VERNON, B.C. — Check points, enemy targets and gunfire on the battlefield. That’s what around 60 army reservists from the Okanagan and the Lower Mainland experienced in Vernon this weekend – except it was virtual.
Using state-of-the-art equipment transported to Vernon from Edmonton, soldiers say the Virtual Battlefield Simulator (VBS) is the next best thing to real combat.
“You have to make sure that you’re doing your job especially as a crew commander or patrol commander because lives are in your hands almost,” says Army Reservist Alexander Prommer.
Soldiers are required to work in teams to complete a mission.
“The task is to go out and conduct their armored reconnaissance, which is looking for routes, checking routes looking for enemy, enemy positions and then reporting that info back up the chain of command,” says Lieutenant Colonel Andy McQuilkin with BC Dragoons.
He says the VBS equipment was brought to the Okanagan from Edmonton because it’s more efficient and cost effective than transporting dozens of soldiers to Alberta for the weekend training. This is the third year the VBS has been brought to the Okanagan, but for many soldiers this weekend was the first time they had the chance to try it.
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