European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 29, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday november 29. 1985 the stars and stripes Paga 9 unit fights it out on computer screen by Mike Heronemus staff writer Ansbach Germany the Isi army div is taking some battalion train ing out of the Field and onto a computer screen inside a helicopter hangar at Kat Torbach army heliport. It. Col. Joseph s. Thomson com Mander of 1st in. 37th Armor moves his Slaff a Chi week into Canvas and camouflage netting operations tents erected in second Story rooms at the rear of the hangar. From there the staff will Light an automated War with the help of microcomputers laser videodisc players television monitors Joysticks graphics generators and computer printouts. The new computerized tactical train ing system battalion automated Battle simulation Babas is run by trained operator based on the battalion staffs tactical and logistical instructions. Babas can save the army Lens of thousands of dollars by not having to tend a whole battalion of troops into the Field with their equipment said Cap Joe Gonzalez the officer in charge. While the army estimates a Cost of si84,000 to train an armoured battalion of 560 in the Field it costs Only $10,000 to rain 100 people during a command Post exercise he noted. Using Babas requires Only the Bat Talion commander and his staff and the Babas operators less than so people for three Days no Wear and tear on Bat Talion weapons and equipment no costs for fuel or ammunition and no Man Euver damage claims Gonzalez said. But the training is just As real As it would be in the Field he vowed. The terrain featured in the 1st army div Babas depicts the Fulda Gap find its surrounding area. Battles Are fought in real time if it would take an hour for a unit to reach a certain objective that s How Long the computers will take to move it there. If there is a Hill Between Friendly and enemy forces they can t see one another Gonzalez said. Weather conditions also Are programmed into the action. As equipment and weapons arc used fuel and ammunition supplies dwindle requiring resupply. Combat casualties Are taken into account. The system is sophisticated to the Point that if you run out of bullets you won t be Able to fire your weapons and. Photo for 58.5 by can Babas is being used by 1st army div o train battalion staffs in Battle operations without sending he whole unit to the Field. If you run out of fuel you won t be Able to move your vehicles Gonzalez said. If a Soldier s injuries will keep him from Battle for 45 Days you won t be Able to use him for 45 Days Gonzalez said. If a unit s strength Fain below a specified level the unit is rendered combat ineffective until replacement soldiers arrive. Babas can conduct offensive and defensive Maneu vers including ambushes reconnaissance attacks and withdraw als. Armor armoured cavalry attack Heli copter and mechanized infantry units can be used As Well As other tactical capabilities such As intelligence and Engineer Bridges or mine Fields. 1 Low Well the battalion commander and his staff Are doing is shown on a deluge of printed reports generated by the system Gonzalez said. Unit and resupply status reports arc tunnelled to the command staff just As they would be in a real War. Gonza Lez said a battalion could even install its unit communications gear to gel a closer feeling to being in the Field. While the commander and his staff make operational decisions based on the reports being received key people of the battalion s Manuel or units Are in another room fighting the Battles. Company commanders first sergeants fire con trollers and logistical officers operate their own elements based on battalion doctrine policies and the battalion com Mander s direction. Babas determines what would prob ably result. Using Babas Means bal unions will be Able to Sec if their Stan Dard operating procedures work As Well As they want them  Gonzalez said. The 1st army div is the Only unit in Usa eur to receive Babas which was tested and validated at fort leaven Worth. Kan., during the summer. The Only other operational system is located at fort Lewis wash.," Gonzalez said. Officials say there Are no plans for other Usa eur units to gel the system. State department holds anti terror seminar Washington not a Sedan driving Down an isolated desert Highway comes upon a Roadblock manned by armed terrorist. The Driver stops quickly analyses the situation then Steps on the Gas careening through two blocking cars to safety. This scene May sound like a clip from a James Bond movie but in fact it describes a segment from a film used in t state department anti terrorist training seminar coping with violence  the seminar which also draws on handouts and experts from various government agencies is open to All govern ment employees who will be posted overseas. But it is required for All diplomats assigned abroad and is advised for their spouses. In addition to the Daylong seminar in Washington which is Toon to be expanded to two Days another Day of training is required for All foreign service officers once they reach an overseas Post. We Are looking to sensitize Diplomat to a wide Range of Danu is not Only terrorism but also criminal violence an