Air Force offers night vision training on Okinawa

Photo By Sgt. Rodolfo Toro | The night vision goggle course can be tailored to any type of NVG equipment, including panoramic night vision goggles, used by pilots when flying night time missions. These NVGs can double the user's field of vision at night.  

04.17.2009

Story by Pfc. J Nava 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

The Physiological Training Flight on Kadena Air Base is offering service members a shot in the dark with its Night Vision Goggle Familiarization course.

Historically, the course has only been offered to Airmen, but more recently, instructors at the facility have opened their doors to Marines, sailors and soldiers on Okinawa interested in NVG training.

According to Air Force Capt. Alejandro Ramos, officer in charge of Aerospace Physiology Operations Element, Physiological Training Flight, 18th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, branching the training out to all services will aid instructors in enhancing the course through the exchange of knowledge from troops with combat experience.

"What we'd like to have is a joint training environment where we can share knowledge of current NVG operations across all services," Ramos said. "Basically we want to learn from each other in order to maximize performance during night operations."

According to Ramos, the course can be tailored and customized to teach the use of any type of NVG equipment available.

Although instructors can facilitate students without NVGs, Ramos recommends service members bring their own.

The three-hour-long course is designed to teach service members the basics of NVG technology, proper focus and adjustment procedures and different factors that effect the night environment.

"We want to show (service members) the capabilities and limitations of NVGs, and also learn how they're using them," Ramos said

After the classroom portion of the course where service members learn the basics, they move to the NVG lab and apply what they learned.

The lab is a black-walled, windowless room that turns pitch black when the lights are turned off.

In the room are several training elements that assist instructors.

A device called the Hoffman 20/20 tests the students' ability to focus the NVGs to achieve optimal visual acuity. A virtual terrain board, projected onto a screen simulates a scenario in low-level light or nighttime conditions for students to interpret using NVGs. The otherwise difficult to see scenario depicted on the screen is lit up and visible through the NVGs as a somewhat fluorescent green, holographic image.

Students also learn the effectiveness of using NVGs to see chemical or infrared light sources for covert communication.

The course offers invaluable training, according to Air Force Tech. Sgt. Gerald Williams, non commissioned officer in charge of training, 18th Security Forces Squadron.

"(The course) teaches you to properly use NVGs instead of just turning knobs and hoping it works," he said. "I came into the course expecting to learn the ins and outs of NVGs, and it certainly did that."

Currently, the course can facilitate 20 service members per class. To schedule a class or for more information about the course contact Physiological Training Flight at 634-1967.

• Date Taken: 04.17.2009
• Date Posted: 04.19.2009 20:41
• Story ID: 32582