Excellent Training Tools to Use Alongside Judgmental Use of Force Simulations

1. Excellent Training Tools to Use Alongside Judgmental Use of Force Simulations Judgmental use of force simulations provide the best possible training an officer or servicemember can receive outside of real-life experience. They are incredibly realistic, and they offer customizable scenarios that provide unsurpassed experience. Believe it or not, that experience can be enhanced even further with a variety of training tools, and you can learn more about them below. Recoil Kits Science has shown that simulations with firearms work best when participants are able to use the real firearms. It helps to develop muscle memory, which can make a great deal of difference in a life or death situation. However, ammo cannot be utilized in simulations, which ultimately removes a lot of the realism. This is exactly why recoil kits exist. These high-tech accessories are designed to provide the feeling of real recoil when the weapons are “fired” in a simulation, thereby improving cognition and muscle memory – and training outcomes, too. Return Fire Threat Simulators Aside from recoil kits that make weapons “fire” realistically during simulated scenarios, return fire threat simulators add yet another level of realism. These are devices that trainees wear during the simulation to generate a mild electric shock or vibration when they have been “hit” by return fire. These accessories come highly recommended as they add consequences to simulations that would not otherwise exist. Trainees can participate in scenarios over and over again until they can complete the simulations without a single movement from the return fire threat simulator. Environmental Props One of the great things about a virtual surround simulation is that there is plenty of room inside the simulated area to utilize props. In fact, it can make the entire environment 3D and therefore more realistic. Some of the props could be designed as cover; others may be put in place to use as potential areas to sweep for activity or threats. Other options include desks and chairs during a school shooter scenario, etc. If your department’s budget does not allow for realistic props, you can create them from cardboard or poster board and still gain the benefit of a three-dimensional environment. Audio Recordings Finally, one of the absolute best training tools to use alongside a judgmental use of force simulation is an audio recording designed to better simulate the environment that the scenario mimics. After all, out in the field, the world does not go silent so that an officer or soldier can listen for footsteps or the chambering of a bullet. There are cars, there are people, and there are sometimes even scared bystanders yelling or screaming for help. Audio recordings simply add another element of realism that will benefit the trainee a great deal. Judgmental use of force simulators are fantastic when used on their own, particularly if they utilize live actors and realistic sounds as part of their scenarios. However, by adding recoil kits, return fire threat simulators, realistic audio, and even environmental props, it’s possible to transform a simulation into a truly lifelike training environment.