Since its inception more than 37 years ago, the game of laser tag has evolved into fun corporate team-building events, themed parties and even international competitions and tournaments where medals are awarded. The only thing that hurts for the losers is their egos or feelings.
Evolving right along with laser tag has been the Army version in which when lessons aren't learned, losing costs lives on the battlefield.
Soldiers have been donning the Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES) gear since the late 1970s to add more realism to their direct-fire, force-on-force field training exercises.
The early versions were limited to Soldier-worn sensors embedded in helmet straps and load-bearing vests while the laser-firing modules were mounted on the barrels of the individual weapons. Soldiers knew they had been hit when their MILES gear emitted a loud beeping sound.
Range personnel served as "referees" who noted the number of "kills" and verbally notified of the respective commander of their individual "casualties" so they could adjust their tactics throughout the exercise.
Through the years, engineers and product managers at the Project Manager Training Devices (PM TRADE) office for the Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI) have made significant improvement to MILES based on input from the field.
"We have come a long way in enhancing the fidelity of MILES as well as meeting the Army requirements," said Lt. Col. Corey Hemingway, Product Manager of Live Training Systems, PM TRADE. "Today's MILES, termed Instrumentable MILES or I-MILES, not only tracks Soldier-to-Soldier interactions, but also the cause and effect on individual weapons systems, tactical and combat vehicle systems, shoulder launched munitions and a universal controller device."
He said the goal of I-MILES is to make system components lighter, more ergonomically designed, instrumentable and designed to have longer battery life and increased reliability.
"Unlike the original MILES which provided only minimum, delayed feedback to commanders, today's system captures information on which specific Soldier and battle assets were effected and calculates the effect of the 'hit' to provide immediate feedback to the commanders," Hemingway explained.
MILES consistently plays a major role in the annual Saber Junction exercises held at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC) in Germany to promote U.S., NATO allies and European security partners training in interoperability missions.
During the annual training, the JMRC installs MILES equipment on more than 1,000 vehicles and 3,1000 personnel.
According to an article released on the Saber Junction 15 website and written by Sgt. Jacob A. Sawyer with the United States Army Europe, MILES is received well among the NATO allies.
"The MILES gear is very good and very useful during the training because we can simulate not only the fighting, but we can track the Soldiers and a lot of useful functions," said Capt. Gerely Banfalvvi, 25th Hungarian Infantry Brigade. "For example, the After Action Reviews are a very great thing for us to have during the rotation here."
Hemingway added that currently various versions of MILES are on 38 Army installations throughout the Continental United States (CONUS) and outside CONUS, but the long-range plans call for I-MILES to be fielded throughout the Army.
"Currently, I-MILES makes up only 58 percent of the fielded MILES," he said. "We want to make that 100 percent by fiscal year 2021. Not only will that provide standardized equipment to our Soldiers, but it will also save money by reducing the expenses of maintaining the older systems."
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