PWD eyes new phase of virtual reality instruction

Photo By Terrance Bell | Advanced individual training students gather around a TV monitor to discuss procedures for a task during a 92F Petroleum Supply Specialist Course class in October 2018. The 92F course, taught at the Quartermaster School, may look dramatically different in the near future when the use of virtual reality goggles becomes a reality. The Army Training and Doctrine Command is conducting a proof of principal study to determine the feasibility of the goggles.  

UNITED STATES

10.28.2019

Story by Terrance Bell  

Fort Gregg-Adams

FORT LEE, Va. (Oct. 28, 2019) -- The Petroleum and Water Department here has moved closer to fully transforming its military training courses via virtual learning initiatives.

The Quartermaster School element hosted a post-award meeting Oct. 22 at which department heads and subject matter experts laid out the expectations of a $650,000 proof-of principal contract for virtual reality goggles.

“Some people call it a kick-off-meeting, but we basically discussed the roles and responsibilities, limits, constraints and restraints (of the contract) and the timeline moving forward,” said Carey Radigan, Basic Petroleum Logistics Division chief.

Present at the meeting were officials from CASCOM, the QM School, Training and Doctrine Command, as well as contractors and contract administrators.

The virtual reality goggles will be used in the 92F Petroleum Supply Specialist Course – specifically, the Modular Fuel System Tank Rack Module in which the devices deliver software solutions provided by the contractor, Radigan said.

“This will be a fully immersive environment for this block of instruction,” he further noted.

The goggles will be components of a four-student workstation system featuring a large-screen TV used by instructors to monitor the training. A system prototype should be ready in about four weeks, according to Radigan.

If the virtual reality goggles are approved for use by TRADOC, the 92F course will be the only advanced individual training program in the Army to use them, Radigan said.

Col. Jason P. Affolder said he welcomes such advancements in technology and any initiative made toward virtual learning. The 23rd Quartermaster Brigade commander, who sat in on the meeting, said he is a fan of such progress and is able to offer a firsthand account of its impact.

“I absolutely think it’s the way to go,” said Affolder, who assumed his duties June 28. “Having watched Soldiers do it in the classroom, they immediately pick up things they normally wouldn’t pick up through a lecture-style PowerPoint (Presentation) with an instructor up front telling them about something they can’t experience or even visualize.

“I think VR and student-centered learning will absolutely pay off in ways we can’t even anticipate,” he continued. “Reducing instruction time and increasing Soldiers’ technical proficiency will be huge for the Army.”
The virtual reality goggle contract is scheduled to close in 12 months, Radigan said.

In late 2018, PWD was awarded a $4.6 million Army Virtual Learning Environment contract providing instructional support for the 92W Water Treatment Specialist and 92L Petroleum Laboratory Specialist courses. Both will make extensive use of virtual learning enhancements to improve training.

The AVLE enhancements are scheduled to be fully implemented in 18 months.

• Date Taken: 10.28.2019
• Date Posted: 10.29.2019 16:30
• Story ID: 349772
• Location: US