FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas - A new version of the Virtual Combat Convoy Trainer system will train deploying Fort Sam Houston Soldiers in humvee operations in areas such as basic driving skills, avoiding danger areas and shooting on the move. The system can train up to one platoon during a session and will become operational in mid-November at Camp Bullis.
"The graphics are upgraded and the entire facility is upgraded," said Capt. Matt Sullivan, operations officer for training at the Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security. "It trains Soldiers on combat operations that you can't necessarily get from just driving out in the woods."
The VCCT was developed to train Airmen, Soldiers and Marines in basic and advanced convoy skills using terrain and roads in a variety of weather, visibility and vehicle operational conditions. The system digitally simulates terrain in Iraq and Afghanistan, using a 360-degree field of view surrounding a mock humvee shell.
The VCCT is designed for unit training with four separate humvee systems, which are digitally linked. Each humvee can hold five Soldiers.
Training areas include, humvee familiarization including start-up and shut-down; reacting to contact, call for fire; and dismounting and preparing for fire and maneuvering.
The VCCT incorporates individual pneumatic small arms and crew-served weapons, which can register hits, similar to the Engagement Skills Trainer 2000, Sullivan said.
Some of the weapons include the M-9 pistols, M-4 carbine, M-249 squad automatic weapon, and M-240B and .50 caliber machine guns, Sullivan said. The VCCT also provides training on fire coordination between vehicles and call for fire and close air support.
Sullivan said virtually every deploying Soldier here will train on the VCCT as well as deploying Airmen. Also students in the Officer Basic Course and Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course will take the training, Sullivan said.
"It's really good training. It's fully immersive," he said.
(Jeff Crawley works for the Fort Sam Houston Public Affairs Office)
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