Photo By Spc. Jordyn Worshek | Soldiers assigned to 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat...... read more read more
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Using Simulators to Increase Battlefield Lethality
By Spc. Jordyn Worshek
Technology can be used in many ways. The United States Army has begun to use advances in technology to train Soldiers. Part of this new technology is the Engagement Skills Trainer. According to https://asc.army.mil, EST simulates weapons training events that lead to live-fire qualifications for individual or crew-served weapons. The second iteration of this training or EST II, started prototype evaluation in 2016. The military is continually testing and improving upon this technology.
EST provides weapons training in a controlled environment that reduces range/live-fire fees and provides the Soldier with more trigger time. Units use EST to improve and excel at marksmanship skills.
Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, conducted training using the EST II January 23, 2019, at Fort Stewart, GA.
By using these weapon simulators, Soldiers gain more time training on their weapons. In turn producing a more prepared and efficient Soldier on live fire ranges and the battlefield.
“The more time Soldiers have behind a weapon, the more effective they will be when it comes time for war,” said 3-15 Infantry executive officer, 1st Lt. Alexander Sargeant. “Whether it be dime drills, EST, or actual live fire, the more repetitions, the more effective that Soldier will be. EST allows Soldiers and leaders to get training without the strains of worrying about range resources.”
Sgt. Phillip Palmieri, Bradley Fighting Vehicle gunner from Company B,, also believes simulators help better train their crews for real combat situations.
“Simulation training definitely helps crews become more proficient with their platform,” said Sgt. Palmieri. “The simulators help to give crews a near real experience, which allows them to become more comfortable, helping them to react to various situations calmly and efficiently.”
Spc. Jason Morse, a Bradley Fighting Vehicle Systems Maintainer, is 20 years old, and grew up playing videogames that simulate combat situations. He attributes his success with weapons marksmanship, to seeing the same types of visualization in videogames as he does during EST.
“I believe that playing video games that use weapon simulators such as Call of Duty, Modern Warfare, etc., gave me a firm understanding of handling different weapons that the Army uses today,” said Spc. Morse. “In my perspective, video games and EST helps people understand the fundamentals of marksmanship before even handling a real weapon.”
The use of simulators has been shown to improve weapons training in the military. According to “Changing the Army’s Weapon Training Strategies to Meet Operational Requirements More Efficiently and Effectively,” a study by the RAND Corporation, “simulators can allow problem shooters and crews to be identified early and receive focused training. They can also support engagement skill sustainment. As a result, fewer soldiers/crews would need to re-fire to qualify and higher overall live-fire performance could be achieved. Finally, simulators have the potential to replace some live-fire training.”
Sources:
https://asc.army.mil/web/portfolio-item/engagement-skills-trainer-est/
https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR448.html
| Date Taken: | 01.23.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 01.28.2019 11:02 |
| Story ID: | 308464 |
| Location: | FORT STEWART, GEORGIA, US |
| Web Views: | 78 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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