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FORT CARSON, Colo. – Helicopters provided close-air support, indirect fire came in and soldiers were pinned down by a sniper, all in a virtual world, while training on basic battle-drills on Fort Carson.
The Dismounted Soldier Training System, available for soldiers at the Close Combat Tactical Trainer, provides a variety of computer-generated combat scenarios.
“The DSTS is a virtual system that is set up for the squad level to train on basic battle drills and standard operating procedures,” said Jacob Johnston, operator, DSTS. “It provides a virtual environment for the soldiers to train in.”
The DSTS provides many different types of training opportunities from basic movement and battle-drills, to more in-depth, tailored scenarios to fit a unit’s needs.
“The system goes as long and as in-depth as the unit wants it to,” Johnston said. “We had a squad come in the other day and just practice basic movement techniques and battle drills at the squad level; entering and clearing rooms and crossing danger areas. Basically anything they can do out in the woods, they can do inside the simulator.”
Some of the systems’ more dynamic capabilities can throw in some bumps for the squad to deal with.
“This system is very dynamic and we’re able to make changes on the fly,” Johnston said. “If we see something not going well, the way it should, we can drop civilians in and breach their security perimeter. We’ll walk somebody in so they realize no one is covering that area. If they are making mistakes, we can hit them with a sniper, artillery or just about anything.”
The soldiers who have conducted training with the system have found it worthwhile and would like to use it more often.
“I would like to train on it again,” said Staff Sgt. Coy Stanton, squad leader, Company A, 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. “You can throw in multiple scenarios. One of the things I had to do when I was in the system was: one of my soldiers went down as a casualty.
“When that happened, I got the chance to set up security for the bird coming in,” Stanton said. “I had to actually call in the nine-line MEDEVAC. Later during the same mission we found an improvised explosive device and had to call in the nine-line unexploded ordinance report. The system is very effective and the training value is very good.”
With budget cuts, the cost effectiveness of the system is an advantage which will allow units to continue to train.
“Cost is one big advantage, it does not cost the unit anything to use,” Johnston said. “It is easy to access, it is right here on main cantonment; they don’t have to go out to the field to use it. The system is pretty accurate, it is not just a computer and mouse, you have to get in there and take a knee, get in the prone, crawl around and under stuff, it is pretty accurate. And there aren’t any injuries, damage to equipment and no maintenance at the end of it.”
For soldiers, another advantage is the instant feedback capabilities.
“The system is effective for ironing out kinks,” Stanton said. “It will show you your weaknesses very quickly because I cannot just grab a soldier and move them there; I have to communicate with the soldier to get them where I want them to go.”
The operators at the DSTS would like units to know that they are here and even people on profiles can come and train, Johnston said. They can train within the limits of their profiles because it is a virtual scenario and they won’t have to worry about their physical limits. It helps them to maintain their muscle memory on how to do the training they need to do.
The CCTT is located at building 2135, Khe Sanh Street. If units wish to schedule training with them they can call: 719-526-8296 or 719-761-6813 or email: jjohnston@intelligent.net.
| Date Taken: | 02.20.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 03.04.2013 18:53 |
| Story ID: | 102902 |
| Location: | FORT CARSON, COLORADO, US |
| Web Views: | 123 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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