Let the game downloads begin. The U.S. Army Combined Arms Center-Training’s National Simulation Center and the U.S. Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI) today officially launched an expansion to the MilGaming Portal. The website connects military leaders and units with the best gaming technology for training, supporting all services for full spectrum operations. The online portal, located at https://milgaming.army.mil, allows all Active Military, Reserves, National Guard, Department of Defense civilians and eligible DoD contractors to access training tools and materials using their DoD Common Access Card (CAC).
Hosting the military’s ‘Games for Training’ software suite, the MilGaming Portal is a powerful on-demand training and education resource for downloading full and lite versions of games, updates, scenarios and other game content. A virtual gathering place for all military services, the MilGaming Portal allows participants to share experiences, knowledge, game content and technical expertise. The portal provides instant access to everything for the MilGaming community including news, training events, online instruction, technical support, expert forums and a full repository of game content and products.
Col. Anthony Krogh, Director of the National Simulation Center, calls the MilGaming Portal a Military Games for Training one-stop shop. "Leaders and units from all services will appreciate this library of game-related resources plus the opportunity to share ideas, experiences and input with others across the military gaming community," he said.
Since the portal’s launch in February 2010, more than 12,000 service members have logged over 10,000 hours on the portal to download game software and share user-created scenarios, models, terrains and videos. Updates and improvements for the expanded portal include a new version of the flagship training platform, Virtual BattleSpace 2 (VBS2 v 1.4); integration with the Center for Army Lessons Learned forums; and new gaming products for ethics training, exercise vignette planning, battle command operations, bilateral negotiation skills, operational language & culture and distance learning mobile apps (iPhone, iPad and Droid).
"The MilGaming Portal is a terrific resource for members to download games, get training support materials, share and rate user-created content, find technical support and share knowledge and experience regarding the use of gaming technology," said Lt. Col. Mike Newell, PEO STRI’s Program Manager for Air and Command Tactical Trainers. "Whether they are at home or deployed, our service members can benefit greatly from the MilGaming Portal’s dynamic game-based training and resources."
The website hosts a variety of authorized military training games, including both commercial and government off-the-shelf software applications. Each ‘Games for Training’ product has its own web page with game description, sponsoring agency, news, technical support, content repository and calendar. Military units can use the software to rapidly introduce lessons learned from combat by virtually practicing TTPs, warrior skills and battle drills.