MEDIA ADVISORY: Press Invited to First-Ever Battalion-Level Demonstration of National Guard Bureau and California National Guard's Next-Generation Training Program

What: The National Guard Bureau and California National Guard will present a battalion-level demonstration of the new Joint Training Experimentation Program (JTEP), a “live-virtual-constructive” training concept with the potential to greatly reduce training costs while increasing the readiness of Guard personnel. The program's prime contractor and systems integrator is SRI International of Menlo Park.

The program is the first of its kind to create a live and simulated battlefield terrain integrating training areas used in different parts of the world. During the demonstration, Guard personnel at two California locations will interact in a live training exercise while linked to computer-based “virtual terrain” based partly on a U.S. military training location in Germany . National Guard staff in Sacramento will observe the action and participate in a distributed after-action review of the exercise. All participants will “see” the same underlying terrain, which is a key component of successful interoperability.

The program's approach could also be used to train civilian emergency response managers and military leaders to work together in the wake of a catastrophic or terrorist event.

When: December 11, 2003 , 8:00 a.m. to approximately 5:00 p.m.

Who: National Guard Bureau, California National Guard, and SRI International

Where: California National Guard Camp San Luis Obispo (northwest of San Luis Obispo along Highway 1). Press and other observers will also be shuttled to Camp Roberts to view the exercise from that perspective.

More: Press registration is required; for more information, directions, and to register, please contact Christina Armstrong at 415-442-4029 or christina.armstrong@cpcomm.com. Press must show valid identification at Camp gate. Press may photograph/videotape events. Photos will also be available through SRI. More information about JTEP: www.jtepforguard.com.