A Look Ahead
F O R E I G N A N D D O M E S T I C O P E R A T I O N S
S I M U L A T I O N T R A I N I N G :
F
or the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) right now,
that adage could not be truer. With recruitment and
retention, budget, and procurement issues, there is
likely much improvisation, adaptation and overcom-
ing obstacles being done. Add in the ever-changing
battlespaces that Canada may be involved in – consider NATO's
eastern flank and the vulnerabilities caused by the war in Ukraine
– and the need for fluidity is all too apparent.
And we cannot ignore future weather events (fires, floods) due
to climate change – and the need for up-tempo CAF domestic
operations to augment civilian operators on the ground.
All this in mind, the need for dynamic and realistic simulation as
part of the training package for future leaders has never been great-
er. Also, with advancements in AI and virtual reality it is up to the
Canadian Armed Forces to identify private sector partners who can
help further the art of virtual war and reaction to weather events.
There are many private sector companies involved in these com-
puter-based initiatives and one that has seen myriad change is Ca-
lian. It started with bird tables and enemy and friendly movable
pieces and evolved to sophisticated software-based battlespace
overviews. The development of immersive simulated training for
the future leaders of the CAF, who undergo confirmation exer-
cises after months-long training sessions, is ever-evolving.
All this activity, as impressive as it is, does not come without
challenges. With an eye to the future of simulated war, we spoke
with Calian representatives: Stephen Fritz-Millet, Assistant Con-
tract Wide Coordinator and Contract Site Lead, Canadian Army
Simulation Centre and Jay Ballard, Military Training and Simu-
lation Lead to discuss those challenges and what just might lie
ahead.
THE ARMY MOTTO ABOUT BEING FLEXIBLE AND DYNAMIC GOES LIKE THIS,
"IMPROVISE, ADAPT AND OVERCOME."
B Y K E A N D O H E R TY
www.vanguardcanada.com AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2023 15
US Army and Canadian Armed Forces
personnel interact during Ex UNIFIED
RESOLVE 2018.
