Vincent 'TJ' Taijeron

Professional. Competent. Reliable.

Hello and welcome to my personal website. If you have any questions please feel free to drop me a line.

Things you should know:

My name is Vincent but for over 38 years I've been called “TJ.”
I'm originally from the beautiful Island of Guam
I joined the US Army when I was 17 years-old and spent my career as a RedLeg in the Field Artillery.
In 2013 I came to Ukraine to teach at the Odessa Military Academy and I've been working and living here ever since.
In 2014 I joined the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to monitor the the situation in Eastern Ukraine.

What I've been doing:

I am currently serving as the Team Operations Officer for the Odessa Monitoring Team, which is part of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) consists of 57 member states in North America, Europe, and Asia. It is the world's largest regional security organization.

Things you should kow

Simulations and Gaming

Deliver effective instruction using computer-based games and simulations. I can create content, design exercises, and manage software. I bring a robust set of gaming and simulation skills to any simulations team.

Virtual Battlespace

Create and configure scenarios, facilitate training, and set up multi-player exercises. I have over five years of experience using VBS in a training environment, having trained thousands of West Point cadets using VBS.

Training and Education

Contribute 20+ years of experience training individuals or teams. I can design a program of instruction, provide instruction, and integrate training into an existing curriculum.

Technology

Comfortably operate in Linux or Windows environments. I can resolve hardware and software conflicts or put together a network. If you like, I can even create a website like this one. I am never limited by what I do not know because I know how to find solutions.

Writing

Write scenario documentation, instructors guides, software requirements, and reports. Feel free to review my proposal for the NextGen Wargame or “Bold Strike Facilitator's Guide” for examples of my work.

NextGen Wargame

I am developing a computer wargame that can be used as a training tool to teach tactical decision-making. It's called the NextGen Wargame.

What makes me unique:

What I've done:

Served for seven months in Eastern Ukraine with the OSCE-SMMU, monitoring government and non-government controlled areas.
Taught for one year at the Odessa Military Academy .
Mentored a 10-man police unit while operating with coalition forces in Khowst Province Afghanistan.
Simulations specialist with the Digital Leader Development Center at the Command and General Staff College.
Managed the West Point Simulations Center for over six years as a member of the Dept. of Military Instruction.
Soldiered for over 20 years all around the world.

Extras:

I'm working on a game design that can be used as a tool for training and education. It's called the NextGen Wargame.
I built this website on my own using Hugo, Github, and Netlify.
I'm currently enrolled in two web develpment courses.
When I've finished the web courses I will add Javascript and Python to my learning qeue.
I run Opensuse and Fedora using VirtualBox.
I like Visual Studio Code for development and Emacs for its Org Mode.
I like using Mind maps for organizing my thoughts, brainstorming, outlining articles, you name it, you can mind map it.
Sometimes I play Eve Online. Think of it as “Ender's Game” or “The Last Starfighter”.

Simulations and Gaming Experience

Odessa Military Academy Ukraine

Curriculum Developer Aug 2013 – Sep 2014

I developed and taught a program of instruction for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th-year cadets. The goal of the program was to famliarize them with how NATO infantry platoons operate. I taught them battle drills, NATO symbols, planning, and tactics.

I also implemented the Follow Me computer game, which allowed them to practice making decisions in an operational environment. Needless to say, this was a big hit with the cadets. For the first time, they had an opportunity to “lead” a platoon while dealing with an active enemy.

West Point Simulation Center Manager

West Point Aug 2004 – Jun 2011

I integrated the game Virtual Battlespace (VBS) into Cadet Basic Training. We used it as an introduction to squad fire and movement techniques. The intent was to provide them with an experiential learning experience before they went to the field. Cadets were taught the role of each squad member and got the opportunity to practice moving, shooting, and communicating in a 3d virtual environment. I also crearted VBS content scenarios, scripts, and set up multi-player games for cadets to practice giving verbal orders and commands.

In 2006 I collaborated with the creator of Decisive Action to develop a platoon level game called Follow Me. I integrated Follow Me into the DMI tactics curriculum, and we used it to provide a realistic operational environment for making platoon level tactical decisions. More than 2000 cadets in our 3rd and 4th-year military science program used Follow Me to practice infantry platoon tactics.

In my time at West Point, I literally trained thousands of cadets using Virtual Battlespace, Follow Me and the Engagement Skills Trainer.

Simulation Specialist

Command and General Staff Officers Course Nov 2001 – Aug 2004

One of my most significant achievements was to assist in the development of a division-level staff exercise that used Decisive Action and TacOps.

The Digital Division staff group's JCATS exercise the college turned to the DLDC Sims-TM for support.

Our team worked very closely with the Functional Area 57's Army officers that specialize in simulations and modeling to design the exercise.

I was responsible for creating the scenario, unit database, maps and terrain coding, for Decisive Action, and another game called TacOpsCav. We used TacOpsCav to execute some of the brigade-level operations.

The scenario we created was a non-contiguous area of operations with several factions that represented different insurgent groups.

In total, we had one division and three brigade staff groups.

The exercise was a big success. By the time I left in 2004, Decisive Action had become the primary simulation for 16 separate division-staff exercises.