Notes on Army Readiness, Simulation Training, Munitions, and Cyber Workforce

Central Florida's Simulation Training:
- Home to simulation training, information, and instrumentation programs.
- Critical role in preparing war fighters with unmatched testing, modeling, simulation, and training systems.
- Supports a world-class manufacturing science and technologies industry.
- Generates over $7,000,000,000$ in annual economic impact.
- Defense innovation ecosystem alongside Navy, Air Force, Marines, and US Space Force training headquarters at Patrick's Space Force Base.
Army's Perspective on Simulation:
- Simulation is crucial for the Army.
- Exploring increased collaboration with commercial industry through PEO Stride.
- Aiming to leverage commercially available technology to reduce overhead costs.
- Focus on adopting and modifying existing tech rather than internal development.
- Simulation has advanced significantly, offering benefits beyond traditional wargaming.
- Potential to train soldiers globally, reducing the need to relocate them from their families.
Impact and Inter-Branch Collaboration:
- Objective is to align program management to emphasize adopt, modify, and develop approach.
- Focus on contracting expertise and war fighter input to expedite deployment to formations.

Need for a Certified Small Arms Training Range:
- Desire to build Nevada's first certified small arms training range at Hawthorne Army Depot.
- Currently, Nevada National Guard and Reserve soldiers travel out of state for annual weapons qualification.
- Out-of-state travel costs an average of $500,000$ per year per unit.
Budget and Commitment:
- The project was included in the FY2025 budget in both House and Senate appropriations bills.
- A full-year CR without budget tables creates uncertainty about funding.
- Seeking commitment from the Army to deliver the training range, ensuring convenience and cost savings.
- The Army affirmed the commitment to deliver Nevada's first certified small arms training range.

Importance of Hawthorne Army Depot:
- World's largest ammunition depot and demilitarization facility.
- Stores and demilitarizes munitions, ensuring readiness for all services.
- Requires continued infrastructure upgrades.
- Critical for ramping up munitions production and backfilling stockpiles.
Army Transformation Initiative (ATI):
- Concerns about broad structural changes, including reductions in platforms, personnel, and systems.
- Potential impact on critical facilities like Hawthorne.
Commitment to Investments:
- Seeking commitment to continue investments in Hawthorne despite the transformation initiative.
- Objective to ensure munitions readiness for the Army and DOD.
- The Army commits to working with the Senator's office to rapidly scale the munitions space.
Cost Reduction Strategies:
- Exploring ways to build and repair things more efficiently.

Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve:
- FY24 NDAA authorized the Army to create a civilian cybersecurity reserve to support Cyber Command.
- Aims to provide qualified civilian personnel for surge capacity.
- Ensures that the U.S. government has the cyber talent needed to respond to malicious activity and secure DOD systems.
Status Update and Expansion:
- Army is actively filling cyber formations.
- Recognizes the importance of connecting guard members with their civilian cyber roles.
- Expanding the cyber workforce, but acknowledges it takes time to develop exquisite capabilities.
Civilian Cyber Expertise:
- Focus on scaling civilian cyber abilities.
- Cyber warriors are essential for data layer and generative AI initiatives.
- Critical for implementing Cyber Command 2.0.