Tips on designing a simulation training scenario

Creating an effective force-on-force training scenario, one must always remember to make the conditions as close as possible to the real life setting it hopes to replicate. Every component, from the gear that the team wears, to the weapons and even the structures, must similar to what they use or encounter every day.

That is the reason why the structured arrangement of a firing range, even if it is formated for live-fire CQB drills, is not effective as a force-on-force setting. The main reason – there is no cover for the opposing force aka bad guys to hide behind, no blind corners wherein the assault team can be surprised.

As such, the instructor or player must keep in mind the following tips so as to transform the experience into the most effective simulation experience – one wherein the stresses of an actual live fire encounter is seen and felt in every way.

Tip #1: Use abandoned buildings whenever possible - While a warehouse fitted with panel walls that can be moved about randomly to create an ever-changing combat area layout is a good training area, an abandoned building – preferably two storeys or more – is still the best place to conduct CQB simulation.

The presence of stairwells, fire-escapes and other access points creates a solid tactical challenge for the trainee assault team. The solid structure, which already has set rooms that differ in size, shape and location, can be both an advantage or disadvantage depending on the tactical situation. The inner walls, doors and abandoned furnishings will also provide actual cover for the team and the op force as they move from room to room.

Sound from movement or conversations, which occurs in both real life and simulated scenario, will bounce around concrete corridors and thus necessitating that the team practice noise discipline in their movement.

The building’s structure will also allow placement of surveillance cameras to help track the progress of the team, providing an additional element to learn from mistakes captured on video.

Tip #2: Train with what you wear - To make the simulation really effective, one must duplicate what they wear and what they carry during actual operations. Other simulation instructors even go as far as having their trainees carry packs that are weighed down with sandbags to simulate what the team carries in the field.

Thus reality is immediately simulated on each person. In such cases, additional padding that restrict normal movement is frowned upon. Aside from a flak/ammo vest, googles or helmet, no other protective gear must be introduced.

For teams that use radios and other equipment, they must also carry and use the same gear in possible situations during the simulation session.

Tip #3: Use the right replica weapons for the right scenario - One of the most important tools for simulation training is the type of training weapon to be used. If the gun that they carry is vastly different in shape, size and weight from the one that they normally carry everyday, then the simulation will not be effective.

Proper tactics will always depend on the way the men merges with their weapons. Moving with long arms is vastly different from maneuvering with short arms. Even the way they react when encountering return fire will be dictated by the weapon that they carry.

As such, instructors should always resort to replica weapons whenever possible. But the type of replica weapon will also be determined by the scenario being played out.

Here’s a great hint – for outdoor settings, especially for woodland type scenarios and engagement ranges in excess of 300 feet, the best replica weapon is Airsoft; for CQB settings, with engagement ranges of 50 -300 feet and if there will be vehicles or structures that can be damaged by plastic projectiles, the best option is the Real Action Marker.

Airsoft BBs are solid plastic projectiles which is perfect in jungle ambush scenarios, since they can penetrate foliage and can be fired from long ranges with more powerful Airsoft guns. Meanwhile the 0.43 caliber of the Real Action Marker is specifically designed for CQB and near pointblank ranges. The projectile, which breaks upon contact, prevents serious injury when fired at close range. And because it is essentially a paint-filled wax ball, it will not damage walls, break window glass or even dent cars bodies that it hits. The marking capability of the RAM is an added plus, since it identifies hits easily.

Tip #4: Make the load out as realistic as possible - In real life, a police officer, rifleman or SWAT operative will not be able to fire more than 30 rounds from one magazine, unless he is using a squad assault weapon. Thus the instructor must limit the ammo load out whenever possible. For airsoft, whose rifle magazines can hold up to 300 – 400 rounds, the number of pellets should be kept to the maximum of 3o rounds. If the trainee wants to be able to fire more than 30, he should carry extra mags loaded with the same number of ammo.

In this respect, the Real Action Marker stands out. With rifle magazines carrying a load out of 20 rounds and pistol mags with a max of 9 rounds, simulating reality becomes easier. Because of the limited ammo in the magazine, trainees are drilled on shot awareness and ammo conservation. Situations wherein they will have to change magazines will also present itself, allowing them to drill quick magazine switching spontaneously and in the heat of battle.

The limited ammunition aspect also prevents trainees from firing indiscriminately, since they will now have to make sure that every round they fire, whether at bad guys or for covering fire, will count.

Tip #5: Add real life elements in to the mix - Creating live-fire situations means that the instructor has to replicate what the trainees will encounter in real life. Thus a bank robbery or vehicle counter-ambush scenarios will require actual cars and roads to be truly effective. Indoor hostage situations must include furniture such as tables, chairs, counters and a live-hostage to create the perfect CQB experience. Even a small group of people to simulate bystanders and crowds and how they react during a VIP assassination scenario will be immensely beneficial to the tactical learnings of a close-in protection team.

Though difficult to achieve at times, each additional detail that brings the situation as close as possible to reality will magnify the simulation experience in the minds of the trainees.

- ATACS

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