FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (June 9, 2011) -- In today's society of video games and virtual reality, it is not surprising that the U.S. Army would incorporate this technology to train the next generation of Soldiers.
Featuring superior accuracy and state-of-the-art graphics, the Engagement Skills Trainer 2000 is a simulated firing range selected by the Army to meet its small arms training needs.
"It is a big virtual version of a qualification range," said Capt. Wesley Smith, commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 902nd Military Intelligence Group.
Units located on Fort Meade, including the 902nd MI, use the EST 2000 in a facility with a five-lane setup that concentrates on zero, group, night fire and chemical, biological, radioactive and nuclear fire.
The Soldiers do everything as if they were on an actual range and can be immediately put into realistic situations. They even hear the same sounds as they would at a range, including tower commands.
The 902nd MI splits its training into one-hour blocks so that they can focus on five Soldiers at a time, allowing for more individualized attention.
"This gives us the ability to get 'trigger time' with exact replicas of the M16 [rifle], M11, M249 [squad automatic weapon] and the M240 [machine gun], without using rounds and being on a range all day," said Sgt. Robert Cuff, training noncommissioned officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 902nd MI. "This training also gives us the ability to fine tune the techniques that the Soldiers use so that when they get behind a real weapon on a real range, they can qualify with no issues.
"The other training multiplier is that it allows the Soldiers to do scenario training on what they call 'Shoot, don't shoot.' We can see through this how our Soldiers react to certain combat and noncombat situations."
The simulation is so close to reality it can be used for certain annual range certifications, saving the Army the cost of sending Soldiers to other ranges such as to Fort A.P. Hill, Va.
"In some cases the EST 2000 does replace an actual range," said Christopher Thiel, chief of installation training at Fort Meade. "It has been proven to increase range qualification scores as well."
The facility, which can be reserved through McGill Training Center, has been opened since February 2010.
It offers scenario-based training in areas such as individual explosive devices and mine sweeping.
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