Army training can be a two-Soldier chaplain contingent in mountain terrain, an infantry brigade combat team in the desert, or any other combination of Soldiers, mission, terrain, and equipment.
Now, they can all be virtually accessed from the same location, thanks to the VBS4 and its accompanying virtual reality googles. The beneficiaries include Soldiers going through the First Army Observer/Coach Trainer Academy and the units they will eventually partner with.
The VBS4 website describes the technology as “a whole-earth virtual desktop trainer and simulation host that allows you to create and run any imaginable military training scenario.”
This enables Academy instructors such as Sgt. 1st Class Jose Lopez to train and test students on which ever scenario would be of most use.
“We are using this to enhance and promote one of our competencies, which is to observe training and provide feedback and conduct AARs,” he explained. “We have a classroom of up to 16 Soldiers that become the evaluators using the VR. We can set up a multitude of terrain and unit sizes and training scenarios.”
So, if an OC/T knows he or she will be working with a squad size element doing dismounted patrol at Camp Shelby, that scenario can be plugged in and precisely replicate what will happen.
“The VR gives them a more personalized realism of being able to observe and evaluate that training. They will set up the training and plan for it, then each OC/T with a headset has their specific Mission Essential Tasks to evaluate so they’re walking along with the unit as they’re going through this VR scenario,” Rivera said. “It gives them a more realistic perspective that they will see as an evaluator, so they can take those points and, at the end of the mission, plug those into an After Action Review.”
Sgt. 1st Class Jared Tansley addressed other benefits of this type of training.
““It’s a good practice base,” he said. “Nothing will beat on-ground experience but the generation that’s coming into the Army, they’re used to being on computers, and this is definitely a good way to reduce risk. It’s a great way to reduce the coordination that is needed. You can have everyone in-house for an immediate fix. It allows you to see the fundamentals of what you’re going to be doing.”
Staff Sgt. Junjun Sun, an Academy student, said the technology enabled her to see how the training unit planned and moved, and therefore will set her up for success when she takes on a training mission with a Reserve Component partner.
She worked alongside Staff Sgt. Yocelyn Rivera, who likewise was impressed.
“It’s interesting,” Rivera said. “You can really move with them so you can see what they’re doing, and you can see the environment.”
And these advantages hold true no matter what training is scheduled
“You can create almost any scenario that you need,” Lopez said. “If we are going to train in eastern Europe, the VBS4 opens up the world for us, for any type of training in any place. As the administrator, you can build it up as you want, you can control the OPFOR as much as needed and give a more realistic aspect to it.”
This benefits not only the OC/Ts, but the Academy instructors.
“I can show them examples on a video, but it doesn’t give them actual talking points unless they’re doing it,” Lopez said. “Here, they can see the action…and gather points for the AAR.”
Meanwhile, Course Manager Billy Greer, said the system saves time, money, and resources, while setting up OC/Ts up for a successful partnership and training exercises: “For Compos 2 and 3, this is big time. What they see here is what they will see there. When they get there, they’ve already done it.”
It can especially pay dividends for new Soldiers, Tansley noted.
“You can have an 18-year-old who just graduated basic training and who needs to do his close-quarter battle drills can practice in the same shoot house that he’s going to live. It saves money and it reduces risk,” he said.
“The feedback was positive,” Lopez added. “There were a lot of things that we took in that can be used and we’ve made adjustments off the first pilot test. This is only going to get better. It will be a valuable tool going forward.”