8/2/2019 Simulation Rounds

1/18 MARCH 2012

IN

FRONT

By JENNIFER MATTSON NCO Journal

When Soldiers enter the training environment, itsimportant that their experience is as close as pos-sible to situations theyll encounter in combat.

Te Army has invested a considerable amount o money tomake training more realistic to better help Soldiers whenthey deploy.

Units gearing up or combat have used equipment asvaried as Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement Systems laser tag-like devices commonly reerred to as MILESgear and paintball weapons to provide a realistic train-ing environment.

Lately, the Army has invested in Ultimate raining

Munitions technology. With this new training gear, thebolts o Soldiers M4s are changed out, allowing them totrain with the same weapon theyll carry downrange. Butneither the training bolt nor the training magazine can beused with live rounds, making training saer.

Sgt. Maj. Corbett Whitmore, the 1st Armored Divisions2011 Expert Inantry Badge qualication event president,used this technology during EIB qualications Dec. 1216at Fort Bliss, exas.

Nothing is a better reinorcement than pain, Whit-

more said. And i you get hit, then you know you got hit.

With MILES, you get a beep, but you dont know how yougot hit or where you got hit. Out here, i you get hit in thearm, you get an arm injury and you have to assess that. Iyou get hit in the chest, then its a kill. Its instant eedbackand its a lot more accurate than using a paintball gun.

Sgt. Caleb Clark,the ammunition NCOor the 1st ArmoredDivisions EIB quali-cation event, said thenew technology allowsSoldiers to continuetraining even i theyve

been hit.Te biggest dier-

ence between the oldammo and this new

stu is the velocity, Clark said. Te old stu had a highevelocity; it few at 750 to 800 eet per second. Tis is only325 to 350 eet per second. It hurts a lot less. Guys wouldget pretty serious types o injuries rom the old [simula-tion] rounds.

Tough the UM rounds are designed to providerealistic training, Soldiers are requiredto wear a ace mask, eye protection and

gloves when operating with or aroundthe equipment. In addition, they mustclean their weapon with a clean, drycloth instead o using oil.

[Te bullet is] like lipstick; it getspushed orward, and it marks, Clarksaid. Te old stu had liquid inside itand it had to burst on impact. When itwould reeze, it would be rozen hard,it wouldnt work right, and it hurt a lotworse. Tis stu, they can heat it to 160degrees, and they can reeze it down to20 below. Its still going to work.

Te new UM rounds are availablenow through raining Support CentersArmywide. Units can draw the roundsrom their local ammunition supplypoint.

Sta Sgt. Steve Reyes o Fox Com-

pany, 51st Inantry Regiment, 1st Brigade

Combat Team, 1st Armored Division,demonstrates the capabilities o realistic

training Dec. 13 during an Expert Inantry

Badge qualifcation event at Fort Bliss,Texas. PHOTO BY JENNIFER MATTSON

True-to-life traininNew simulation rounds let Soldiers practicewith the same weapon theyll use downrange

Its instanteedback, and its a

lot more accurate

than using a

paintball gun.

SgT. MAJ. CORBETTWhITMORE