Ep. 010: The Psychology Behind Building Better Operators

Warfighter Podcast

For this episode we are pleased to be joined by Lon Bartel, who offers his insights from the perspective of Law Enforcement training. Lon is the VP of Training & Curriculum at VirTra, based in Arizona. He is a former police officer with over 25 years of experience, qualified as a range and tactical instructor and a published author. He is currently embarking on a PhD in Performance Psychology.

Lon describes some of the systems in use across law enforcement, including the 360 degree system developed by VirTra, as well as the volumetric video technology. He describes how the training requirements differ for police and law enforcement officers, and how that shapes the training systems.

The focus is more on creating pressures through visual and non-visual cues, overloading the sensory systems in order to increase the training challenge. Lon goes on to explain how they aim to get away from ‘box ticking’ training to make time spent in the box a more rewarding experience, using applied psychology to enhance judgement and decision making for officers. A subject that is very much in the news in North America and the rest of the world.

As ever we are joined by our intrepid journalist Andy Fawkes from MS&T, who takes us through some of the more recent developments in the training and simulation world. The theme of international collaboration continues, as well as further moves to promote virtual learning and digitisation of the military.

Episode Sponsor: Improbable

Improbable Defence is a mission focused technology company working to transform the national security of our nations and their allies in the face of increasing global competition and evolving threats.

Today, national security is defined by technological superiority. We believe that software more than any other capability will redefine how war is fought and who will be on the winning side. Those entrusted with the preservation of our freedom, prosperity and safety deserve the best software-defined capabilities available.

Since the end of the Cold War, the UK, US and their allies have been unchallenged in military technological dominance. Today, we are facing a different reality: our adversaries are seizing the technological edge.

Improbable Defence chooses to stand up and not stand by. We are building cutting-edge software products to help our nations retake the technological advantage. We believe in defending our democratic values against those who seek to undermine them. Supporting those tasked with this mission is at the heart of all we do. We seek to radically transform the mission outcomes of those whose responsibility it is to keep us safe.

Hosts:

• Tom Constable: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-constable/
• Colin Hillier: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinhillier/

Guest:

• Lon Bartel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/verstandtacticalconsulting/

Links:

• Website: https://www.warfighterpodcast.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/warfighter-digital/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkgiH-cwmyc2I2Iyc8MLYtg
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/WarfighterPod

News Stories Related Links:

• MS&T "Collaboration to Further US Naval Technology Development" 30 Jan

https://www.halldale.com/articles/20716-mst-collaboration-to-further-us-naval-technology-development

• MS&T "US Air Force Utilizes VR to Train Leaders for Decision Making" 3 Feb

https://www.halldale.com/articles/20742-mst-us-air-force-utilizes-vr-to-train-leaders-for-decision-making

• MS&T "AERALIS and AirTanker Tap Into Fast Jet Pilot Training" 30 Jan

https://www.halldale.com/articles/20715-mst-aeralis-and-airtanker-tap-into-fast-jet-pilot-training

• MS&T "Inaugural Indo-Egypt Joint Training Exercise Concludes" 3 Feb

https://www.halldale.com/articles/20732-inaugural-indo-egypt-joint-training-exercise-concludes