Posted on Mar. 12, 2020 by Emily Hatch

Upping the Realism in Use of Force Scenarios Training

As crime evolves and new problems appear in society, law enforcement need the most powerful, state-of-the-art training possible. The best training tools cover the most prevalent situations today, allowing officers to enter the field knowing they are prepared for any situation that may occur.

VirTra’s law enforcement training simulators are one such tool. These immersive training simulators are programmed with an extensive variety of scenarios that prepare officers in de-escalation, active threats, dog encounters and more. Each scenario is created by in-house subject matter experts who base the scenarios off experience, industry knowledge and case law. To make our scenarios more realistic, VirTra’s SMEs build each scenario with an average of 85 branching options.

Branching options allow for a more realistic type of training. Now, depending on the trainee’s actions, instructors can select which path the scenario takes. For example, a scenario can be successfully de-escalated by the officer or escalated if the officer makes a wrong decision. With numerous branching points in each scenario, trainees can explore different tactics and learn from the extensive number of decision-making paths.

Learning from Branching Scenarios

The benefit to having an average of 85 branching options is how the number allows for the perfect blend of quality and quantity. In regards to quantity, instructors have access to dozens of real-life endings and can program it so officers have a completely different learning experience each time they step into the simulator.

As for quality, VirTra’s scenarios are equipped with the ideal number of branching options. If there were too few options, officers would not receive adequate judgmental use of force training or skill transfer. But if there were too many branching options, the quality of the scenario would be reduced, as content developers would be rushing to create a higher number of branches instead of spending time carefully crafting realistic, fleshed-out options with training value. By having the right number of branching options, VirTra can dedicate time to ensuring each scenario is true-to-life and each scenario branch provides skill-building officers can take into the field.

Maximize Law Enforcement Simulation Training with VirTra

VirTra can provide your department with the most high-fidelity, skill-building training possible. Instructors can take advantage of a variety of real-life scenarios and extensive branching options that unfold based on their trainee or officer’s decisions. With an average of 85 different decision-making paths to resolution, there is plenty to learn from each scenario. Contact a VirTra specialist to learn more or schedule a demonstration.

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