Exercise App

Apex is a consolidated platform that tracks and captures all exercise training data, creating a more dynamic planning experience. Enabling users to capture, manage, and assess all data that is entered or uploaded. Apex supports collaboration by producing charts and reports that may be distributed to any device, at any time, or exported in select file formats.

Introduction

Exercise app is a collaborative, visual, and integrated exercise planning tool that automates the training exercise planning process for military, security, and first responders concerned with maximizing the value and effectiveness of training. The app allows users to manage and visualize training performance. A key advantage of using it is the ease of analyzing the effectiveness of a training exercise and training environment. Exercise planners can capture requirements, plan, and track scenario-based training events according to user-defined training objectives.

Use Cases

• Military Training and Exercise
• Disaster and Emergency Response
• Law Enforcement Training
• Event Management
• Security Training

Getting Started

After registering for the Apex Platform and logging in, navigate to the Exercise app to open the main platform.

From the dashboard, you can quickly create Injects, Participants, and Training Objectives. Click the Create button, which is located at the top of the dashboard, to begin.

• Quick Create a New Inject.
• Quick Create a New Participant.
• Quick Create a New Training Objective.

Dashboard Details

In the dashbaord, the user creates a complete planning exercise with one tool. Users create and customize Injects, Labels, Events, and Timeline.

View an overview of your exercise's details. Within this page, you can view the complete number of Exercise Objectives, Injects, and more.

Exercise Details

Enter the Exercise Details associated with the Training Objective. In this section, add the STARTEX Date, ENDEX Date, Primary Organization, and Commander’s Guidance. Select Enter Guidance to begin.

Participants Details

This section enables users to add participants and connect them to a training scenario. Enter the Participant Details, Participant Platforms, Participant Planners, Funding Sources, and Review your content. These details are used for future objectives and create a participant training group.

Objectives Details

Add training objectives to your exercise and assign objectives to participants. Add Details, which are often predetermined based on the chosen participant, to each Training Objective. Next, add Measures, such as the Task, Condition, and Standard, to measure training objectives.

Events Details

Creating Events allows users to develop scenarios within an exercise. Events have a unique Master Scenario Events List of injects, which drive the event forward to support the training objectives associated with a participant.

Scenario Details

Scenario List, Board, and Calendar display the same information but are presented differently. In these sections, view the Trigger, Anticipated Response, Remarks, Attachments, Response Time, Actual Response, Location, and Training Objectives & Trained Method.

Activity Details

The Acivity allows users to view the history of actions and updates that have occured over time. This allows for historical and notifications of when and what occurs as the scenario is developed.

Timeline Details

The Timeline allows users to view the progress of theirinjects within a specific Event. Details input from the injects give the necessary data to produce the Timeline page.

Tracker Details

Easily track the status of Injects using specific status labels make monitoring the status of MSEL Injects simple. Search for keywords in the search bar to make finding, editing, or removing Injects easier. Manage boards by selecting the drop-down and choosing from automatically populated options or click on Manage Boards to create a custom Status Board in Settings. ​​ ​​

Dashboard

From the dashboard, you can see an overview of your training exercise. The Dashboard feature allows you to have an overview of the exerice and edit essential sections.

From the dashboard, you can:

• Edit Exercise Details by selecting the more options icon.
• View the Injects and arrange by different categories by clicking the drop-down.
• View the Scneario Schedule.

To create a MSEL Inject, Label, Event, and Training Exercise, follow these instructions:

Exercise

Analyze and assess the correlation between accomplishment, metrics, assessment, feedback, and funding to determine the overall effectiveness of the training environment to ensure that resources are used efficiently and opportunities are maximized. To begin planning an exercise, follow the steps below: Users may review and edit the exercise details at anytime by selecting the numbered stepper.

1. Exercise Details

• Select Enter Guidance to begin.
• Enter the STARTEX Date, ENDEX Date, , and Commander's Guidance.
• The STARTEX Date will be the date your exercise begins and the ENDEX Date represents the last day of the exercise. The STARTEX and ENDEX Date can be cleared and modified at any point in the training exercise.
• From the Primary Organization drop-down, select one of the options.
• In the Commander's Guidance, state the strategic objective of your training exercise.
• Once the details are filled in, select Next to move onto the next part of the stepper.
• Remove a selected Primary Organization by clicking the name of the Organization, pressing Enter on your keyboard, or by selecting another Organization.

