Training Effectiveness Evaluation of the Full Spectrum Command Game

Fifty-four officers in the Infantry Captains Career Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, participated in a training effectiveness evaluation of a video game named Full Spectrum Command (FSC). Half were assigned to play FSC and participate in normal course work for commanding a light Infantry company in urban offensive operations; the other half did only the normal course work. Pre- FSC measures were for military experience, general cognitive ability, and decision-making style. A questionnaire administered to officers who played FSC documented their sense of personal involvement in the FSC environment, their perception of the training value of the game, and their opinions of FSC strengths and weaknesses. Officers in both groups were assessed individually for the adaptiveness of their decision-making behavior as the commander of a light Infantry company during a tactical exercise using the Janus simulation. Shortcomings in experimental procedures confounded between-groups comparisons for adaptive decision-making behaviors, but other results suggest FSC can provide tactical experiences with potential training value. Prior military experience was related to personal involvement with FSC, perceived training value of FSC, adaptive decision-making behavior in Janus, and decision-making style. Officers who played FSC identified its strengths and changes desired in future versions of the game.Army Research Inst for the Behavioral and Social Sciences Fort Benning Ga is the author of 'Training Effectiveness Evaluation of the Full Spectrum Command Game', published 2004 under ISBN 9781423585480 and ISBN 1423585488.