STATE OF THE ART VIRTUAL FIREARMS TRAINING FOR POLICE
A high-tech Virtual Firearm Training System is operational at the NSW Police Force College in Goulburn.
The $2.38 million system uses the latest computer technology to simulate various situations that Police officers may face and assist in the training of new students and serving Police officers.
Virtual firearms training systems are used internationally and by the Australian and US Armies to train students in the use of firearms, tasers and sprays,” said NSW Minister for Police, Michael Daley.
Every scenario can be presented to each student in exactly the same way, which provides an accurate method of comparing the performance of each student, and ensures no student is unfairly disadvantaged,” he said.
The system also allows training 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, regardless of the weather or time of day, and in a safer environment, with less lead residues and noise, an issue with live-fire training.
NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione welcomed the new Virtual Firearm Training System.
One of the most important aspects of this new system is that it also allows instructors to monitor a student’s performance and provide real time feedback to the students,” he said.
This means that any issues can be identified earlier in the students’ training and quickly fixed.
It’s important to note this facility will not lead to any reduction in live fire training for our officers. That remains a necessary and significant component of their qualification."
Training staff at the College are already using the Virtual Firearm Training System to develop training modules.
Police Cadets and serving officers will get their first chance to use the state of the art system in January 2010,” Mr Scipione said.
The new system can house up to 15 students at a time and allows for training in:
- Weapons handling and firing training in the Standing, Kneeling, Sitting and Prone Positions
- Simulated distances of between 3 and 25 metres at full and crouched targets
- Firing at Fleeting Targets with exposures of between one and seven seconds and at Crossing Targets at various speeds
- Testing of weapons handling techniques to qualify officers
- Judgemental scenario training to teach and practice the rules of engagement
- Testing of operational awareness and justification for use of force to qualify students to be armed with the pistol on operational duty
