FORT JOHNSON, La. — Fort Johnson recently hosted a groundbreaking showcase of military training technology: the Live Training System Operational Demonstration. The event provided a platform for military leaders and personnel to witness transformational advancements in training resources, including those geared toward replicating challenging terrains.
The operational demonstration, driven by Army senior leader guidance, aimed to illustrate how virtual and hybrid technologies can enhance existing training environments, particularly at combat training centers. Fort Johnson's complex terrain and vegetation posed a unique challenge, making it an ideal testing ground.
"It's much more challenging to replicate the training environment in the terrain that is found in Fort Johnson,” said Brig. Gen. William R. Glaser, director of the Synthetic Training Environment Cross-Functional Team (STE CFT).
“We went to the hardest place first,” he said. “If it works there, it will work anywhere."
The Live Training System uses live, virtual and constructive elements to offer Soldiers more lifelike training. Among these elements are realistic replicas of weapons used on the battlefield, which can mimic effects and capture projected impacts while minimizing training costs and risks.
The system, which is in Increment 1, currently comprises four pioneering components — grenades, claymores, mortars and Stingers — and aims to redefine the live training environment.
During the demonstration, Soldiers trained with simulation grenades, showcasing rapid skill progression in a realistic environment.
"All four of these systems have not existed before within the live training environment, and now that we have them, you can see the Soldiers improving their skills very quickly because of it,” Glaser said.
The Stinger missile system, a key component, departed from the traditional laser-based solution used for the past 30 years. Glaser highlighted its revolutionary nature, which uses GPS bearing technologies and optical solutions instead of lasers. The Stinger system's complexity offered an opportunity for Soldiers, including those outside the air defense artillery military occupational specialty, to train and use the system.
The instrumenting of the simulation mortar system allowed for quicker replication of battlefield effects — a crucial aspect often overlooked in training. Glaser stressed the importance of conveying the devastating impact of indirect fire.
"Being on the receiving end of indirect fire is a brutal event that is not easily replicated, and we must do that to show the seriousness of what that can do,” he said.
Soldiers were provided with opportunities to practice tactics, techniques and procedures associated with various weapons systems, expanding their training scope. Positive feedback was received regarding the use of grenades and claymores. Glaser highlighted the value of introducing these elements to the live training environment, acknowledging their contribution to the complexity of the battlefield.
As the Live Training System progresses, the STE CFT, Army Test and Evaluation Command and other Army stakeholders will continue to evaluate the capabilities and opportunities offered by the new technology.
"Army modernization and transformation are an Army team effort,” Glaser said.
“The Live Training System Operational Demonstration showcased not only technological advancements but also the collective effort of the Army in providing Soldiers with cutting-edge training capabilities.”
The demonstration was initially planned to include mortars, claymores and grenades but expanded to include the Stinger missile system due to its accelerated development pace. Glaser expressed his satisfaction with the timely integration of nascent technology.
"I think the technology was there at the right time. It gave us an opportunity to get capability into the hands of the Soldiers sooner. That's what we're all about."
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