NATO Allied Command Transformation Deputy Chief of Staff, Joint Force Trainer, German Air Force LTG Karlheinz Viereck represented ACT at the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) in Orlando, Florida.

During the conference, after viewing the NATO booth representing both ACT and the Research and Technology Organization (RTO), Viereck had an opportunity to visit several leaders in Industry including Engineering & Computer Simulation (ECS), who were successful in the bidding process and awarded the ACT contract to develop immersive learning to support NATO education and training.

According to Shane Taber of ECS, “We are here to assist NATO in building scenarios, asset development and content creation.” He went on to say “we can easily shift gears to develop multiple [gaming] platforms.”

Last year, ACT presented “Boarders Ahoy!” a serious game prototype that could support NATO’s Maritime operations. This prototype was fielded to NATO education institutions and received with great excitement which lead to the acceptance of this technology for further development into deliverable solutions.

“This year, “Boarders Ahoy!” has been developed into a fully deliverable product for NATO and national use and demonstrates how ACT is leading NATO transformation in incorporating new technologies,” said Viereck.

After Viereck visited the ECS booth he stopped by the Raytheon booth to discuss the development of the electronic Individual Training & Education Program (e-ITEP) along with Raytheon's new technology developments.

He concluded his day by taking a look at Alelo, a software company that creates programs that users immersive learning to assist in language and cultural training.

When asked what modeling and simulation does for NATO, Viereck stated, “Modeling and Simulation play a significant role in the mission rehearsal training of ISAF staff and through the provision of expertise it is able to recognize pitfalls before they happen.”