Simulations, which are often used in the training of pilots, military personnel, and health professionals, are turned to when it is too expensive or dangerous to allow students to use the real equipment and when a mistake would be costly. For example, flight simulators are used to train pilots to operate aircraft in extremely hazardous situations without placing a real aircraft, as well as the student and instructor, in danger. This process of interactive learning through critical thinking and problem solving creates a much stronger learning environment than traditional passive instruction.

FATS, or firearms training simulator system, is one of the primary training tools used by both the United States military and law enforcement for marksmanship and use of force. The law enforcement training program at Wake Technical Community College is using FATS to help law enforcement officers in the Research Triangle Park of North Carolina make better decisions when it comes to firing their weapons.

The FATS system is no different from the flight simulator. It creates an interactive learning process through evaluation, assessment, and judgment of the law enforcement officer in the use of deadly force. The simulator is a computer that projects life-size people onto a screen and interacts with one or as many as four students at one time. The weapons used are real firearms, flashlights, and OC spray (Oleoresin Capsicum, also known as pepper spray) that have been converted to fire a laser beam onto the screen. The virtual scenarios are based on real-life situations that have proven deadly to some officers in the field, and the computer measures the laser hits and reports the student's outcomes.

The FATS system also allows virtual targets to move and talk to the student. The virtual people in the scenarios may be shouting profane language with hostile body language or calmly asking questions of the student. They may be armed with handguns, rifles, or knives, or may possess no weapon at all. A gas-operated gun that fires rubber bullets can be shot at the student to simulate shots fired by the offender.

Complement to Traditional Training

Most law enforcement officers have been trained to shoot a stationary target on a firing range. For example, in Northern Carolina must be qualified annually on an approved course of fire with the minimum score of 70 percent for both day and night with their firearm. A firearms instructor will place an officer on a firing range to shoot a paper target under time at different distances. The firearms instructor then gives commands to shoot or cease firing, and the officer must react to the instructions given. While this meets the state requirement of firearms qualification and is effective to measure accuracy of the shooter, it does not measure judgmental shooting. Any law enforcement officer who uses deadly force must be able to adequately justify their reasons as to why this was the approbated course of action.

In contrast, the FATS system's main feature is to train the student for judgmental shooting. This training includes force escalation or de-escalation and shoot or no shoot situations. The interaction with the FATS simulator also measures the student's basic fundamentals of marksmanship, as with any type of traditional firearms qualification course. But a bonus feature of the FATS simulator is the ability to measure the student's reaction time and muzzle trace during a scenario. A student can be shown where their firearm was pointing at all times, which allows the student to see if they were on the correct target before firing the first round.

How It Works

As with most simulators used in training, the FATS system is operated by a highly skilled instructor. The simulator's computer branching technology, based on the idea of a decision tree, allows the instructor to determine in which direction the scenario might proceed, and to escalate or de-escalate a scenario depending on the actions of the student. Several possible outcomes are already loaded into the system. The instructors also know how to ask questions that reflect current law on the use of force and give constructive feedback to ensure a positive learning experience.

After determining that there is no live ammunition or firearms in the training space to prevent accidental discharge, the instructor explains that the officer will face a number of scenarios--from armed robbery, to domestic disturbances, to excessive noise. So, as in the real world, the officer could go from unknown dangers to a dangerous situation to an everyday citizen noise complaint. The officer is also reminded about North Carolina law as it relates to use of force, and an agency representative often discusses agency policy. The officer is told to keep surroundings familiar. The room is set up to simulate the elements that could be used as cover by an officer in the real world. For example, a plywood cutout of a vehicle door could be in the room for the officer to use as cover while returning fire. A doorway is used to practice cover and concealment. Officers are informed that the simulator may "shoot back," and safety goggles are used to prevent rubber bullets from hitting students in the eyes.

Students who have gone through the simulator have reported experiencing high stress. The student must engage verbally with targets while assessing body language, surroundings, and other possible threats, and some officers are surprised when they are struck by a rubber bullet because they failed to stop the threat or seek cover. Other officers have reported that while they did well at traditional firearms qualification, they had difficulty multitasking and formed tunnel vision during the scenario. Yet after completing the first scenario, every officer improved on their performance.

The FATS simulator is not intended to take the place of firearms qualification. It is a tool used to prepare, assess, and evaluate an officer's judgmental use of force while not endangering the officer and others. In 2006, 142 law enforcement officers in the United States died in the line of duty. The bulk of those deaths were by handguns. These officers were not rookies; their average experience was 10 years and 9 months, and their average age was 37. If simulation training can prevent one officer from being killed in the line of duty and allows them to return safely to their families, the time and expense spent in the activity is most certainly well worth it.

2007 ASTD, Alexandria, VA. All rights reserved.