Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited / Senior officers in the United States Army have a high degree of confidence that National Training Center simulated combat results are representative, under similar circumstances, of actual combat. A validation methodology for high resolution combat models, primarily based on data acquired from the National Training Center, is the focus of this thesis. The validation methodology, where appropriate, translates confidence in National Training Center realism, to confidence in the combat model. Theoretical issues, existing methodologies, and the impact of model purpose are considered in this research. The final product is a validation methodology that makes use of a realistic representation of combat, automatically updates validation criteria to account for changes in weapons and tactics, and is responsive to the purpose for which the model was designed. / http://archive.org/details/methodologyforva00covi / Captain, United States Army