Modern Warfare – Chaplain Edition

In an attempt to train chaplains in the realities of battlefield conditions, the Army is using computer simulation to present trainees with “spiritual triage” scenarios.

By all accounts, it is the first time [Engineering & Computer Simulations] has tackled the sometimes thorny issue of war and faith. Considered the country’s largest cluster of military-training contractors, the local industry is known more for high-tech weapons simulators than for counseling simulations — much less religious ones.

Yet training-simulation engineers in Orlando are now crafting “serious-game” software to lead chaplains through a “virtual battlefield” in which they respond to injured and dying soldiers. Dubbed the “Spiritual Triage Trainer,” it is based on a combat-medic training simulator that the Army has been using for the past several years.

“In a typical triage situation, while medics help those who can be saved, the chaplain is more than likely dealing with those who won’t live,” Pike said. “Some of these scenarios will be very difficult for the chaplains, like dealing with someone from another faith, or no faith at all. We could ratchet it up even more by introducing a noncombatant of an entirely different faith and culture. With simulation, there are a lot of things you can do that are very difficult to do in real-world training.”

It’s an interesting concept, although I’d be curious how they develop these virtual “personalities” of members of different faiths. Hopefully they will be drawing on the experience and wisdom of our current chaplains who have been there and done that.

Full story on Military.com