VR Training Enhances Combat Medical Skills

Virtual reality (VR) is transforming the way military medical personnel at Womack Army Medical Center, located at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, prepare for combat scenarios. 

In realistic VR training simulations, soldiers practice life-saving techniques in high-pressure environments without the risks associated with real-life training. The simulations mimic various casualty situations, including gunshot wounds, explosions, and mass casualty events, enabling soldiers to assess injuries, coordinate with virtual teams, and apply medical aid using virtual tools that mirror real-life equipment.  The VR training program is based on Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TC3) protocols, a set of clinical guidelines used to manage combat injuries. The VR environment enhances learning by providing real-time feedback on patient progress, helping participants develop clinical decision-making skills. 

“Participants in the training will practice their clinical decision-making skills that they are not able to exercise all of the time in their daily work environment”, added Nancy Harnois, Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator at Womack. “Those skills diminish without use and in order to maintain readiness for whatever comes in the future we must ensure that our soldiers are maintaining and improving their skills.”

The benefits of VR in medical training extend beyond tactical casualty care. It allows soldiers to practice critical skills such as the use of tourniquets and chest seals—procedures that are not often part of hospital-based training. VR also enables high-risk, low-cost training in various combat and environmental conditions, giving soldiers the chance to repeat scenarios until they perfect their skills.

“You wear a headset and hold controllers that track your hand movements”, describes Medical Simulator Operations Specialist, Don-Emeil Watson. “The simulation throws different casualty scenarios at you, like gunshot wounds, explosions, or even a mass casualty situation. You need to assess the situation, communicate with your virtual team, and provide life-saving medical aid using virtual tools and equipment that mimic real life.”