Air Force 21st century weapons training system -- Simunition

  • Published
  • By Zach Sproul
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  This is not your grandma's game of paintball anymore. The United States Air Force security forces training has evolved and improved with the use of dye-marking, non-lethal training cartridges.

The cartridges, manufactured by General Dynamics-Ordnance and Tactical Systems-Canada Inc., under the name Simunition, are used by Vance AFB's 71st Security Forces Squadron to simulate real life scenarios to better train their Airmen for deployment.

The 71st SFS uses Simunition rounds every opportunity they get and recent major-command-funded purchases have ensured the Defenders are well stocked.

"The availability of Simunition rounds here lets us train when we need to and not have to rely on another unit to provide the equipment," said Tech Sgt. Gary D. Eyster Jr., a military working dog trainer with the 71st SFS.

The Simunition dye-filled rounds can be fired from the M-4 rifle in either 5.56 mm or 9 mm calibers with the use of conversion kits, allowing the security forces to use their individually assigned weapons to train.

While Simunition rounds don't travel as far or produce as much recoil as standard ammunition, they provide reliable accuracy during close quarter's training.

An early training system used by the Air Force in the past was the Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System. MILES used lasers and sensors to determine if trainees were "hit" by weapons fire.

But the system was easy to defeat and was hampered by smoke or fog. The Simunition dye marking cartridges do not suffer those short comings and are better for close-quarter's combat training like urban areas.

When compared to older training methods, the Simunition system provides more realism and teaches our Defenders the consequences of using poor tactics, said Eyster. "It is just like a real life situation. It makes you aware of the situation and makes you use good tactics," he said.

"During training you can fix issues that come up regarding any tactical situation and correct them to make the end result more beneficial," said Eyster. When doing K-9, pre-deployment, active shooter or Shoot, Move, Communicate exercises, the use of Simunition makes you focus on the fundamentals of firing, said Eyster.

"I haven't used anything better than Simunition," said Senior Airman Mitchell Melot, with the 71st SFS. "It makes the training both fun and a great learning environment."

Melot attended a three-day pre-deployment course here prior to leaving for the Regional Training Center at Fort Bliss, Texas. The Vance course, using Simunition, was instrumental in Melot winning the "Top Performer" award during his training at Fort Bliss.

The realism of the training can be the difference between life and death, said both Eyster and Melot. Simunition training helps prepare Airmen for deployment by teaching them what to do in combat situations.

"If someone is 'shot' during training, their buddy must stop and address that wound just as they would in real combat," said Eyster. Anything that could happen in combat can "happen" with live-training scenarios using Simunition, he said.

Melot said the realistic training gives military personnel a chance to improve their tactical skills and help control their response to fear. "Non-lethal training ammunition ultimately saves lives."