Chairman Solomon Ortiz Opening Statement

Modeling and Simulation: Enhancing Military Readiness

“The subcommittee will come to order.  Today the Readiness Subcommittee meets to hear testimony on the use of modeling and simulation to enhance military readiness.  I thank our distinguished witnesses from the Department of Defense and industry for appearing before this subcommittee today. 

“As co-chairman of the congressional Modeling and Simulation Caucus with my friend Randy Forbes of Virginia, I am very pleased to have this opportunity to discuss how modeling and simulation can improve training, reduce operation and maintenance costs, and increase the lifecycle of weapons systems.  Our thanks go to Joint Forces Command for providing the Future Immersive Training Environment simulator so that Members could get a first-hand experience with the latest simulation technology.

“The military services have all, to some degree, invested in modeling and simulation to improve training, reduce costs, and improve the accuracy of budgeting and material maintenance projections.  The services’ efforts vary in complexity and change continuously as technological advances in modeling and simulation provide improved capability shaped to meet Department of Defense needs.

“Today we will examine a few of the modeling and simulation tools available to the Department as examples of how this technology helps enhance military readiness.  These range from the Navy’s readiness models used to determine resourcing requirements such as flying hours and maintenance activities, to immersive training for ground combat, realistic flight simulation, and networked mission operations.

“We will also look at how industry responds to the Department’s needs for modeling and simulation capabilities, as well as examine potential down sides to over-reliance upon simulated versus real-world training.

“Our witnesses today are: Vice Admiral William Burke, US Navy, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Fleet Readiness and Logistics (N4); Major General Stephen R. Layfield, US Army, Director, Joint Training and Joint Warfighting Center, United States Joint Forces Command; Major General Marke F. Gibson, US Air Force, Director of Operations, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force; and Rear Admiral Fred L. Lewis, US Navy (Retired), President, National Training and Simulation Association.

“The Chair recognizes the distinguished gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Forbes, for any remarks he would like to make.”

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