The Air National Guard (ANG) and Air Force (AF) Distributed Ground Sites (DGS), designated the AN/GSQ-272 SENTINEL Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS) weapon system, lack an integrated mission trainer able to provide analysts a predictable, reliable and tailorable Desired Learning Objective (DLO)-driven networked simulation. The solution must enable crews to accomplish training and maintain Mission Ready status as well as accomplish proficiency training in the absence of live theater Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions. Currently, some units have recorded past Full Motion Video (FMV) missions for limited home station training. While AF ISR Agency published a DCGS Weapons System Trainer (WST) Flight Plan in September 2013, the Flight Plan does not integrate DCGS into live and virtual Large Force Employment (LFE) exercises until approximately Jan 2017.

The ANG Distributed Training and Operations Center (DTOC) is an existing multi-domain network providing coordinated virtual Large Force Employment (LFE) planning and execution among geographically separated joint Service participants. Expansion of DTOC into DCGS sites integrates the DCGS community into training for the future Contested and Degraded Operations (CDO) battle space without requiring movement of personnel or aircraft. The DTOC’s ability to record and archive missions enhances training opportunities throughout the entire DCGS community. It also enhances LFE debriefings and playback that serve as ready off-the-shelf training for DCGS crews. The WST Flight Plan is a multi-year endeavor adding DTOC to ANG DCGS sites to provide a near-term solution to maintain proficiency as available live ISR sorties decrease, address a shortfall for LFE-style training and integration, and provide a ready-made complement to WST