Attachment (8c) III Corps MTCCS II. TE 3 (Hub and Spoke)v3.docx

7.3. Technical Exhibit 3 – Hub and Spoke Methodology

A Hub is an installation or training activity that acts as a regional or command-based center of gravity for individual and collective MC training. For the Hub to provide the oversight and support necessary for sustaining consistent training objectives, it requires a larger training staff, training support systems, and training infrastructure (facilities, connectivity, etc.). It provides a focal point for simulations, interfaces, instruction for most of the MC systems, and centralized contract and funding oversight/management for the Hub and aligned Spokes. The Hub is authorized greater training resources than its Spokes. A Spoke is a smaller scale MC training capability and infrastructure which relies on the Hub (or Hub coordinated support from other Spokes) for low-density individual MC training support, collective training support in some instances, higher fidelity simulation and/or technical support, and contract/resource management. Spokes have adequate simulations, stimulations, MC system training and technical support to meet tenant unit day-to-day individual and collective training needs but must coordinate with the Hubs for resources and technical and/or support for large event training such as Culminating Training Events (CTEs), Warfighter Exercises (WFXs), Mission Rehearsal Exercises (MRXs) and divisional battle staff training. Hub and Spoke, as it relates to MC training, is executed through an integrated, less hierarchical and more distributed training structure that extends throughout the Army. Implementation of the Hub and Spoke strategy is based on several key tenets:

1. Leveraging people and equipment across installations to support low density training.

2. Cross-leveling of trainers, technicians, and other Subject Matter Experts (SME) to support short-term surge training requirements and enable major collective training exercises.

3. Maintaining dynamic relationships that are organized along traditional command relationships, geographic proximity, functional alignment, or training specific requirements.

4. Hub staffs that provide support to Spoke installations in the areas of resource and contract management.

5. Hub staffs that provide support to spoke installations in the areas of training and technical integration.

6. The Hub conducts simulation and mission command (MC) technical training both at the Hub and at Spoke installations, whichever is best for task accomplishment.

7. Assistance provided in preparing databases for simulation drivers and interfaces for use in individual through collective training events.

8. Spoke technical and trainer personnel participate in Joint Land Component Constructive Training Capability (JLCCTC) and gaming fielding/training events conducted at the Hub to acquire expertise and understanding of integration activities and exercise execution tasks.

9. Hub technicians travel to the Spokes to assist in system/model installation and configuration, integration of systems/models to support training events, and to conduct technical training for event preparation.

10. The Hub provides "help desk" equivalent guidance and information to assist both Spoke event integrators and technicians planning for and conducting a wide range of training events.

7.3.1. The MTC Government staff at the Hub (Fort Hood) not only manages MC training capabilities at its installation but also provides training and technical oversight and support, synergy of training capabilities, contract management, fiscal management, and technical and training guidance to its respective Spoke installations (Forts Carson, Riley, Bliss, Sill, and JBSA). This ensures that MC training capabilities and standards are established and maintained based on Army regulations and guidelines and within allocated funding. Because of this support role, the MTC at the Fort Hood Hub incurs a responsibility beyond the confines of the installation.

7.3.2. The working relationship between a Hub and its Spokes is collaborative and cooperative, particularly in determining direction and policy across the organization. Spokes are generally classified as medium (Forts Carson, Riley, and Bliss) or small sites (Forts Sill and JBSA) and are staffed and resourced at a minimum essential level. Through active participation with the Hub, it is essential that Spokes identify requirements for their installation to ensure success of this concept. Working together, the Hub and Spoke can leverage resources across organizations and installations to support low-density training, accommodate short-term surge requirements, and individual and collective training. Large (Hub) MTCs shall be staffed to support division and below exercises/events without any outside assistance. Medium MTCs shall be staffed to support brigade and below exercises/events without outside assistance. Small MTCs shall be staffed to support battalion and below exercises/events.

7.3.3. A Hub is an installation or training activity which acts as a regional or command-based center of gravity for individual and collective MC training. It is a center of gravity where training throughput requires a large amount of training service staff, training support systems and training infrastructure (facilities, connectivity, etc.).

7.3.4 THE HUB.

1. Provide Subject Matter Experts (SME) and multi-functional staff who support Hub individual, staff and collective MC training requirements and reinforce those requirements at Spoke installations.

2. Host centralized MTC staff training for Army Mission Command Information Systems (MCIS) and simulation new equipment training (NET) for the Hub and associated Spokes.

3. Provide train-the-trainer personnel to assist Spokes with constructive simulation and gaming system integration assistance after National Simulation Center (NSC) and Program Executive Office – Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO-STRI) fielding and NET activities.

4. Provide SMEs with expertise relating to Mission Command individual system training, use of simulations and training infrastructure. Provide liaison to Mission Command PMs as required.

5. Provide Mobile Training Teams to augment Spokes in low density MC systems training, to support surge requirements for MC training and integration of newly fielded training enablers.

6. Provide assistance for technical integration of simulations as required to support exercises at Spoke locations.

7. Provide contract and resource management and oversight as requested by Spoke installations (Government requirement).

8. Conduct periodic (semi-annual) interface with Spoke leadership to assess training requirements and subsequently assist spokes with budget consolidation and preparation of the budget (Government requirement).

9. Assist in the development of training strategies to meet changing doctrinal and deployment requirements.

10. Coordinate submission of periodic reports to provide a picture of MC training operations and issues that can be provided thru Army Commands (ACOM) to DA, as required (Government requirement).

11. The Hub does not dictate Spoke installation Senior Commander training priorities. The Hub may advise the Spokes, based on lessons learned, of potential training and technical improvements, however, the Hub will not establish the training strategy for the Spokes nor attempt to identify training requirements.

7.3.5. SPOKES.

1. Provide SMEs and multi-functional staff to support Spoke individual and collective MC training requirements.

2. Have adequate MC training systems and virtual and constructive simulations/stimulators to meet local unit day-to-day individual and collective MC training needs.

3. Support of other Spokes within available capabilities.

4. May reach to the Hub for resources and technical support for training events that require additional manpower, SMEs or equipment to support Culminating Training Events or Mission Rehearsal Exercises (MRX).

5. Rely on their associated Hub for coordinating and/or providing low-density individual and collective MC systems training support.

6. Are responsible for informing their installation leadership on requirements, operational issues, and funding.

7. Must identify specific needs, particularly for Contractor support to the Hub, so that support can be provided.