Photo By Spc. Courtney Marulli | U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Chris J. Taul, a team leader with the 761st Explosive Ordnance...... read more read more
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By Spc. Courtney Marulli
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division Public Affairs
FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq – Training for combat is hard to simulate due to its very nature. No one never knows what will be around the corner or down the alley when out on the streets of Baghdad. But, with the aid of modified weapons, electronics and scenarios built from experience, Soldiers can get the feel for combat from the safety of their base.
The Engagement Skills Trainer 2000, is a computer operating system utilizing real weapons that have been modified so they don't fire real bullets, but are electronic. A large movie screen displays a number of real-world scenarios and the system records where Soldiers were firing and how many targets were hit and missed.
July 1 was when the system opened for public use and several groups have come through, said Louis H. Lee Jr., the EST 2000 Training Facilitator.
Lee, a native of Waynesville, Mo., and a retired first sergeant, was in the military for 25 years and has 30 years experience on the weapons systems. He also learns new tactics from Soldiers that come through and passes that knowledge on to other groups so everyone learns to look at things from more than one angle.
"I had 14 or 15 teams come through and all but one found it a great advantage in coming through the system," he said.
Lee has almost every weapon that is on the installation, to include the Mk-19 machine gun, M-4 rifle, .50-caliber machine gun, M249 squad automatic weapon, 240B crew serve weapon, M203 grenade launcher, M-9 pistols, AT-4 anti-tank weapon and M16A4 rifles.
Each weapon's firing piece was replaced with electronics to simulate shooting and recoil. Lee said those he has worked with say the system is great at reproducing the effect of firing in sector.
The three prominent differences of using the system versus actually firing, Lee said, is that the recoil of each weapon is only 85 percent to 90 percent of what the real one puts out, the sound is loud but not as loud as firing a real weapon and there isn't a gunpowder smell.
Other than that, Lee said the system can create almost any scenario a team wants to ensure they get enough practice on without having to risk their lives or cost their unit money for ammunition.
"So far, all the Soldiers and teams who have come through have said it helped them," he said.
The EST 2000 isn't just for those in combat arms positions. It is also a great learning tool for support military occupations that only go outside the wire on occasion, for those who don't fire their weapon regularly and also for those who want practice before they go to a range to qualify.
Aside from scenarios, the system can also set up for Basic Rifle Marksmanship (BRM) to enable Soldiers practice at hitting targets.
"It doesn't cost what it costs sending rounds down range," Lee said.
Lee said combat support Soldiers that have utilized the system before going to a range noticed a major improvement in their firing ability. Some Soldiers who had problems grouping and zeroing accomplished that with only six rounds after using the system, Lee said.
Aside from BRM, there are two other modes of the EST 2000 to include collective training, which focuses on team commands; and also shoot and no shoot scenarios that let Soldiers practice their escalation of force tactics and rules of engagement.
It's also a great training aid for units that receive a new Soldier and want to let that Soldier see what it's like out on the streets of Iraq. Lee said that Soldier can be told what to expect, but he can come in and see for himself and practice his reflexive fire without putting himself or anyone else in danger.
Lee is proud to work with Soldiers.
"I love it," he said. "I learn from them. It's great. "
Some of those Soldiers who used the system are with the 761st Ordnance Company, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD).
Staff Sgt. Chris J. Taul, an EOD team leader and a native of Belen, N.M.; Sgt. 1st Class Josh T. Toone, the EOD platoon sergeant and a native of Enid, Okla.; Sgt. Joseph J. Bryant, an EOD team member and a native of Baldwinsville, N.Y.; and Pfc. Danny M. Bauer, an EOD team member and a native of Rochester, Minn., all have used the system more than once to work on reflexive fire and team tactics.
Bauer said he thought the training was helpful, especially when he was utilizing the .50-caliber machine gun because the EOD team recently had crew served weapons attached to their vehicles.
"It'll definitely make it a lot easier than it was," he said.
Since arriving in country, Bauer said he hasn't shot any weapons, so it's nice to come to this training simulator and be able to get practice in and stay sharp on his shooting skills.
"It's always nice to practice," he said. "You can never get enough practice on that. It's a lot better to practice in here before seeing the real thing and doing something wrong."
Taul said he thinks the program helps a lot because no matter how much one goes outside the wire, you can't always practice reflexive fire and maneuvering.
"The guys go out 10 times a day but they don't get shot at all the time," he said. "It's nice to practice adjusting fire."
Taul said it's nice to take his team to practice on the system because it allows him to let them practice being the team leader for certain scenarios in a safe environment.
"Everyone kind of gets to see the different concepts," he said. "See what each other is looking at."
As a non-commissioned officer, Taul said the EST 2000 is a great tool for anyone, regardless of military operational speciality or how often they fire their weapon. He said when someone is in combat support, they don't get to practice their soldiering skills stateside, so using a system like this is invaluable.
Currently, Lee is working on being able to simulate firing from a turret and from behind concrete barriers.
Lee said each unit stationed at Forward Operating Base Loyalty pitched in and helped create the room where the EST 2000 system runs.
The EST 2000 is available from 1000 to 2100 in the basement of Building 2. Units and individuals can schedule training time. Walk-ins are welcome to train as long as there isn't a scheduled training event at that time.
| Date Taken: | 07.27.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 07.27.2007 07:23 |
| Story ID: | 11484 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 694 |
| Downloads: | 477 |
This work, Electronic Training Tool Aids Soldiers in Combat, by SPC Courtney Marulli, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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