Virtual trainer improves US soldier marksmanship skills

The Louisiana Army National Guard recently trained 12 soldiers on a new virtual simulation marksmanship training system at Camp Beauregard, Pineville, Louisiana, in January.

The Engagement Skills Trainer II (EST II) is designed toassist and improve the basic fundamentals of marksmanship, as well ascollective and escalation of force training before going to a live-fire range.

"The National Guard doesn't have much time on theirdrill weekends when it comes to training," said Mark Lamb, senior trainingaids, devices, simulators and simulations instructor for Louisiana andMississippi. "The EST II allows them to work with the soldiers and nothave to pay for extra rounds of ammunition they may need if a soldier isstruggling on a range."

Soldiers training on the system can improve their marksmanship skills with known distance practice, reflexive fire, nuclear, biological and chemical fire operations, and night fire operations. Units can also conduct weapons qualifications or practice before going to a live range on multiple weapons systems, including the M4/M16, M9, AT-4, .50 caliber machine gun, M249 squad automatic weapon and M240B machine gun.

Units who train on the system can also upload maps from different locations, and are able to alter weather conditions during the simulation.

"The EST II benefits the soldiers by giving them a morerelaxed training environment to improve their marksmanship skills," saidSgt. Mark Breaux of the 2228th Military Police Company. "Soldiers stillget the full effect of being on a range, but they can have more one-on-onecoaching in here."

Differences in the EST II

Lamb explained the biggest differences between the EST II and the older EST 2000 are the coaching tools, authoring program and a collective training feature, called Virtual Battle Space 3.

"With the old system, a shooter would run a scenario,then be finished," said Lamb. "This new system allows us to build atactical scenario or a particular training environment specific to whateverunit is using the system."

The new collective training element allows platoon or teamsize elements to execute simulated scenarios such as ambushes, react tocontact, patrols or search for improvised explosive devices. It also addscoaching tools so soldiers can review their performance after a simulation.

"The VBS 3 allows you to design a scenario for squadsand sections to maneuver through terrain and engage enemies and targets,"said Lamb. "The operator can set the scenario up for a squad to maneuverto a certain area to find the enemy or combatant, or we can make it so theyhave to react to friendly fire."

Soldiers training on the escalation of force, for example,can use the EST II to train on how to correctly react to scenarios such asriots, civilians on the battlefield or active shooter scenarios. Breaux saidthat the ability to custom tailor the simulation to different scenarios isespecially helpful to train for his job as a MP.

"In here, the soldiers aren't scared of getting hit bya paint round like at a shoot house," he said. "We can see what theyare doing and tell if they are panicking based on what the EST shows us. Thisthen allows us to coach them one-on-one and teach them how to remain calm indifferent situations."