TOPICS & CATEGORIES
By Christa Yates, Staff Writer
Almost 20 civilian employees who work for the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) observed Navy boot camp at Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois, earlier this October, where they met recruits and sailors, and experienced simulated training firsthand.
The group toured Battle Stations 21, an immersive replica of a guided-missile destroyer. Before new recruits graduate, this simulator introduces them to a series of overnight scenarios that use real smoke, fire, and flooding to teach them the critical skills they might need during an emergency at sea.
“As a daughter of a veteran, I’ve always appreciated their work and willingness to protect our nation,” said Perla Latorre Suarez, an aerospace engineer at NAWCTSD. “After living this experience, I appreciate it even more because now I understand the process they have to go through.”
According to Capt. Jerin “Tim” James, commanding officer of NAWCTSD and Naval Support Activity Orlando, the Navy built Battle Stations 21. Realistic window projections, authentic video and audio announcements, and “missile hit” floor vibrations allow trainees to stop floods and shipboard fires, man the bridge, perform onboard search-and-rescue procedures, and conduct other operations with the utmost realism.
According to NAWCTSD officials, such experiences give teammates the opportunity to see trainers in action and understand how their work impacts the fleet.
“This is an experience every civilian should have,” Suarez said. “This experience allowed me to see where our final product is going and how much the end users will benefit from it.”
People who read this article also found these articles interesting :
