Courtesy Photo | The virtual convoy trainer allows military members to get realistic convoy ops...... read more read more
By Staff Sgt. Steve Reeves
314th Press Camp Headquarters
RAPID CITY, S.D. - It looks like a video game, but the skills it teaches could mean the difference between life and death in the real world.
Military personnel going through the virtual-convoy-operations training during Golden Coyote 2014 take advantage of the high-tech simulator to hone their convoy skills in a challenging but safe environment.
“We try to make it as real world as possible,” said Staff Sgt. Michael Kroells, a range safety officer with the South Dakota National Guard Training Center. “You never know when you’re going to end up on a convoy while you’re deployed. No matter what service branch you’re in, you need to know convoy operations.”
Members of the 28th Communications Squadron from Ellsworth Air Force Base took part in the training and for many of them, it was their first experience in a convoy.
“Air Force personnel deploy overseas and a lot of the times they find themselves on a convoy,” Kroells said. “The virtual trainer provides the skills necessary to be successful on convoy ops. It’s definitely worth its weight in gold.”
The virtual trainer is housed inside a trailer that looks ordinary from the outside. But the inside is packed with high-tech computer equipment. There are four simulated Humvee stations, each with a place for a driver and gunner.
Trainees wear visors with a digital display that simulates a driving mission with conditions similar to those found in Iraq or Afghanistan. The NCO in charge of the simulator controls the conditions of the missions, such as the number of enemy combatants. The trainees communicate with one another over radios and coordinate movement and reacting under fire.
“It’s as real as it gets in training,” Kroells said. “Here they can train in a safe environment before taking those skills to the next level.”
Senior Airman Luis Peralta, a communications specialist with the 28th Communications Squadron, was the convoy leader during his rotation in the simulator. He said he felt the training was invaluable.
“It really shows how teamwork and communication are important to completing a successful convoy op,” Peralta said. “You have to talk to one another and trust one another if you want to get the job done and this simulator allows you to build teamwork skills.”
| Date Taken: | 06.12.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 06.13.2014 18:21 |
| Story ID: | 133081 |
| Location: | RAPID CITY, SD, US |
| Web Views: | 71 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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