MS&T Magazine's Simulation and Training Awards Program showcases the people, products, processes, and organizations that provide exceptional value to our military clients. Many metrics are used to describe value, but the underlying principle is that value ultimately resides in how well the client is enabled in achieving their goals. Value is about outcomes and is often expressed in terms of change in areas such as resource use, effectiveness, efficiency, time, access, or readiness, or even capability.
The Awards for 2022 are listed below, with the opportunity for two award winners - one for small business (50 employees or less) and one for medium/large business (over 50 employees) for the Outstanding Innovative Product Award, Outstanding A/M/V/XR Application Award and Outstanding Serious Games for Learning Award. There will be only one recipient of the Halldale Pioneer Award and one winner of the Small Business of the Year Award.
Innovation is the process of transforming knowledge into new products, processes and services that, in turn, generate new economic benefits.
This award recognizes innovative products that provide enhanced value to the military client's education, training or human performance domains. This award further showcases excellence for one small business (business must be a non-subsidiary, independent firm with fewer than 50 full-time employees) and one medium/large business (50 or more full-time employees). The category includes, but is not limited to products such as:
This award recognizes the innovative use of A/M/V/XR technologies, by one small business (business must be a non-subsidiary, independent firm with few than 50 full-time employees) and one medium/large business (50 or more full-time employees), to develop effective and efficient learning (education and training) and performance support interventions.
Over the last few years there has been an explosion of interest in "extended realities" within the defense community; however, as the technology moves from novelty to "tool box" it is clear that there remains much to learn about the optimal applications of extended realities in military learning and performance support. Application of A/M/V/XR spans a broad continuum ranging from education, to individual and team training, to individual and team performance support. The purpose of this award is to showcase success stories and acknowledge excellence.
An outstanding A/M/V/XR-based learning or performance support intervention provides exceptional value to the client in that it is effective and efficient. Effective means the application does what it was intended to do, and efficient means that it generates value. Positive impacts on the learners, performers, the business process, the organization and the environment all add to value.
This award recognizes the innovative use of serious gaming technologies to develop effective and efficient education and training and performance support interventions.
During the last few years, the defense community has moved beyond interest, and is continuing to integrate heretofore commercial games within education and training programs. As the technology moves from novelty to "tool box" it is clear that there remains much to learn about the optimal applications of commercial gaming for military education and training, and performance support. Application of serious games for learning spans a broad continuum ranging from individual and team training, to education, to individual and team performance support. The purpose of this award is to showcase success stories and acknowledge excellence for one small business (business must be a non-subsidiary, independent firm with fewer than 50 full-time employees) and one medium/large business (50 or more full-time employees).
An outstanding serious game-based education or training, or performance support intervention provides exceptional value to the client in that it is effective and efficient. Effective means the application does what it was intended to do, and efficient means that it generates value. Positive impacts on the students, trainees, performers, the business process, the organization and the environment all add to value.
This award recognizes exemplary small businesses in the military S&T domain.
The OECD defines a small business as a non-subsidiary, independent firm that employs fewer than a given number of employees. Some countries use an upper limit of 500 employees; the most frequent upper limit in the EU is 250. In the case of this award, we have aligned with the OECD observation that "Small firms are generally those with fewer than 50 employees".
To be eligible for this award, the business must be a non-subsidiary, independent firm with fewer than 50 full-time employees.
An exemplary small business leverages human capital, innovation and agility to grow and meet client needs, while cultivating a growing technical and social influence in the community.
The defense S&T community plays an essential role in supporting military commanders’ development and maintenance of capability and readiness. Within this community there are individuals who demonstrate outstanding and significant technical and social leadership. This Award recognizes their contribution to the defense S&T community. The recipient of this Award will be selected and determined solely by the experienced, diverse MS&T Evaluators’ Panel. There will be only one recipient of the Halldale Pioneer Award.
Nominations
Nominations for awards in each of the award categories will be sought during the nomination period. Guidance for submissions is included in the detailed descriptions for each category. MS&T invites all industry readers to submit nominations in any or all categories. A separate standalone submission that meets the criteria and guidelines for each category is required for each award consideration. Nominations for 2022 will open on 31 May at 2pm UTC/10am EDT. The final deadline to receive all submissions is 15 July at 9pm UTC/5pm EDT.
Finalists
A panel of MS&T editors and invited participants will evaluate the submissions for each category. Care will be taken to ensure that “conflict of interest” situations do not arise. For each category, each member of the panel will assess each submission against the criteria outlined for each category. The assessment will be based solely on the qualitative and quantitative data submitted. Each criterion is rated on a scale of 0 to 5. The presence of relevant testimonials that support the narrative will be acknowledged with 1 point where noted. Submissions are ranked according to the total points awarded. The panel will select up to three finalists in each category from the top ranking submissions. Should the panel determine there are too few quality entries in any category to support an award, MS&T reserves the right to not propose a slate of finalists.
Voting & Selection of Winners
MS&T print, digital and newsletter subscribers will be asked to select the winner of each category by voting online for the best finalist in each category. The voting period and directions will be announced by email. Voters will be able to review finalists’ edited submission summaries prior to casting their ballot. MS&T editors will prepare the summaries. Winners will be determined by a combination of votes from the community and MS&T Award panel members. If a tie or very close finish exists after the votes are counted, the panel members will have the responsibility to declare winners.
Awards
The Winners in each category will receive a crystal award trophy and a featured position in the Awards issue of MS&T. Awards will be presented during I/ITSEC via invitations by MS&T staff.
31 May 2022: Awards submission period opens at 2pm UTC/10am EDT
15 July 2022 at 9pm UTC/5pm EDT: Deadline to receive all submissions.
16 July - 29 July 2022: MS&T evaluator panel’s review period to determine top finalists in each category and prepare finalist summaries.
Week of 9 August 2022
18 August 2022: MS&T Issue 2 advertising deadline.
6 September 2022: Finalists announced in MS&T Issue 2 publication.
6 September - 20 September: Voting opens for the community's selection of winners. Voting for the winner in each of the four award categories begins. MS&T will provide the voting link and instructions via email invitation to all subscribers, as well as announce in MS&T’s weekly eNewsletter, website, and social media pages.
20 September 2022 at 9pm UTC/5pm EDT: Voting ends.
27 October 2022: MS&T Issue 3 advertising deadline.
18 November 2022: MS&T’s 2022 Awards Issue (Issue 3) is published including the announcement of Winners, Finalists, and Honorable Mentions in each category. MS&T will issue a press release for wide distribution.
* The 6-week submission period for the 2022 Industry Awards opens on 31 May at 2pm UTC/10am EDT, and closes on 15 July 2022 at 9pm UTC/5pm EDT. Submissions received after this date/time will not be considered. MS&T's judging panel will evaluate all submissions and all finalists will be contacted via email by 9 August. The list of finalists will also be shared on this page on 6 September.
Q: I would like to receive 2022 MS&T Industry Awards program emails, how can I sign-up?
A: Please email holly.foster@halldale.com to request to be added to our awards program email list.
Q: I would like to sign-up for a free account on your website at www.halldale.com as well as the MS&T weekly enewsletter that includes the latest simulation & training industry news, announcements, and features. Where can I create an account?
A: Please click on this link to register for your free account and sign-up to receive MS&T enewsletters.
Q: I would like to see the list of 2020 Winners, where can I find that?
A: Click here to view the online listing of 2020 Winners for each award category. You may also view MS&T’s 2020 Awards Issue, including the full listing of Winners, Finalists, and Honorable Mentions by clicking here. For additional questions about MS&T’s Industry Awards program, please contact Holly Foster at holly.foster@halldale.com
