SimCentric is proud to have delivered VBS3Fires FST, in conjunction with Bohemia Interactive Simulations’ VBS3 synthetic environment, to the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, supporting their Military Strategic Studies course. Employing a series of progressive training scenarios using VBS3 and VBS3Fires FST that require cadets to conduct basic tasks such as tracking an individual using the virtual UAV to more challenging missions, designed to test a team’s ability to take commander’s intent to support a complex special operations night time mission; this simulation solution delivers a persistent and relevant capability to roughly 250 cadets a year through the course.

“What we are trying to do is expose cadets to how the U.S. Air Force employs air power at the operational level,” said Lt. Col. Casey Tidgewell, who leads, directs, and manages all U.S. Air Force Academy Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) education, training, and operations. “Before we had any simulation, we had students go through pre-flight for the RQ-11 Raven and would teach basic flight and controls, but we discovered there was a deficiency,” said Michael “Ski” Golembesky, the ​instructor for the USAFA RPA Program who incorporated VBS3 and VBS3Fires FST into the curriculum. “Weather in Colorado can change on a dime, which can interrupt live flight training. By using simulation, cadets gain more experience in the communications and teamwork involved with air operations centers and remotely piloted aircraft. Simulation also allows us to show a more realistic approach to how RPAs are used on a tactical level.”

SimCentric is proud to be part of delivering this advanced capability to US Air Force Academy resulting in relevant, adaptive, cost effective and scalable training and capability outcomes.