Canadian Military Considering Video Games as a Complementary Learning Tool

As the technology to recreate military scenarios evolves, the Canadian military begins to seriously considering using both video games and virtual simulations as a means to teach soldiers about specific combat situations.

In an article from the National Post, Denis Thompson, head of Special Forces, explained that virtual simulations and video games can teach soldiers and speed the learning process. "Simulation must be approached with a view that it speeds the learning process and lends itself to improving soldier performance to conduct actual tasks, not replaces them in a synthetic environment.”

Thompson thinks soldiers can learn from these recreated scenarios, but doesn't think that it can, or should, replace the "boots on the ground training." Video games and video simulation should acts as a complementary learning tool, not a replacement.

World War 2 scenarios or scenarios recreated from Afghan battles, can teach soldiers on past events and how each battle happened. Programs such as the Joint Combined Arms Training Systems and Virtual Battlespace 2 help simulate scenarios on foot and in large scale battles.

While all of these tools can help teach soldiers, Thompson says that nothing can replace real situations. "But I will re-emphasize," Thompson said, "that it does have to finish with a guy with a full magazine of live rounds, doing the business, in close proximity to all of his friends, with live targets. There is no substitute for that."

Image via Forces.gc.ca