Development and Evaluation of a Novel Method for Basic Marksmanship Training on an Australian Army Course
Abstract
Marksmanship training simulators are widely used within the Australian Army and other defence forces to support marksmanship training. While there is much anecdotal evidence to support the training effectiveness of these devices, there is little empirical data that quantifies their effectiveness, and informs the appropriate mix of simulation and live-fire training for specific marksmanship tasks. This report documents the development and evaluation of a novel method for basic marksmanship training with the M4 weapon, as part of a follow-on study. The novel training method consisted of 70% simulation and 30% live-fire and contained practices that specifically addressed factors linked to poor qualification rates in the previous study. The outcomes were compared with those from a standard training method that was based on current marksmanship doctrine. Both training methods resulted in very high (94%) pass rates after three qualification attempts and a significant saving in the number of live rounds used when compared with the previous study. The findings support the effectiveness of the novel training method and provide additional evidence for the utility of simulation in basic marksmanship training. The report discusses the reasons for the findings and outlines recommendations for future studies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2014
- Accession Number
- ADA615295
Entities
People
- Ashley Stephens
- Philip Temby
Organizations
- Defence Science and Technology Group