Mel C. Labrador Senior Analyst, APAN

1. Asia Pacific Area Network(APAN) Mel C. Labrador Senior Analyst, APAN www.apan-info.net

2. APAN Mission To communicate and share information electronically, to facilitate regional understanding, to build confidence among Asia Pacific neighbors, and to enhance security cooperation.

3. Why • In this information age, planners need quick access to information. • Explosive growth (now over 2 billion websites) makes the Internet a source of valuable information. That information needs to be sifted. • APAN provides a service that compiles, evaluates, and provides readily accessible links to defense and security sites. Serves a hub for… • Information Exchange • Collaboration

4. APAN Participants • A site for military and government officials throughout the region. • Participation by UN, NGOs, Emergency Management specialists, and academia, e.g. to support study and training for HA/DR and Peace Support Ops. Key Customers UN Officials National Security Community Civil Defense Academia Military NGOs

5. APAN Who Registered users from 30 countries Growing list of information partners

6. APAN Partners • Original Partners • Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies • Center of Excellence for DMHA • Pacific Disaster Center • New Partners • Global Disaster Information Network • National Interagency Civil Military Institute • Elements of Partnership • Current: Mutual Collaboration, Exchange of Ideas and Programs, Mutual Co-hosting on each other’s web sites • Future: Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) and Remote Distributed Desktop Simulations (RDDS) Showcase and Support our Partners

7. Desired Effect • Establish communications connectivity and a shared data environment • Use existing Internet • Use commercially available hardware/software • Use commercial services Networking by User Initiative

8. What • Resources • Asia News • Country Sites and Maps • World/Regional Links • Top Topics • Online Forums • Planning/Exercises • Collaboration Tools • Planning Aids/Doctrine Links • Conference Listings & Support • Conference Management System • Conference Database Creating a Catalyst for Collaboration

9. Future Features • Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) • Regional Desktop Distributed Simulation (RDDS)

10. ADVANCED DISTRIBUTED LEARNING (ADL) • Distance Learning: Delivery of timely instruction through application of computer-aided instruction, more than one media, and distribution technologies • APAN ADL Objectives • Prepare leaders in the Asia-Pacific region for humanitarian and peace operations • Promote professional military leadership • Establish core competencies for combined operations • Build confidence in forming coalitions • Improve regional readiness and interoperability Asia Pacific Area Network (APAN)

11. ADL: PROPOSED NEEDS • WHAT – Partners’ desired course offerings? • HOW – • Self-paced, interactive, web-based? • Use and/or modify existing courses? • Collaborate among partners to design courseware? • WHERE – Which partners are willing and able to participate? • WHO – Target audience for ADL courseware? • Soliciting your good ideas! Asia Pacific Area Network (APAN)

12. ADL: TECHNICAL GOALS • Create an educational environment that enables effective communication and group dynamics • Establish curriculum production system with user friendly development tools • Permit fully distributed learning • Build reliability and supportability • Create a student and faculty support system • Develop interoperability among military, nonmilitary, governmental and nongovernmental organizations • Access appropriate educational models & simulations • Ensure security of interaction among instructors and students Asia Pacific Area Network (APAN)

13. ADL: THE WAY AHEAD • Near Term • Establish ADL portal on APAN to existing ADL courses and instruction • Solicit requirements from APAN partners • Collaborate among APAN partners to create Asia-Pacific oriented ADL courses and instruction • Future • Multi-National Interactive Virtual Learning Environment • Collaborative Network • Two-Way Video-Teletraining Asia Pacific Area Network (APAN)

14. REGIONAL DESK-TOP DISTRIBUTED SIMULATION (RDDS) • RDDS: Conduct computer-aided staff planning exercises via APAN to encourage interoperability and promote habits of cooperation among MPAT & APAN partners • Target audience – O-4 to O-6 level staff officers throughout the Asia-Pacific region • Timing – • Complements bi-annual MPAT workshops • Virtually links MPAT Workshops and major Multinational Exercises Asia Pacific Area Network (APAN)

15. RDDS: Possible Scenarios • Humanitarian Assistance • Disaster Relief • Search and Rescue • Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations • Peace Operations • Still soliciting your good ideas! Asia Pacific Area Network (APAN)

16. http://www.apan-info.net/

19. Top Topics Country Sites APAN Forums • Top Topics • Country Sites • Resource Databases • APAN Forums

20. News Sources Research Sites Defense Publications Special Focus Papers World/Regional Organizations Top Topics • General Reference • World Organizations • Regional Organizations • Countries and Territories • Defense Forces • Defense and Security Institutions

21. Plans and Exercises Seminar Games Doctrine Links • Announcements • APAN Forums • Planning Aids • Doctrine Links

22. Upcoming Conferences and Seminars Conference Papers and Reports Conference Management System Conference Database • APAN Conference Management System • Conference Database • Conference Calendar

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