Simulator offers varied scenarios for training

[Hannibal]

By C.J. GREGORY/Turret Staff Writer

Training is a part of a Soldier’s everyday life on Fort Knox. It usually involves suiting up in full gear and heading out to a range or training area for a variety of hands-on instruction n everything from live-fire exercises to safety instruction.

But training outdoors isn’t always possible, and the firing of live rounds from tanks and other armored vehicles for training purposes isn’t always cost-effective.

Fort Knox has a new simulation tool for use to combat those drawbacks when Soldiers need to learn how to operate heavy and light weapons. They can make use of the Engagement Skills Trainer, operated by the post’s 3rd Battalion, 81st Armor of the 1st Armor Training Brigade in Libby Hall.

“We tested it in October, and have already run about 1,500 troops through,” said Sgt. 1st Class Mark Williams, “all non-scout MOSs.”
Williams said the reasons and benefits to using the trainer are many, one of them being cost-effectiveness.

“In live fire, Soldiers are allotted ammunition,” he said. “And each round costs six or seven dollars.”

With the simulator, Williams and his staff can allow each Soldier to practice until he or she gets it just right n without the cost of extra ammo.

“We get computer feedback,” he said. “And we can immediately correct shooter error.”

Williams said the simulator contains a number of different scenarios Soldiiers can participate in n from target practice to an urban warfare setting, and everything in-between.

“We can do anything they want to do,” Williams said. “Marksmanship, collective tasks, or shoot/ don’t shoot.”

Williams said the computer can also facilitate custom-designed scenarios, and with many Soldiers preparing for deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan, that’s a major advantage.

“I can set it up like an urban environment with people getting in and out of cars and vans,” he said.

Units which use the Engagement Skills Trainer will be among those involved in the eventual move of the Armor Center and School to the Infantry Center at Fort Benning, Ga. Williams said the training should be no different there than on Fort Knox, because the list of weapons and the training support package already come from the Infantry Branch.

But until the move occurs, simulation training will continue as usual on post.

“As far as that, we’re business as usual,” Williams said. “We’re going to keep training Soldiers.

[Thomaspugh]

Good work, keep it up!!! To bad we can't simulate weather conditions in the simulators, or the smells of gunpower, etc.