Air Force PETS Maximizes Value of Live-Virtual-Constructive Training Published July 20, 2009 By John Schutte Air Force Research Laboratory WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- AFRL leveraged Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADA) with multiple partners to streamline the integration of Performance Evaluation Tracking System (PETS) core technology into Air Combat Command's Warfighter Readiness Assessment and Performance Measurement and Tracking System, a Category 1 Advanced Technology Demonstration. The key technologies developed during this CRADA-enabled effort support the Combat Air Forces migration to Proficiency-Based Ready Aircrew Program training and, further, cut 5 years off industry predictions regarding practical demonstration of live-virtual-constructive (LVC) capability. Integrating PETS into operational and commercial training not only enhances training analysis capabilities for the Air Force and its partners, but also alleviates the need for costly multiplatform simulators. As its name implies, the LVC concept incorporates live, virtual, and constructive elements into a single training environment. Live elements entail real people using real equipment (e.g., a simulator) in the real world, whereas virtual elements consist of real people operating real equipment in an immersive computer-generated environment. Examples of constructive elements range from computer-generated people and models to game-type situational simulations. As LVC elements merge to form the training experience, PETS "listens" and "watches" as the action unfolds, processing collected data at a rate faster than the combat aircraft can maneuver. As the silent, all-seeing instructor, PETS performs real-time assessment of mission progress and warfighter performance in the LVC environment. Designed to find and store data defined by warfighters as important, it observes all data passing through the network, computes mission statistics, and filters accumulated information to locate examples of demonstrated warfighter competencies and deficiencies. The comprehensive PETS assessment helps the individual warfighter become a more efficient learner, while maximizing the overall value of every training hour, whether spent in a live, simulated, or combined-approach environment.