The Military Perspective

Crew Resource Management (CRM) training was first introduced in the US military. Researchers and military aviators developed a CRM program that consisted of basic concepts, academics, and skill sets relevant to the demands of military flight operations. CRM training has become much more widely used in the world's militaries since Prince and Salas' (1993) review. This chapter identifies the unique challenges of military CRM training, provides examples of how CRM training is currently being used in the world's militaries, and reviews the evidence supporting the effectiveness of military CRM training. The US Army introduced its CRM training program, called Aircrew Coordination Training (ACT), in the early 1990s. The CRM skills of aviators are evaluated during every check flight. It suggests that the world's militaries should revisit their CRM training programs, and reassess where the training continues to be effective and where it needs to be changed. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the future direction of CRM training in the military.