Fort Bragg's virtual training used to save soldiers' lives
Mark Brighton
Wednesday, August 01, 2012, 1:12:55 PM
The U.S. Army is rolling out its first fully immersive virtual simulation training system at
Fort Bragg. Dismounted Soldier Training System (DSTS), allows realistic training for soldiers in a safe environment.
The use of virtual training is proven to be effective for a variety of uses. A number of studies have shown virtual training can be used for everything from training surgeons to teaching youth social skills. Virtual training is nothing new to
Fort Bragg. The first virtual training system arrived in 2002 for weapons, then humvee training began in 2010 simulating various types of rollovers.
"It saves lives, I can't tell you how many lives it's saved, but I can tell you that we don't have near as many rollover deaths like we used to. You have a 250 percent chance of surviving a rollover going through the [HEAT simulator, an M1114] device," said Michael Taylor, Virtual Training Facility manager regarding the 2010 humvee training simulator results.
Saving lives through virtual training continues with the DSTS.
"We see [the DSTS] enhancing fundamental tactics and creating an environment to refine shooting, moving, and communicating in a non-fatal manner to increase the Soldiers' and squad's capability and decrease fatalities in theatre," said Clarence Pape, vice president of Department of Defense Services at Intelligent Decisions.
This training system makes individual and squadron training quicker and more streamlined.
Trainers are able to insert specific entities and circumstances into the training that would be impossible to train for in other circumstances, such as live fire and explosive devices. Virtual soldiers, vehicles, neutral or opposing forces can all be added to the virtual training scenario and are controlled by a keyboard and mouse by another individual. The training area is a 10-foot by 10-foot space with a manned module pad that provides immediate feedback to the individual in training.
DSTS is in the initial phase of being fielded at Fort Bragg Virtual Training Facility and validated by 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. After the system is validated, other units at Bragg will be able to train with them. Eventually, Army installations worldwide will have the system.
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