New WTCS system for satellite operators

The US Army's Cyber Center of Excellence (USACCoE) has introduced a Wideband Training and Certification System (WTCS) for satellite operators, it was announced on 17 January.

Students attending the USACCoE's Satellite Systems Network Coordinator Course will use the WTCS to apply classroom learning to simulations generated from real-world events before they are deployed at the US Army's Wideband Satellite Communications Operations Centers (WSOC).

At the WSOCs, operators perform satellite payload management tasks for the Wideband Global SATCOM constellation of satellites, delivering resilient, assured, secured and reliable strategic communications capability for the US Army, all of US Department of Defense, other government agencies and the National Command Authority.

The WTCS enables instructors to build tailored scenarios supporting specific training objectives. The system responds in real time to student input, allowing each scenario to develop realistically and simulate an unfolding situation.

The WTCS consists of two classrooms including 12 student and two instructor classroom workstations, six realistic, high fidelity laboratory training workstations and two instructor lab workstations. Each WTCS supports up to 12 simultaneously running simulations, each representing a mini WSOC.

Colonel Enrique Costas, the program manager for Defense Communications and Army Transmission Systems, said: ‘By using WTCS to 'train how we fight,' WSOC operators will be better prepared to deliver their 24/7, no-fail mission to enable satellite communications for our warfighters. It is all about operational readiness; the army's number one priority.’

Seven WTCS trainers will be delivered to WSOC facilities worldwide by May 2018; two have been delivered to date.