In the high-stakes, fast-paced world of military operations, every second counts. For Air Force battle managers, making critical decisions under immense pressure is part of the job. But what if they had a partner that could sift through mountains of data in an instant, flagging threats and suggesting optimal solutions? That's no longer science fiction; it's the reality being tested at Nellis Air Force Base.
The U.S. Air Force is accelerating its push into the future with a groundbreaking experimentation campaign called the Decision Advantage Sprint for Human-Machine Teaming (DASH). These two-week wargames are designed to see just how effectively artificial intelligence and machine learning can be woven into the fabric of battle management operations.
Welcome to the DASH Wargames
Hosted by the 805th Combat Training Squadron, also known as the Shadow Operations Center – Nellis (ShOC-N), the DASH series isn't about testing finished products. It's about rapid, collaborative innovation. The squadron invites teams from the tech industry to work directly alongside airmen, building and testing AI-enabled software in simulated operational scenarios.
The core mission? To enhance the DAF Battle Network, the Air Force's contribution to the Pentagon's broader vision of a fully connected military known as Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control (CJADC2). As ShOC-N Commander Lt. Col. Shawn Finney explained, these experiments are exploring the future of command and control (C2).
From Human to Human-Machine Team
The genius of the DASH wargames lies in their focused approach. Instead of trying to solve every problem at once, each event zeroes in on a single subfunction of a battle manager's decision-making process. This is guided by the Air Force's 'Transformational Model for Decision Advantage,' a framework that breaks down the C2 cycle into individual choices, like identifying a target or selecting the right weapon.
“We’re physically … stressing the battle managers into making decisions, and then having companies observe what they’re doing and then trying to develop microservices that improve the cognitive load to shift from the human to the computer,” said Col. John Ohlund, director of the Advanced Battle Management System Cross Functional Team.
This process is incredibly hands-on. Battle managers first run through a scenario using their standard tools, establishing a baseline. Then, industry developers spend two weeks coding AI microservices to help them do it better, faster, and with less mental strain. The constant, real-time feedback from operators is a game-changer, resolving language gaps and ensuring the technology being built actually meets the needs of the warfighter.
Learning on the Fly
The results are already proving the value of this human-machine teaming. The AI software has demonstrated its ability to cut through the 'noise' of a complex battlespace, presenting clear data and potential solutions at a pace a human alone couldn't match. As Lt. Col. Wesley Schultz, ShOC-N’s director of operations, put it, AI helps “reduce the amount of things we have to consider” when facing a complex, quantum-level problem like modern warfare.
However, the experiments are also providing crucial insights into AI's current limitations. In one instance, an algorithm presented inaccurate decisions because it hadn't been trained to account for weather—a variable a human operator would consider automatically. This highlights a critical takeaway: the goal isn't to replace the human but to augment them, creating a powerful partnership where each plays to their strengths.
The Path Forward
The DASH wargames are set to continue, with plans to increase the frequency of events and eventually combine multiple AI microservices to see how they work together. It's a process of true experimentation, where the goal isn't just to pass a test but, as Schultz says, “to unlock new things.”
By fostering this unique collaboration between operators and innovators, the Air Force is not just keeping pace with technology; it's actively shaping how it will be used to secure an advantage in the conflicts of tomorrow.
Key Takeaways
- AI as a Teammate: The Air Force's DASH wargames are focused on integrating AI as a partner for battle managers, not a replacement.
- Reducing Cognitive Load: A primary goal is to use AI microservices to handle complex data analysis, freeing up human operators to make better, faster strategic decisions.
- Industry Collaboration is Crucial: By embedding industry developers with airmen, the program ensures that AI tools are built with a deep understanding of real-world operational needs.
- Iterative Experimentation: The wargames focus on specific decision-making tasks, allowing for rapid development and refinement of AI capabilities.
- Human Oversight Remains Key: Early findings show that while AI is powerful, it has limitations, reinforcing the importance of the human-in-the-loop to handle context and unforeseen variables.