2. Planning Meetings

Schedule a Planning Meeting to support the development of your exercise. If following the Joint Exercise Life Cycle, you may enter those events here or name your own planning conference. On the Exercise Details page, select step 2. Enter the Name, Location, Start Date, and End Date. In the Name text box, enter the title of your Planning Meeting. Set the location for your meeting by entering a specific place in the Location text box. To enter a Start or End date, select the desired text box. A calendar will appear prompting the user to select a date and time. Select the desired date and time. When the page is filled in, select Next. Save your progress and leave at any point in the stepper by pressing Save and Exit (at the bottom right-hand side of the screen).

3. Funding Sources Select your Funding Sources, and add the Primary Source, Sub-source, and Amounts here. For more information, read these instructions: On the Exercise Details page, select step 3. Enter the Primary Source, Sub-source, and complete Amount of funding for your exercise. Primary Source is the main source of funding you have received for the exercise. Enter the primary source in the labeled text box (e.g. USA). Sub-source is the specific organization you received funding from (e.g. Army, Navy, etc.). Amount will be the total amount of funding received from this source. Add more sources of funding by pressing Add Funding Source and enter the information as done above. When the necessary information is filled in, select Next.

Objectives

Create Exercise Objectives that are SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound). Planners may create one or several objectives depending on the exercise.

On the Exercise Details page, navigate to step 4.

Enter the Objective Title, Objective, Measure of Performance, and Measure of Effectiveness of each objective.

Only the objective Title has to be filled in to move to the next step. Planners may return to previous steps and edit as needed. Title is the name of your objective. Objective is the main objective for this part of the exercise; the strategic, big picture of the training.

Measures of Performance Example

Criteria used to assess actions that are tied to measuring task accomplishment: Assess the response accuracy of an organization (Task Assessment). The measure of a system’s performance expressed as speed, payload, range, time-on-station, frequency, or other distinctly quantifiable performance features. Should be measurable and generally focused on immediate results of tactical actions. Should be designed to answer whether a task or related set of tasks was conducted or conducted successfully, whether it/they need to be conducted again. Several MOPs may be related to achieving a particular Measure of Effectiveness (MOE).

For some tasks, MOPs are relatively simple:

TASK Assessment

• MOP 1 – Destroy 85% of targets
• 90% of all targets destroyed
• MOP 2 – Fly 90% of scheduled missions
• 83% of all missions flown
• MOP 3 – Deliver 97% of all ordnance
• 95% of all ordnance delivered
• MOP 4 – Arrive on the objective +/- 30 seconds
• Arrived on objective + 10 seconds

For other tasks, MOPs may be more complex: TASK Assessment

• MOP 6 – Ensure tasks reflect current operational requirements (GCC, TSOC, Component)
• 95% of all planned tasks reflected current operational requirements
• MOP 7 – Contact and/or engage tribal leaders.
• 70% of all tribal leaders contacted and engaged
• MOP 8 – Prevent enemy engagement of tribal territory for at least 96 hours.
• Successfully prevented enemy engagements for 96 hours.
• MOP 8 – Incorporate CF/PN/IA/NGO elements into mission profiles
• All CF, PN, and IA elements incorporated into mission profiles

Measures of Effectiveness Example

Criteria used to assess changes in system behavior, capability, or operational environment that is tied to measuring the attainment of an end state, achievement of an objective, or creation of an effect: Assess the response accuracy of an organization (Operational Environment Assessment). Assess the impact of the actions on the effectiveness of achieving mission and task objectives. Assess changes in behavior, capability, or operational environment; they do not measure task performance. Typically, more subjective than MOPs and can be defined as either qualitative or quantitative measures. They measure what is accomplished and help to verify whether objectives, goals, and end states are being met. How well the solution achieves the intended purpose.

TASK Assessment

• MOE 1 – Progress in gaining support of populace or decrease in enemy activity
• Enemy actions decreased by 40% in last two months, resulting in increased positive support for friendly forces
• MOE 2 – Determine sentiment prior to and after tribal leader engagement
• Tribal area sentiment improved after US forces engaged and supported local indigents
• MOE 3 – Engage enemy threats outside the range of enemy weapons
• Effectively neutralized 50% of enemy threats with zero detriment to friendly forces
• MOE 4 – Number of IEDs discovered vs. number of effective IED attacks
• 50% increase in IED discovery with 70% decrease in effective IED attacks, compared to previous year

1. Tasks & Priorities

Set Accredited Tasks and Command Training Priorities for this exercise. On the Exercise Details page, navigate to step 5. To add Tasks & Priorities, select the Accredited Tasks button. Then add tasks from the Selected Accredited Tasks drop-down. Planners may add as many tasks as are needed from the drop-down. Click Add Command Training Priorities to access the window and fill in the missing information. Enter the Title of your Command Training Priority and select Next to save, or add more training priorities. The number of Accredited Tasks and Command Training Priorities is written next to the title of the section.

