HOHENFELS, Germany (April 12, 2016) -- Video games have evolved considerably from the days of ping-pong simulators. Today's consoles allow players to communicate with their friends, feel game movement through the controllers and track each other's progress online -- not to mention the hyper-realistic graphics.
The U.S. Army's Joint Multinational Readiness Center takes gaming to the next level by using a virtual training tool known as the Mobile Instrumentation System. The MIS is a deployable tool that connects units, allowing them to track and monitor their training from anywhere in the world.
"It's able to be deployed worldwide. We have a 90 percent or better capability from what we have here in the building, " said Mark Wornol, a lead analyst with the MIS.
Soldiers used the MIS to expand the training space of the Hohenfels Training Area in southeastern Germany. This system let more than 900 paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade and multinational Allies conduct airborne jumps onto the off-base Maneuver Rights Area without losing the connectivity that is typically confined to JMRC.
"We've extended JMRC's training capabilities to outside of the 'box'," said Eric Nantz, the European region operations manager with Raytheon, the contracting company responsible for managing the system. "The reason the extension is important is because it lets us train with our multinational partners."
The jump was part of Saber Junction 16, an exercise designed to evaluate the readiness of the 173rd Airborne to perform land operations in a joint environment, and to promote interoperability with participating Allied and partner nations.
"For Saber Junction 16, we're going monitor them as soon as they jump in," said Sgt. 1st Class Trevor Davis, Multiple Integration Laser Engagement System warehouse noncommissioned officer in charge. Personnel and vehicles equipped with MILES gear were digitally tracked through the MIS.
Using MILES equipment is like playing laser tag, Davis says. With a click of a button, analysts using the MIS can "kill" or "respawn" troops moving across the battlefield. Like in laser tag, the MILES gear sets off a light or beep to indicate when a Soldier has been wounded or killed. The instant feedback ensures the Soldiers train in real-time with simulated casualties while effectively replicating combat engagements.
"You can do training without this capability, but what the combat training center provides is, really, the next level of training," said Nantz. "We provide, to the unit, an after-action review that clearly articulates what happened."
"We package the data that the observer coach trainers are going to use to give the feedback to the unit," said Norm Wimpy, the maneuver training analysis and feedback supervisor. "We provide quality doctrine-based feed back to them."
Like an "instant replay" in sports games, the MIS records every communication, movement and assault during the exercise. Commanders can learn from their mistakes, build on their successes and adjust their training to better prepare their troops for real-world missions.
The airborne exercise proved that a deployed MIS provides comprehensive training for U.S. troops and multinational participants. Training will continue to evolve, and with the provided in-depth after action review, a commander can choose path to better training.
The system makes training more realistic, said Lt. Denis Trebizan, a tanker with Slovenian Army. "It gives you a better idea of what you're doing right and what you're doing wrong."
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