TRAC-FLVNIntroductionJoint Task Force User BehaviorMilitary Scenario and OPNET™ InteractionConclusionReferencesCreating Military Scenarios for OPNET AnalysesMr. Neil F. SleeviTRAC-FLVNFt. Leavenworth, Kansas 66027-2345E-mail: [email protected] purpose of this paper is to assist military analysts andothers with building scenarios in support of OPNET™-basedstudies. Appropriate military scenarios are required to ensurethat communications networks under study are realistic andcredible. When creating baseline network scenario topologiesfor alternative "what-if?” studies, it is essential to developfeasible, acceptable, suitable and operationally accuratemilitary scenarios to ensure credible representation of thealternatives. Military wide area network (WAN) performanceanalysis, technology migration, and bandwidth sizing studiesrequire a scenario to provide the framework for subsequentanalysis. This paper discusses this need and describes simpleto use techniques for military OPNET™ users to create aplausible military scenario. This paper focuses on TRADOCAnalysis Center’s (TRAC) development of a military scenariofor use with OPNET™ in a joint1 context. Background Typical OPNET™-related military performance analyses areused in combat developments for communications modelingcapabilities. This capability is essential for conducting anetwork traffic and communications burden assessment of aJoint Task Force (JTF) through scenario modeling for a largenumber of operational facilities (OPFACs). The joint servicecommunity has successfully used OPNET™ in the past andcontinues to use OPNET Modeler™ to conduct performancelevel modeling and simulation. Military communicationsstudies can facilitate timely communications contingencyplanning and provide capability to evaluate communicationssystems and technologies. This paper explores scenariodevelopment to support JTF communications networkperformance analysis using OPNET Modeler™ (OPNET).OPNET™ has proven itself as a valuable tool in the jointcommunications modeling environment. OPNET™ is thenetwork analysis tool currently used in TRAC performancestudies.1 Joint Publication 1-02, (DOD) connotes activities, operations, organizations,etc., in which elements of two or more Military Departments participates. IntroductionMilitary scenarios are required as the operational frameworkfor communications performance analyses. An operationalmilitary scenario is necessary to establish the communicationsenvironment and to set the conditions and the objects used forcreating and executing OPNET™ simulations and conductingstudies. It is necessary to construct a scenario to cover thespecific situation involved. Military scenarios usually includea description of the current historical, political, military, social,and economic situations. OPNET™ study scenarios used formilitary purposes also include planning estimates of userneeds required for network performance modeling. Historicalcommunications traffic information extenuates predominantlyfrom previous studies. Estimated traffic load information canalso promulgate from joint exercise traffic data, servicecomponent and theater requirements database information, andpast network simulation data. TRAC conducts joint studiesand analyses for the Joint Staff and the Combatant Commands(CINCs). Analysis efforts using OPNET™ provide JTF-levelcommanders and joint headquarters planners with thecapability to evaluate performance of command, control,communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, andreconnaissance (C4ISR) systems in a joint environment. Toaccomplish this analysis and assessment mission, TRACconducts communications performance evaluations in aframework common to doctrinal JTF operations and actualoperating environments. The goal is to infuse into the scenarioas much realism as possible, while maintaining a degree ofcontrol over the OPNET™ simulation activities for predictableand potentially repeatable outputs. Successful scenariodevelopment for all phases of the military operation lendscredibility to the OPNET™ modeling and simulationapproach.Scenario OverviewThe military scenario lays out the situational framework,which identifies the boundaries and context for the OPNET™-based simulation. It essentially drives military operationswithin the modeling and simulation environment. Thescenario defines the operational context of the simulation.Implicit in the scenario is an orchestrated series of stimulusevents to influence the desired simulation activities. Thecreation of a relevant and credible scenario must be completedbefore developing simulation data collection processes. Based1F o r c e S t r u c t u r e a n d P h a s e T i m e l i n e s .G e o g r a p h i cL o c a t i o n sO p e r a t i o n a l S e t t i n gX XX XX X XS A R T C S T C S T C S T C SB lu e F o r c e sD e f e n s e P l a n n i n g G u id a n c eR e d F o r c e sFigure 1. Military Scenario for OPNET™ Analysison the study analysis objectives, TRAC has often found thatsometimes a detailed and complete scenario is not necessarilyneeded. A simple set of operational vignettes can oftenprovide sufficient operational framework from which to framethe analysis effort. Vignettes can simplify the process ofensuring that simulation events replicate those actions requiredin a military warfighting environment. TRAC creates and usesa scenario for each simulation activity. The military scenariois tailored to the specific requirements of the customer whileensuring careful and detailed examination of the studyobjective. The military OPNET™ project team must carefullymanage the scenario development process to ensure thatsufficient trigger and stimulus events are developed. Thescenario development framework includes three majorcategories: (i.e. political/military/cultural situation),capabilities of players (friendly forces, opposing forces,