Photo By Sgt. Alejandro Carrasquel | U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Danny Burns, chief technology officer for...... read more read more
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Fort Cavazos, TX — In a pivotal move to modernize its capabilities, the U.S. Army recently conducted the first Mobile Training Team (MTT) Data for Leaders Course at Fort Cavazos, Nov. 8, 2024. Marking a significant shift toward integrating data literacy and real-time data analysis into its operations. The 4-day training program aims to provide senior military leaders with the tools they need to harness data effectively to make timely, informed decisions on the battlefield. “By the end of the course, participants leave with practical skills and tools they can immediately use to support their units, including the ability to create real-time dashboards that commanders can use to make data-informed decisions,” said Captain Derek Koslowski, Chief Data Officer at the U.S. Army Signal School.
The program’s ultimate goal is to foster a “data-driven, data-informed, and data-enabled organization,” according Koslowski. The course, previously only offered at Fort Eisenhower’s Cyber Center of Excellence, brought data training directly to Fort Cavazos, making it more accessible to soldiers in different commands and ensuring broader implementation. “They leave the school, the MTT, building a dashboard that they bring back to their organization, and already instantly provide return on investment to their organization,” said Koslowski. Chief Warrant Officer 5 Danny Burns, Chief Technology Officer for the Army’s Deputy Chief of Staff, G-6, observed the training and emphasized the importance of data for military readiness. “The most important part of the training is helping our formation understand the value of data, the power of data that’s available, and how to cultivate the data so that it can be used by commanders to make decisions in a faster-paced environment,” Burns explained. By equipping commanders with the right information at the right time, he added, “they can make a decision faster than our adversaries.”
In one session, participants learned to use Power BI, a data visualization tool, to analyze and present information relevant to their units. The training allows soldiers to practice compiling and presenting such data in ways that are coherent and actionable, directly supporting readiness. A key takeaway from the course is the importance of time in military operations. “If we can be faster, we can be more lethal,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Kristie Brady, Army G-6 Sergeant Major at the Pentagon. “It’s really about time for our soldiers.” Lt. Col. Lisa Halverson, Deputy Brigade Commander for the 11th Signal Brigade, remarked on the value of data literacy as a means of closing knowledge gaps across various aspects of military operations, from personnel to logistics. “What we’re trying to do here with the Data Literacy Course and Power BI is to present relevant information to the formation and to the commander, so they can make informed decisions,” Halverson said. By ensuring that leaders at all levels are equipped to work with data, the Army can better track and respond to the ongoing needs of its soldiers and operations. With the first course iteration at Fort Cavazos complete, the Army plans to expand the program and incorporate data training across other posts and commands. “The return on investment is huge for the Army,” Burns said. He added that “the training ensures soldiers will maximize the existing capabilities at their disposal.”
A data-centric organization creates lethality, survivability, and tempo – empowering leaders and Soldiers with the right information at the right time to gauge risks, optimize combat power, fully employ national means, and attain decision dominance at all echelons. To achieve this, the U.S. Army will continue to evolve the way it communicates – converging networks, unleashing data from embedded silos, and enabling the secure and effective transport of information wherever it is needed.
| Date Taken: | 11.08.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 11.19.2024 19:36 |
| Story ID: | 485546 |
| Location: | FORT CAVAZOS, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 69 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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