CONGRESSIONAL MODELING & SIMULATION TRAINING CAUCUS
Congressman J. Randy Forbes, Chairman

Congressman Forbes serves as Honorary Co-Host of Medical Modeling & Simulation Event on Capitol Hill

In today's world, Modeling & Simulation involves much more than just defense-related applications. The technologies used in M&S have potential uses in any number of industries and professions including construction, medicine, and homeland security, among many others. The Center for Telemedicine Law, a medical simulation organization, hosted its second annual Medical Simulation Exhibition on Capitol Hill on May 12th. The event was sponsored by the Advanced Initiatives in Medical Simulation (AIMS) which is a coalition committed to promoting medical simulation as a way to improve patient safety, reduce medical errors, ensure provider competency, train medical professionals, and reduce health care costs. Like the 2004 event, the event in May was a huge success with many staffers and lawmakers in attendance. Congressman Forbes was asked to serve as an Honorary Co-Host for the event which focused on the applications of simulation as an excellent approach to reducing medical errors and converting technology from military to civilian uses. Congressman Forbes looks forward to more medical simulation events on Capitol Hill in order to make lawmakers and staffers aware of this critical capability.

Caucus Members Forbes and Feeney meet with “Team Orlando”

Hosted in Florida by Congressman Tom Feeney, Congressman Forbes recently visited the many military, educational, and research M&S organizations in the Orlando, FL region. The Members met with “Team Orlando” which includes representatives from the Army’s Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training, & Instrumentation (PEO-STRI), the Naval Air Systems Command Training Systems Division (NAVAIR TSD), the Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulation (AFAMS), the Marine Corps Program Manager for Training Systems (PM TRASYS), the University of Central Florida's Institute for Simulation & Training, and the National Center for Simulation. This was an excellent opportunity for Congressman Forbes and Congressman Feeney to hear about the activities and concerns of the major defense M&S organizations in the Orlando region. 

Upcoming Events

M&ST Caucus to visit Joint Forces Command (JFCOM)

The M&ST Caucus has planned a July 18th Caucus visit to JFCOM’s Joint National Training Capability (JNTC) and Joint Experimentation Directorate (J9), both located in Suffolk, Virginia. USJFCOM's Joint Warfighting Center continues to develop and implement the Joint National Training Capability (JNTC) which is one of three capabilities identified in the Department of Defense's training transformation plan. USJFCOM's Joint National Training Capability works to enhance the way that joint forces train and offers comprehensive live, virtual and constructive (L-V-C) training environments. JFCOM’s Joint Experimentation Directorate (J9) is tasked with developing, exploring, testing, and validating 21st-century joint concepts for our nation's warfighters. The Joint Experimentation Directorate collaborates with the military services and combatant commanders to provide recommendations to our nation's military and civilian leadership. These two organizations, both of which are major users of modeling & simulation technologies, aim to foster military innovation and improvement.

In the News

“In the Political Eye”, May 2005 Training & Simulation Journal
“View from the Hill”, May 2005 Military Training Technology 

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