Assessment of a Marksmanship Simulator as a Tool for Clothing and Individual Equipment Evaluation

Abstract

Marksmanship performance has traditionally been used in the military to assess individual and unit operational readiness. In more recent years, marksmanship simulator trainers have been utilized to reduce cost and time for weapons handling training and skills retention. However, they have not been readily utilized for product and equipment evaluation purposes. This study assesses the sensitivity of the marksmanship simulator for use during clothing and individual equipment (CIE) product evaluation and systems integration. Marksmanship performance of eleven participants was assessed during live fire and simulator shooting scenarios while in firing positions and protective equipment that are known to have effects on performance. The consistency of the performance and performance differences observed across firing configurations and firing positions in this within-subjects study suggests that marksmanship simulator trainers are sensitive enough to provide valuable insights on performance interferences during CIE test and evaluation, while saving time and resources.