JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. - –
U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 633rd Security Forces Squadron developed their marksmanship skills at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, Jan. 26, 2015, using a new weapons simulator at Combat Arms Training and Maintenance.
The firearms simulator allows Airmen to gain real-world experience with the use of realistic situations, while saving Air Force resources. By allowing Airmen to practice more before going to the range, less ammunition is used on reshoots, the level of risk for injury is lowered and they are prepared to become the best they can be.
"With use of these scenarios, Airmen can go through escalation and de-escalation situations here in a training environment," said Staff Sgt. Ron Turner, 633rd Security Forces Squadron training instructor. "When they do go out on patrol, they'll be able to handle the situation correctly."
In addition to providing Airmen with knowledge on possible law enforcement developments, the simulator also allows them to use the gear they would normally use while on patrol.
"[The simulator is] realistic because it uses compressed air," Turner explained. "[The weapon] is not tethered to a wire. You can actually put magazines inside your pouch and reload your weapon, which feels real [because it is] the same weight as a real [firearm]."
In addition to projecting these settings, they can even help correct and improve a shooter's technique.
"With the use of marksmanship mode, the system will give problematic shooters real-time feedback," said Turner. "You can see where your weapon is pointing during the shot and [it'll notify the shooter if they] are putting too much or too little finger pressure onto the trigger. It also helps you control your breathing by giving you feedback."
Turner said that because the simulator can correct technique, Airmen who do not use firearms regularly will be able to receive a little more practice before their qualification, which can save the Air Force money by not requiring Airmen to reshoot.
Though the goal of using the simulator is to help Airmen gain realistic experience during training, Langley Air Force Base has taken a step closer to giving its Airmen the best training possible while reducing the number of Air Force assets used.