QUANTICO, Va. -- Amidst a schedule crammed full of marksmanship training, swim qualifications and counter-improvised explosive device training, 19 Marines with the Black Sea Rotational Force, 4th Marine Logistics Group, were also able to familiarize themselves with combat convoy procedures Nov. 8 thanks to the Virtual Combat Convoy Trainer and staff here.
The convoy trainer, a virtual simulator also known as the VCCT, allows Marines to train in a realistic environment, eliminating the logistical hassles, cost and long hours or days associated with most real-world vehicle operator training.
The VCCT places participants in a 360-degree environment surrounded by projected images while behind the wheel of a realistic humvee frame complete with a mounted weapon system. The trainer itself has four of these humvees, which can each hold up to five Marines, with crews linked by radio.
The Marines encountered several basic scenarios, ranging from IEDs, ambushes, sniper fire and vehicle-borne IEDs, with the number, aggressiveness and size of the simulated enemy forces controlled by the site supervisors who manage the trainer. The computer-simulated vehicles and enemy fighters register “hits” from friendly gunfire and display corresponding levels of damage; the vehicles even blow up on the screen if damaged enough.
“We try to tailor it to exactly what these guys will see and encounter while overseas,” said site supervisor Joshua Porto. “We can even tailor the missions to the unit, as in logistic patrols for logistic units and combat patrols for infantry units. We ask guys if this is realistic and what they saw downrange. It’s rewarding when they say this is exactly what they saw.”
The VCCT is frequently used by units from 4th MLG during exercise Quantico Viper.
Quantico Viper is an exercise conducted by 4th MLG twice a year for units within the group who are preparing for deployments to Iraq or Afghanistan.
The trainer generally gathers positive feedback from the troops who use it, and Lance Cpl. Joshua Malkin, who already has an Iraq tour under his belt, was no exception.
“This was a lot better than sitting in a classroom,” said the Las Vegas, Nev., native and logistics vehicle system operator. “The trainer is the easiest way to get this kind training, which would normally take a whole day. It’s quicker, you’re in an actual vehicle and you have an actual weapon in your hands. This reminded me of being in Iraq right down to the routes and roads.”
The Black Sea Rotational Force is composed of as variety of Marines from different battalions within 4th MLG who have volunteered to serve in the unit, which will be augmenting 4th Tank Battalion, 4th Marine Division, deployed to Romania next year.