I went on a ‘mission’ to see if the Army’s virtual reality training is the real deal – Washington Examiner

In order to scope out the Armys use of virtual reality training, my editor sent me on a mission to find out if the new tech is the real deal or just fun and games.

The area of operations was the Association of the U.S. Armys annual conference in Washington, D.C., a target-rich environment for a humble defense reporter like me to get my hands on the defense industrys latest and greatest technology.

My first taste of virtual soldier life wasnt terribly exciting. I was supposed to embark on a simulated combat assault with the Army Special Forces, but some unexpected tech issues meant I had to hurry up and wait for something else. Ive been told dozens of times by actual troops that flexibility is key, so my photographer, Graeme Jennings, and I mirrored Army values by adapting, improvising, and overcoming our situation.

With some assistance from the Army Special Forces, we reconnoitered a VR shoot-house, complete with a mock M4 rifle, developed by Booz Allen Hamiltons Digital Soldier program. I was excited to try it out, but was skeptical that one of the worlds largest consulting firms had developed a realistic shooting simulation.

Graeme Jennings/Graeme Jennings

Putting on the VR headset I immediately was transported to a shooting range with a dusty, desert motif. A program engineer handed me my rifle, which looks and feels like a real M4 with a rail system for accessories, a red dot sight, and a magazine. The rifle is a combination of form and function. An electro-magnetic system replaces the firing mechanism to give the M4 realistic recoil, while a selector switch gives the option between safe, semi-automatic, and automatic fire. The magazine is actually a battery pack that serves as the virtual ammo, which must be loaded and unloaded like a real rifle.

Having never served in the military nor used a VR headset, I came into the experience with low expectations. Shouldering the rifle, I started picking off the armed dummies one-by-one, albeit with mixed results. Everything was simulated to mirror the real thing; recoil, physics, and bullet ricochet were were spot on.

Graeme Jennings/Graeme Jennings

The experience wasnt perfect. The red dot sight didnt operate like the real thing you had to line up the red dot with the front sight to shoot accurately. Also, I couldnt go full-auto with the rifle during the simulation itself kind of a bummer. Additionally, reloading the magazine was an awkward, clunky experience.

The simulator was fun. Lots of folks lined up at the booth to try it out. As a training exercise, though, its got its limitations. The mannequins dont shoot back, so shooting from cover like you would in a combat situation isnt required. Its also a solo experience with no chatter or background noise you might expect on an active firing range. Still, its definitely more interesting than watching one of the militarys notorious PowerPoint presentations.

Other virtual shoot houses at AUSA took virtual warfare to the next level. The Korean-based Optimus System placed would-be trainees in urban combat, where the enemy fired back. Hits were recorded via sensors on the trainees' helmets. Four-star Gen. Robert Abrams, who commands U.S. Forces Korea, donned the VR helmet, and shot well. So, too, did a pair of Columbian Army colonels, who afterwards mopped their brows and said, "It's very realistic."

Some users can be overwhelmed by the hyper-real experience, said an Israeli artist who is studying VR shoot-houses. "It disorients some people," the artist told the Washington Examiner.

But the Army is convinced these kinds of VR technologies are the future, and is putting them to use.

As for me, I will return to my comfortable existence as a weekend shooter, taking aim at clay pigeons and paper targets. And will call this, "mission accomplished."

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I went on a 'mission' to see if the Army's virtual reality training is the real deal - Washington Examiner