Implications of Crew Resource Management (CRM) Training for Tank Crews

Abstract

Abstract : Mission effectiveness of US Army tank crews may be enhanced by applying principles of Crew Resource Management (CRM). A recent study of the US Army Safety Center Database identified a number of tank accidents, particularly during non-combat operations, that involved deficiencies in crew coordination. In addition, data from the Center for Army Lessons Learned indicates that CRM may play a role in fratricide accidents. In the late 1970s, findings of crew coordination problems in aviation accidents created the impetus for mandated CRM training for aircrews. The purpose of this paper is to explore evidence of tank CRM-related problems and investigate the possible applications of aviation-derived CRM training to tank crews. CSERIAC's analysis of crew coordination-related tank accidents suggests that the application of CRM principles to tank crews may increase mission effectiveness and operational safety. Several factors support the application of CRM principles to tank crews. These factors include increases in automation, the criticality of shared perceptions, possible information overload, and increasing requirements for team decision making on the digital battlefield. Developing a comprehensive strategy to improve tank CRM appears to be timely. Although surface similarities of aircraft and armor crews imply that CRM training courses could be directly applied from the air cockpit to the ground vehicle, it is important to understand the differences between these two crew environments and to appreciate the unique CRM needs of tank crews.