Study: Virtual training can save billions

Study: Virtual training can save billions

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Virtual training can save training costs by more than $1.7 billion over five years. This, according to a study by the U.S Government Business Council.

According to C4ISR&Networks, the study was commissioned by Rockwell Collins, which makes virtual training simulators. After surveying 310 active-duty and civilian Department of Defense personnel, it found “a general lack of confidence that current training will meet readiness needs.”

“Just 23 percent of the survey’s respondents are confident current training levels will meet readiness needs,” the study said. “Less than one third (28 percent) of respondents are confident that current live training capabilities can satisfy training needs.”

Other findings included:

The Air Force projects savings of $1.7 billion between FY 2012 and FY 2016 by offsetting a decrease in live flying hours with virtual training.

The Navy expects to save $119 million annually, beginning in 2020, by increasing virtual training for just two types of aircraft

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Reduced cost was cited by 57 percent of respondents as a significant benefit of integrating live and virtual training.

85 percent said that blending live and virtual training, as in the case of Live, Virtual and Constructive (LVC) training, would reduce costs for at least one of four types of training tasks.

67 percent agreed that the next generation of soldiers will learn better through multimedia training.

51 percent believe integrating live and virtual training helps their service’s ability to operate in multiple operational domains, such as air, land, sea, space and cyberspace.

53 percent of respondents say integrating live and virtual training increases the safety of mission operations quite a bit or a great deal, and 83 percent say it will do so at least somewhat.

Simulated training has become increasingly important as the military faces tighter budgets and cuts back on expensive live exercises, such as flight training. Live exercises can be extremely costly when one factors in fuel and logistics. In addition, they can also be adversely affected by weather conditions.