2. Review

Review your exercise details and complete any remaining sections. Sections in red have an error and need review.

Review the initial exercise design in details by selecting Review next to Exercise Details, Planning Meetings, Funding Sources, Objectives, and Tasks & Priorities. Select Complete once the initial exercise is reviewed. WARNING! If part of the exercise has not been reviewed and completed, an error message will read "Sections marked in RED have errors and will NOT be saved."

Participants

Add participants to your training scenario and exercises. Enter the Participant Details, Participant Platforms, Participant Planners, Funding Sources, and Review your content. These details are used for future objectives and to create a participant training group. This image is an example of what a Participant will look like once it's created: Select any Participant on the Participant page to view their Details and Training Objectives.

• Add Participants

To begin adding participants, follow these instructions: To add a participant, select Create Participant. Next, enter the Participant Details, which include the Name, Service or Department, Service/ Department Type, Command or Agency, Total Training Audience, Participant Type, Home Station, and Select an Icon. Once the details are entered, select Next to advance to step 2. Most of the drop-downs have several fixed options. Although many of these drop-downs have default options, some modifications (remove or add) can be made in the .

• Add Platforms

For this exercise, add all platforms for the participants. For each platform, enter the platform Title, Platform's Type, and Bed-down for the exercise. To add a platform, select the Add Platform button to add . For this exercise, add all platforms for the participant. From the fixed drop-down options, select the Platform. In the Bed-down section, enter the Bed-down location for the exercise. Bed-downs are associated with a Participant grouping.
Select Save to add the platform or Cancel to delete the content and return to the previous screen. Once the platforms have been added, select next to advance to step 3.

• Add Planners

Fill in the email and phone number of the user that is planning for this participant. Adding the email adds the user to the participant platform. To designate a primary point of contact, select the Primary Contact checkbox for that user. Additionally, add a new user by checking the Invite User box. To add a planner, select the Add Planner button. Add the planner's Email and Phone Number. Enter the primary point of contact by entering the participant's Phone Number. Check the Primary Contact box. Repeat the process above for as many participant planners needed. Once all of the participant planners are added, select Next to advance to step 4. You may change these details at any time.

• Add Funding

Add the sources and funding amount for the participant. This should align with the funding sources for this exercise. In this section, you will find the Available Exercise Funding, which includes all of the funding for every participant and is all of the available funding in the exercise. If you scroll to the bottom of the page, you wull find the Total Participant Funding. This funding is specific to the participant that you are editing. Please note that participant funding cannot exceed the Available Exercise Funding.

To add sources, select the Add Funding Source button. Select the funding from the Available Fundings drop-down. Type in the total funding Amount. When the funding sources are filled in, select Next to advance to the Review page. Available Fundings are written as Primary-Sub-source. For example, an Available Funding could look like JEP-JTCP, meaning that JEP is the Primary source and JTCP is the Sub-source. View the total funding that is allocated to the participant, or the available exercise funding for the entire exercise.

1. Review

Review the participant's information for accuracy. Return to any section that needs editing by clicking the numbered stepper associated with that section. To review participant details, navigate to the last step of the Participant stepper. Navigate to the Participant you would like to review. Select themore options icon and then Edit Participant. From the Participant stepper, select Review. Review Details, Participant Planners, and Funding Sources. Select Complete or Save & Create T.O. Select Complete when the Participant stepper is reviewed and complete. This returns you to the main Participants page. Select Save & Create T.O. to save the once the Participant information is reviewed and complete to begin creating a linked Training Objective.

Objectives

To begin adding training objectives to your plan, follow these instructions: Once the user begins creating the Training Objective, a window shows the Exercise Details, which are used to reference while creating Training Objectives.

This navigates you to the main Training Objectives page. Select the following link for a Training Objective Model:

1. Details

Select the Create Training Objective button located at the top left of the screen. Once you select the , press Save & Create. This navigates you to the Training Objective stepper. Enter the Details. Most Details in step 1 are predetermined by the participant you chose. When the details are complete, select Next. Default drop-downs may be modified to fit your training exercise more accurately in the .

