Should virtual / augmented reality be utilized for military training? Such as Oculus Rift / Microsoft HaloLens.

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Dec 2015 18:08:53 -0500

Do you think the use of virtual / augmented reality from commercial companies such as Oculus Rift or Microsoft's Augment could benefit service members for training? For example, the Army has Land War Net where the are certain simulations for communications equipment. If utilizing a VR headset, a service member can actually walk and look around a room via360 degrees with a virtual instructor. It is possible to make selections and changes in the use of a virtual lab to test/incorporate the communications equipment. Since the VR is commercialized and cheaper (with apps), it could be argued that it's much less expensive to implement (rather than through contracting... you know how military IT contracting can get).

I personally purchased the Samsung/Oculus Rift headset and was quite impressed. So far, I have used it to work on several certifications... mainly PMP. When wearing the virtual headset, there is an application where you are in a movie theater and can watch any movies that are on your phone... within the VR Theater Application. Amazingly, the video appears on a screen that appears to be over 100 inches large and when you move around, you are actually looking around in the movie theater. If you rotate 180 degrees, you can see the virtual projector pushing an image on to the virtual screen that is behind you. There are applications where you are in the center of the room and people are all around you and there is a GoPro App that puts you on a motorcycle in where your view rotates 360 within a desert.

Now, It could be argued that the use of VR or augmented reality could take away the physical aspect of training and create a distracted focus. For example, service members can practice shooting weapons or fight in a simulation; but may not physically want to conduct the training. Leaders may become dependent on the ease of use and fail to coordinate physical resources real-time (but can save money). A leader may become reliant on the training themselves for their service members, but fail to learn how to become a trainer themselves.

There is no right or wrong for this (I am biased for)... but it's like cell phones. I cannot remember a street name any more, check FB too often... but I can track my wife down via GPS if she was caught in a snow storm. Both the pros and cons.

If you have not seen what Oculus rift is or what Microsoft's Augmented reality is, I would recommend for you to Google it.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Dec 20 at 2015 6:12 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sun, 20 Dec 2015 18:12:28 -0500

I am a Big Fan of JackSepticEye and Markiplier and I've seen them play games with the Oculus Rift and it looks awesome. I think it would make an excellent training tool.

Response by SFC Eric Williams made Dec 20 at 2015 6:16 PM

SFC Eric Williams — Sun, 20 Dec 2015 18:16:10 -0500

Virtual training is a highly cost effective training measure that should be renamed introductory training trough virtual reality....Field training should never be replaced entirely with virtual reality....example:

You can't fully experience replacing broken track on a track vehicle in exteem cold or extreme heat...both of which need to be experience before a true mission arises....

Response by SGT Jose Perdelia-Torres made Dec 20 at 2015 6:19 PM

SGT Jose Perdelia-Torres — Sun, 20 Dec 2015 18:19:48 -0500

We would still have to train physically with weapons etc, but i see endless applications with this device limited only by developers imaginations. For example SERES school could have you tied up in a program scenario where you have to escape etc.. then real world scenarios would follow. It would eliminate a lot of wasted material on candidates that demonstrated an inability at something. This could save lots of money!!!

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Dec 20 at 2015 9:50 PM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Sun, 20 Dec 2015 21:50:11 -0500

Over the years, I attended many V Corps FTXs where we played the "computer" game. This replaced the REFORGER exercises. I think there are many advantages to virtual training. It allows for more time to be use as such as there aren't so many moving parts. It will allow for training of small units and allow leaders to train, think in different situations.
I also believe nothing will replace in the field training. It is one thing to make a mistake, reset the computer, but something else to make the mistake in the field and have to think your way out. There is a place for both, but neither can replace the other.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 21 at 2015 7:00 AM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 21 Dec 2015 07:00:05 -0500

Maybe. There is much to be said about the 'feel' as well as the smells of certain situations.
It shouldn't be used to the point where it becomes check-the-block like our call for fire simulator did. They should be used to augment (excuse the pun) an already established training program.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 21 at 2015 8:07 AM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 21 Dec 2015 08:07:55 -0500

I think in its current state it will be of little use but I think their is potential for creating a more stressful training environment while mitigating risk once the technology comes a little further along.

Response by SFC George Smith made Oct 23 at 2016 6:12 PM

SFC George Smith — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 18:12:19 -0400

it should be a good introduction and show them to be aware of situational... awareness...

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Oct 23 at 2016 6:29 PM

CW5 Sam R. Baker — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 18:29:31 -0400

Flight simulators have been used for decades and with technology, I expect VR will only enhance the experience and allow training 24/7/365 without weather conditions and saving actual blade hours.

Response by 1SG Al Brown made Oct 23 at 2016 7:12 PM

1SG Al Brown — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 19:12:00 -0400

The Army uses Warfighter III driven scenarios (VBSB and others) to train Soldiers in platoon thru brigade tactics. The systems are terrible when compared to any off the shelf system, never mind something like "Halo". The amount of servers required, and personnel to run the related website proved prohibitive (i.e. they fired the contractors and downsized). It would be fantastic to train in a VR system like the tankers and aviators, but money talks.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2016 7:17 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 19:17:57 -0400

Vehicles and aircraft? Yes. Brad and tank gunnery and tactics sims? Yes, but only so far to save wear and tear on vehicles, and the expenditure of fuel and ammo.

Dismounted Infantry? I think working squad and platoon SOPs would benefit, but you'd have to simulate weather, fatigue, gunfire, exertion, etc...

The tech just isn't there, yet.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2016 8:20 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 20:20:14 -0400

Someday, yes. I really don't feel like we're there yet with the technology available. The Army would have to shell out some change to a big name company as well, they wouldn't be able to lowest bid this sort of thing.