• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

PRISim Trains Enterprise Sailors in Force Protection

Navy NewStand

Story Number: NNS030404-08
Release Date: 4/4/2003 11:12:00 AM

By Journalist Seaman Sara M. Gray, USS Enterprise Public Affairs

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (NNS) -- The Sailor was shot twice in the chest and once in the leg before he moved to the cover of safety.

Fortunately for him, the bullets were plastic and bounced right off him to the deck, leaving him with a reminder of the mistake he made.

But the Sailor's training scenario could easily become a reality. For this reason, USS Enterprise (CVN 65) is taking steps now to train Sailors on the use of deadly force with the Professional Range Instruction Simulator, or PRISim.

Civilian contractor Paul Budrow, regional law enforcement training manager, operates the PRISim in a 36-foot long trailer, using computer programs to guide students through various scenarios while videotaping their actions and playing them back with the students to correct mistakes.

"Who shot at you?" asked Budrow of the Sailor. "It was the woman, not the man who shot first. You have to be prepared for anything," he added.

He corrected the Sailor's firing position and then pointed out several common errors made.

"Our goal is to train personnel to make better decisions and have increased situational awareness," said Master-at-Arms 1st Class Gabriel Echavarria, Enterprise force protection leading petty officer. "The PRISim is an excellent way to do this, because it gives realistic training."

The PRISim is a group of video simulations that trains in basic marksmanship, force options and decision-making. It is unlike any other system, because it actually shoots back with a small plastic ball. The laser guided "shoot-back cannon", attached to the top of the video screen, will shoot back at the student if a target is missed, reactions are slow or if the appropriate cover is not taken.

Initially, duty section watchstanders, force protection and security personnel were trained in the PRISim. However, security will train the rest of ship's company in the near future.

"It takes one hour to train two people," said Echavarria. "First, each person will go through the same scenario separately, then, a scenario individually while observing the other. Finally, they will do a scenario together as a team."

The instructor chooses from many different scenarios to train a student. Training scenarios can include hostage rescue, use-of-force judgment simulation, drug busts and disorderly personnel.

"We want to keep people alive," said Greg Hoover, an instructor for PRISim. "That's what we are here for. We put students through scenarios so that when it is the real thing, they won't make mistakes and end up in hospital bed."