2. Performance

Enter the Task (Performance Objective), Condition (Training Situation), and Standard (Level of Performance) for the Training Objective Measures (step 2). For more information, follow these steps: Type in all necessary details in the Task, Condition, and Standard boxes. Next, click Add Measure.
Type in a Measure and click the Add Measure button once you are finished. Multiple Measures can be added to a single training objective. Once all of the information is complete, select Next to save the content and move to step 3. Learn more about the Task, Condition, and Standard by visiting the page. A training objective may have several measures associated with it.

3. Associations

In step 3 of the Training Objective stepper, enter the Exercise Objectives, Accredited Tasks, Command Training Priorities, and Joint Staff Training Priorities. For more information, follow the steps below: The drop-downs on the stepper have predetermined options. Using the drop-downs, select the applicable and accurate details. Once the necessary details are complete, select Next to Review the Training Objective you created. Click on the orange text to view additional help documentation.

4. Review

Review your training objective details and complete any remaining sections. Sections in red have an error and need review. To review training objective details, navigate to the last step of the Training Objective stepper. Navigate to the Training Objective you would like to review. Select themore options icon and then Edit Training Objective. From the Training Objective stepper, select Review. Review Details, Measures, and Associations. Select Complete when the Training Objective stepper is reviewed and completed. This returns you to the main Training Objectives page.

Events

Events allows users to develop scenarios within exercises.

Events have a unique Master Scenario Events List of injects which drive the event forward to support the participants' training objectives.

To create an event, follow these instructions:

Select Create Event.

Customize your Event Name, Method, Color, Start Date, End Date, Scenario, and Remarks. Enter any name in the Event Name text box. The event name is the title of your event. Choose the method of your event by clicking the Method drop-down. Select from Live, Virtual, Constructive, and Integrated LVC. To choose a Date and Time, click the Start Date/End Date bars and a calendar populates. On the calendar, select the start/end dates and they will automatically populate. In the Scenario box, fill out any details that are significant to the scenario. In the Remarks box, add any remarks associated with the Event.
When the page is complete, select Save and you return to the Event home page (select Cancel to exit the screen). The new event will appear on the main Events page. The Event Name is the only detail that has to be filled out in order to save. You may revisit and edit your event at any time. For visual instructions, watch the video below: Injects can be edited, removed, or deleted from an event. First, select the event you would like to modify injects from. Next, locate the inject and click the more options icon. Edit Event An event can be reviewed and edited at any time. To edit an Event, follow the instructions below: Navigate to the main Events page. Select the Event name. Click Edit Event from the menu and a new page populates with the event content. Edit any of the details and select Save to return to the Events platform (or cancel to undo any changes). The updated event populates instantly on the Events homepage. Delete Event

Navigate to the main Events page.

Click the more options icon and select Delete Event. Confirm the action by clicking OK or select Cancel to return to the previous page. WARNING! Events that are deleted will not be recovered. Order Events Order Events by Name, Latest Start Date, or Earliest Start Date by selecting the drop-down on the right-hand side of the page. Events automatically populate inCard view but can be viewed byCalendar. Select the prefered view selecting the card or calendar buttons, which are located on the right-hand side of the page. Name: View the events in alphabetical order. Latest Start Date: View the events in descending order, i.e. later dates precede earlier dates. Earliest Start Date: View the events in ascending order, i.e. earlier dates precede later dates.

Scenario

To begin creating Injects, select List, Board, or Calendar on the main dashboard. From any inject page, choose the Create Inject button located at the top left corner. Return to any part of the stepper by clicking the Previous button or by selecting the title of the page you would like to modify.

1. Inject Details

A new window populates that includes several inject details that need to be filled. First, add the Title and Date and Time. A new page populates. Add the Status, Event, Type, Owner, From, To, and . Once the necessary text boxes are filled in with the inject details, select Next to navigate to the next phase of the stepper. The Owner and can be added on this stepper. To edit or delete an Owner or Inject Method, navigate to Settings.

