example tdgs/stex #2 - Wildland Fire Leadership Development

The Sand Table Exercise
The Sand Table Exercise (STEX) is a tactical decision game that employs a threedimensional
terrain model with various props to represent either assets or liabilities.
Advantages of the STEX over the two-dimensional maps other exercises employ include:
enabling the learners to "experience" the terrain features of their problem; engaging
learners by engineering a learning environment that fosters proximity; eye contact; free
movement, and presents the learner an almost irresistible attraction to get their hands on
the problem. Another benefit is the lesson of perspective that many fireline firefighters
don't have the opportunity to experience or learn. The sand table impresses the
importance of “top-sight", the ability to see how individual pieces of the problem fit into
and affect the whole, thus preparing squad and crew level firefighters for tactical and
strategic command. The sand table presents some challenge of portability but when
conditions and logistics allow, it is the medium of choice for TDGS.
Sand tables can also be used effectively to facilitate briefings, after action reviews, post
incident critiques, and as a training visual aid.
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