Source

SINGAPORE, May 21, 2003: The Singapore army is using computer games, some of them based on commercially available software, to help sharpen the combat skills of its troops, officials said Wednesday. “As part of its continued emphasis to leverage on technology to augment its training, the Army has introduced the use of personal computer (PC) gaming and PC-based simulation to hone the fighting skills of its soldiers,” the defense ministry said in a statement. Among the new training tools introduced at the Army Officers’ Advanced School is Joint Conflict And Tactical Simulation, which trains commanders in various combat scenarios and joint operations. Full Spectrum Command, focusing on urban warfare and developed in partnership with the US Army, was also launched. Off-the-shelf games like Operation Flashpoint, a popular product which has sold more than a million copies worldwide, are being modified to simulate Singaporean weapons, vehicles and soldiers. “Although PC games are traditionally deemed as entertainment tools, the Army and its key technology partner the Defense Science and Technology Agency, recognize that they can effectively complement the conventional training methods such as field training,” the ministry said. Some of these same games are readily available to consumers and are often viewed by kids as harmless video games. HPI adds: Critics of these killing games point to the military use of such games as additional proof that the games are unsuited to children. One US Army special forces expert said that the repeated action of shooting and killing, shooting and killing, in these realistic game settings, even if “make believe,” makes it easier for a child — or a soldier — to kill for real.

Post Views: 245