For geeks who are into very much into airsoft, this technology being tested by the U.S. Marines is something that they would wish be available for civilian use too. In a press release last 31 August 2015, the Office of Naval Research (ONR) announced that their augmented reality technology was used for the first time as part of a live firing exercises.

Called the Augmented Immersive Team Trainer (AITT), this system allows infantry to super impose images in a live environment. Augmented reality is very much in use in civilian applications, especially in gaming using smartphones, and for military training applications, it is the ability to superpose virtual military vehicles, smoke, enemy or friendly troops, and even air support in a training area. Even a golf course such as what they used in Quantico can be immediately converted into a war zone with the use of augmented reality.

The immediate benefits of the AITT is obvious: lower costs and logistical concerns.

“The AITT system is like the Marine Corps itself: lean, agile and adaptable,” said Brig. Gen. Julian Alford, vice chief of naval research and commanding general of the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory. “This affordable lightweight system can be taken anywhere—turning any environment into a training ground—and could be used to prepare Marines for real-world situations and environments they will face.”

(US Navy photo by John F. Williams/Released)

Putting together a live fire exercise that will involve vehicles, aircraft, munitions, and other elements to make it the training environment realistic will involve more time in planning and preparations, more people that will be involved, and money that is required to move such elements into place. With the AITT, a commander can decide a training exercise be conducted and it can be immediately put together and executed at the earliest time possible. The soldiers can repeat such exercises as often as they can without worrying about the logistical costs of putting an exercise together as the AITT will be cost-effective.

According to the ONR, the AITT program—part of the ONR Capable Manpower Future Naval Capability, will wrap up its fifth and final year with a large-scale demonstration at Quantico. Scheduled in October 2015, the program will then be turned over to the Marine Corps Program Manager for Training Systems for further testing and development if the USMC assessment will result into further use of the program.

This would be nice to use for Milsim events as it will simulate more elements in an AO that many milsimers would love to have without the costs involved. It will be mainly rental of such equipment if the U.S. Marines would allow for its use. But then, some enterprising company might just develop a version for civilian milsim purposes, and that would be very much welcome.