8825 - Modeling and Simulation Officer

Summary

Modeling and Simulation (M&S) Officers are the Marine Corps subject matter experts (SME) across the four pillars of USMC M&S: acquisition, analysis, experimentation, and training.

As both managerial and technical SMEs, their recommendations to key decision makers can have Service- and national-level impacts.

The M&S Officer is the indispensable translator between the commander’s mission requirements and the details of the enabling critical technologies.

They provide a wide range of M&S SME input to key decision makers on topics such as operational, functional, and technical requirements; conceptual model design; statistically-based data analysis; analysis of alternatives; net-centric software/hardware implementation; verification, validation, & accreditation (VV&A) of M&S solutions; defense systems acquisition activities of program management and sustainment; and joint capabilities integration and development system (JCIDS) processes.

Fundamentally, the M&S officer maintains a level of understanding of how simulations are designed to represent the operational environment, internally operate at the source code level, and ultimately have mission or training/education utility to Marines.

As practitioners of M&S-supported missions, they possess the skills to operate existing USMC simulations in support of mission requirements through all phases: planning, preparation, execution, and analysis.

M&S Officers use requirements-based model selection, modify simulation parametric data, explain results, facilitate after-action reviews, and conduct analysis.

As future innovators with evolving technical capabilities, M&S Officers can design and build simulations that are based on a complete understanding of live-virtual-constructive environments, physics-based models, real-time graphics, terrain databases, calculus-based algorithms, and advanced artificial intelligence techniques.

The M&S Officer is the Marine Corps’ liaison across government, academia, and industry, providing Marine Corps decision makers with key insights on M&S theories, approaches, and applications to ensure the Service is best positioned to realize a modern force that exploits innovative concepts and approaches.

Prerequisites

None.

Requirements

Complete the Modeling and Simulation curriculum number 399 (Modeling, Virtual Environments, and Simulation) curriculum at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA; or equivalent postgraduate degree from an accredited university.

M&S Officers must have current knowledge of DOD, USN, and USMC M&S policy and doctrine, comprehensive theoretical understanding of simulation in live-virtual-constructive environments, practical experience with USMC simulations, and a comprehensive awareness of current capabilities/limitations of M&S technologies.

The officer must have earned/completed the following: Master’s degree in modeling and simulation or a related field.

Technical thesis on a topic relating to USMC or DOD modeling and simulation.

In addition, the following are mandatory minimum course requirements to be completed by those Marines who have not graduated from Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA: Simulation capabilities and limitations for live, virtual, and constructive domains with a focus on virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality.

Cyber security considerations for isolated and networked simulations.

Verification of software, validation of models, and accreditation of simulations.

Artificial intelligence fundamentals, capabilities, and limitations (agent-based simulations, human behavior modeling).

Mathematical modeling (physics-based models, combat models, stochastic and deterministic modeling techniques).

Probability theories and statistically-based data analysis.

Stand-alone and distributed interactive M&S techniques to plan, prepare, execute, and analyze events and studies using applications in isolated and networked environments.

Discrete event simulation techniques.

Network architectures and computer communication (distributed simulation, OSI 7 layers, interoperability with C4I systems, and federation of simulations).

Simulation standards for simulation data and communication (technical details, development processes, open source, open standards, and software licenses).

Program management basics, including software acquisition management.

Design of experiments, simulations in support of training/education, and use of simulation in data analysis (including elements specific to staff coordination through C4I systems).

POI CID

None

Duties

Assist in coordinating Marine Corps participation in the development, acquisition, operation, management, and evolution of M&S concepts in support of Marine Corps missions.

Function as a SME on the capabilities of M&S technologies and provide this information to Marine Corps decision makers in the support of tasks relating to all pillars of DOD modeling and simulation.

Assist the Marine Corps M&S Management Office in the development and coordination of Marine Corps M&S policy and strategy.

Assist the relevant advocates in the development of doctrine to guide the use of M&S applications in Marine Corps operations and training/education.

Coordinate development and translation of applicable operational and training/education needs into M&S technical requirements.

Ensure the Marine Corps, in conjunction with the Navy, coordinates and collaborates with other DOD organizations concerning research and development that support Marine Corps requirements.

Assist in the development of education about M&S capabilities and assist in the integration of M&S as an educational tool within the Marine Corps.

Plan, prepare, execute, and analyze events using stand-alone and distributed interactive simulations in isolated and networked environments.

Maintain current market research in order to evaluate and recommend solutions for program of record simulations systems that will correct deficiencies and incorporate emerging technologies.

Evaluate and recommend appropriate uses of M&S concepts to solve current USMC science and technology objectives.

Develop, modify, or maintain M&S software tools as required.

Operations Research Analysts 15-2031.

Computer and Information Research Scientist 15-1221.

None.

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