the first test.
0200.
0850, actual time, was to be command post exercise time
Thus, by the time the canmand post exercise had started in the
morning, many of the simulated drone aircraft were in the air and going
toward their stations over the target.
As the day progressed, "canned
messages" were injected into the operation, each of which required action
by various members of the staff.
the exercise.
Every attempt was made to bring realiem into
The staff never kMmew just what action might be required of
them during the next few moments.
A complete record of all simulated air-~
craftin the air was posted in the Air Operations Room.
The Combat Informa-
tion Center was in operation and cooperated throughout the problem by
relaying information on location of all aircraft, and simulated the location
of lost or stray drones.
effeet resoues at sea.
Air reseve planes were brought into the action to
As various phases were completed and the planes
were directed to land, the final action of dispatching aircraft to the
United States with test samples, was taken.
Difficulty developed on several occasions when "oanned messages”
were dispatched at the wrong time by the J-3 Division of the Task Force.
Many of these messages had been written to deal with situations which might
oceur at some particular point in a sequence of olosely related events, and
their realiom was lost when they were dispatched without regard for the
factor of time.
Fram this experience, it became obvious that such “canned
mossages” should be carefully identified with a logical time of dispatch.
At the critique following the exercise, it was pointed out that
Air Force personnel were toe verbose in their messages, that they would
have to learn to say what they had to say in fewer words.
There was a
tendency to assign unjustifiably high priorities to many messages and
Sootqth?
40