2024 I/ITSEC Report: Mandatory Sim Training for US DoD Vehicle Operators?

During the Congressional M&S Caucus event of this December 2 an intriguing question was anonymously submitted during the session’s Q&A. The query was along the line of: simulators support the training continuum for commercial aviation pilots. Should US DoD vehicle operators similarly have required simulator hours in training devices in order to operate their wheeled or tracked platforms?

To be certain, driving safety remains a challenge for US DoD vehicle operators. 

At the same time, US DoD vehicle programs are increasingly including training devices as part of their platform’s life-cycle costs with good reasons – as the quality and fidelity of these training systems is increasing, permitting program managers to offload increasing numbers of onboard-vehicle tasks into the simulator. Yet, there is no department-wide policy mandating the inclusion of training devices in vehicle training programs.

A random walk around the I/ITSEC 2024 exhibition floor revealed AVT, Doron Precision Systems, Traxara Robotics and XR Training (XRT) featuring driving simulators. While FAAC’s booth banner highlighted their competencies in this space, there was no vehicle training device on display.

Commercial aviation training enterprises use simulation to concurrently maintain and even advance safety. Training equals safety is a powerful notion. As it appears innovation is alive and well in this military training market, the question remains: should the Pentagon should mandate simulator-based training in the learning continua for its aspiring and current rosters of vehicle operators?

The author looks forward to gaining your comments at 

.