2. Trigger & Response

In this section, the user may add the Trigger, Anticipated Response, Remarks (as needed), Attachments, Response Time, and Actual Response. The Trigger is the description of the Inject, information that drives the Anticipated Response from the training audience. The trigger can be sent via email, phone call, white card, media, etc. Ensure that the Trigger drives the Anticipated Response, which can be filled in below the Trigger box. The Anticipated Response is the expected action of the training audience and may be filled in as desired. In the Remarks text box, the user has the ability to add any further information to support the inject. Add Attachments to help during training objective execution. Drop files into the Attachments box or upload files from your device.

Select the Response Time to the inject.

In the Actual Response text box, the observer can add the description of what actually happened for the Inject. Compare the Anticipated Response to the Actual Response for improved metrics. When the Trigger & Response section is complete, select Next to advance to the Location portion of the stepper. Save and Exit from the Inject, and return at any time to continue editing.

3. Location

In this portion of the stepper, the user can add the Training Area.

Select the location icon.

A new window populates with a map. Zoom in (or out) to find the location. Click the location. Once the correct location is selected, click OK to save the location, or Cancel to return to the previous page. Once this section is complete, click Next. Delete a location at any time by clicking the exit button, which is locate to the right of the location. Remember to save any modification before continuing. If a user has not saved their progress when they leave the stepper, information will not be saved.

4. Objectives & Methods

Users may assign Training Objectives to specific Participants from a list of available Training Objectives. Under the Available Training Objectives section, click the +Assign button, which is located on the right-hand side of the Participant name Once the Training Method is assigned, it will display the Participant, Platform:Type, JMET, Priority, Required Runs, Requested Method, and Training Method in the Assigned Training Objectives section. On the right side, beneath Training Method, selected None, Live, Virtual, Constructive, or Integrated LVC for the Training Method, which explains how the Training Objective was delivered. Select the Next button to Review MSEL Injects.

Quick Tips:

Selecting the arrow beside the Training Objectives will show the Task, Standard, and Condition. Modify the amount of Training Objectives per page by selection the per page drop-down. As little as five Training Objectives can be viewed per page while T.O.s can be viewed up to 120 per page.

Click the arrows beneath the Participant to expand more details. Details include the Task, Condition, Standard, Measures, Command Training Priorities, Joint Staff Training Priorities, Exercise Objectives, Accredited Tasks, and Associated Injects. Use the Search bar to locate keywords that are located in the Task, Condition, Standard, Participant, Platform, Platform Type, and JMET sections. Click the -Remove button, which is located on the right-hand side of the T.O., to remove it from the Assigned Training Objectives list.

5. Review Inject

Review the content of any inject. Update a section by clicking the numbered step that needs editing. Upon creation, the inject is assigned a unique identification number. Press the Complete button at the bottom of the page to finish creating the MSEL Inject.

View MSEL Inject

Select List, Board, or Calendar View from the dashboard. In these sections, view the Trigger, Anticipated Response, Remarks, Attachments, Response Time, Actual Response, Location, and Training Objectives & Trained Method. Skip to documentation: ​​ ​​ Follow these steps to quickly view injects:

List View: Select the List icon (on the right side of the page) to return to List View. Board View: Select the Board icon (on the right), and a window populates with inject details in Board View. Calendar View: Select the Calendar icon (on the right side), and a window populates, presenting inject details. From the MSEL List and MSEL Board views, users can utilize the Search Bar to easily locate a specific MSEL Inject. Quick Edit an Inject To edit an inject, follow these instructions:

Select MSEL View, MSEL Board, or MSEL Calendar from the drop-down. Navigate to the MSEL inject that needs to be edited or reviewed. Select the more options iconto continue. From the menu, users can select Edit Inject or Delete Inject (removes the inject from the list). WARNING! Injects cannot be recovered if they are deleted. To edit the MSEL, select Edit Inject and you will return to the stepper. Edit any content and select Complete when all edits are finalized. Clicking Complete saves your data and returns you to the main inject's page. View Inject View the details of the MSEL Inject to see the Status, Event, Owner, Type, Method, , etc. Select the more options icon that is associated with the MSEL Inject. Choose View Inject. View the MSEL Inject details. From the View Inject page, you can add/view comments on the Activity Log. The first user that saves a MSEL Inject will be seen as the creator of the inject.

Export MSEL List

Export your MSEL List into a spreadsheet. Spreadsheets can be downloaded as a PDF, which is best for printing in landscape mode or CSV, which is good for those wanting to reorganize columns. Learn more about exporting your MSEL List here: Locate the more options icon, which is located towards the top of the MSEL List page. Click Download Spreadsheet (CSV) or Download PDF.