Jointness is the key to everything we do in the military. We can not do jointness without modeling and simulation," said Forbes. Right now, at USJFCOM, "we are seated at the hub of jointness."

Forbes said that today's tour provided staffers a better understanding of what USJFCOM does and how M&S is shaping the future.

Congressional members rely on their staffers for the deep insight and understanding into the many topics they need to be aware of, said Forbes who added that the visit to USJFCOM was to promote understanding.

Forbes said that the next step for the caucus is an acquisition summit, which will take place at USJFCOM in the fall. He hopes to have a round table discussion with Department of Defense officials and vendors to see how to make the process better.

Navy Adm. Edmund Giambastiani, USJFCOM commander who was just confirmed as the next vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told staff members that "growth at USJFCOM has been explosive" in the modeling and simulation area and in partnership areas.

Giambastiani said that the command was a national and worldwide resource and emphasized how USJFCOM's role attracts modeling and simulation experts from across the nation to the local area. He mentioned that today also marks the opening of Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory USJFCOM field office.

According to Soligan, simulations are essential for USJFCOM to accomplish its mission of providing combatant commanders with trained and ready joint forces and capabilities.

"We are excited and I think Americans would be excited" about the command's work, said Forbes.

"We are getting testaments almost on a weekly basic from our soldiers that their lives are saved or fellow troops' lives are saved because of training that they received at USJFCOM or something that took place in modeling and simulation," said Forbes.