ARTICLE

November 2003

Common Driver Trainer Could Save Millions

by Sandra I. Erwin

The Army is considering whether it should consolidate multiple driver training devices into a single system. The benefit would be cost savings of up to $22 million, officials said.

A common driver training system is an idea being kicked around, said Lt. Col. Joseph A. Giunta Jr., program manager for Army ground combat tactical trainers.

“We currently have a requirement to produce a driver’s trainer for the Stryker vehicle,” he told National Defense. “We are trying to see if the Army wants to consider putting all the driver training requirements into one.”

That would include tank driver trainers, wheeled driver trainers, the Stryker training and the trainers to be developed for the Future Combat Systems. Today, he said, “we are moving toward five different trainers.”

Giunta estimated that a common trainer would save the Army $22 million over 10 years.

Advances in technology would make it possible to use a common motion platform, he explained. Motion platforms used to be driven by hydraulics. Today, they are electric and more efficient. “Our common driver trainer could use the same motion platform and the same software. ... Each vehicle cab can be re-configurable. That is cosmetic.” It could be adapted to accommodate a tank driver today and a truck driver tomorrow, or a Stryker operator.

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