Military

a. The realistic training offered by the Dragon PGTS allows units to achieve a high level of proficiency without firing live Dragons. Individual units are responsible for conducting sustainment training on the Dragon PGTS.

b. Soldiers can obtain instructional videotapes on the Dragon PGTS from training support centers (TSCs). Basic instructional fire (Firing Tables 1 through 4) is conducted on the DGT. These tables introduce new gunners to the basic gunnery skills required to engage targets with a Dragon. Firing Tables 5 and 6 are conducted in a simulated outdoor tactical situation using the DFTT. Firing Tables 7 and 8 are conducted on the indoor DGT. Firing Table 7 allows gunners to practice for qualification. If they score 16 out of 20 on Firing Table 8 (Table 3-1), gunners qualify on the Dragon. (Appendix D describes firing tables and provides examples of completed firing tables.)

c. Train-the-Trainer Program. A successful Dragon training program requires well-trained NCOs who know and have confidence using both trainers. Each company should have at least one certified trainer. (Appendix A provides train-the-trainer tasks for both the DFTT and the DGT.)

a. Role. Soldiers train on the DGT to—

• Assume the correct Dragon firing position.

• Identify targets.

• Determine engageability of targets.

• Engage targets (including tracking and firing).

b. Missions. Matched sets of videodiscs and floppy (data) disks provide a library of missions. Each disk set contains 30 missions of various lengths plus learning objectives. Each mission applies to both daysight and nightsight viewing.

c. Target Options. The DGT allows the trainer to adjust the difficulty of the scenario to the shooter's skill. To do this, trainers can—

• Change the target kill zone.

• Change the obscuration.

• Vary the amount of weight the system loses after a round is fired.

• Select night fire.

• Select multiple or moving targets.

d. Feedback. The DGT enables the trainer to provide visual feedback to the firer in either of two ways. He can replay the mission on video, or he can print out two views (from the top and side) of the actual mission. Both show horizontal and vertical tracking errors and the firer's score. Figure 3-2 shows the instructor's console.

a. Role. Trainers use the DFTT to familiarize gunners with firing the Dragon in an outdoor environment. Specifically, they use it to train soldiers to—

• Assume the correct Dragon firing position.

• Determine engageability of targets (whether targets can be engaged).

• Engage targets (including tracking and firing).

b. Targets. Each target has a retroreflector. This acts as a mirror and returns part of the laser beam sent by the trainer round. The DFTT transmits Dragon MILES code, so it can also kill targets equipped with a MILES (multiple integrated laser engagement system) harness, as long as the target also has a retroreflector.