Soldiers from the British Army are using video games including Call of Duty as part of their training, a military chief has said.
Troops are using games to sharpen their ‘war-fighting readiness’ with computer game skills proving increasingly useful because of the widespread usage of drones in conflict.
General Sir Tom Copinger-Symes, the deputy commander of Cyber and Specialist Operations Command, said the war in Ukraine, where remote-operated drones have proved vital, has showed the importance of video game skills.
‘Lessons from conflicts, including Ukraine, have demonstrated the real-world value of gaming technology in training drone operators and enhancing cyber capabilities,’ he said.
Soldiers already use virtual reality games in training. They also use controllers similar to those used in video game consoles to control some technology.
The Ministry of Defence said competitive gaming allows soldiers to develop critical skills including improving accuracy and reflexes, tracking threats, directing soldiers on the ground, changing tactics in conflict and performing under pressure.
The UK officially recognised esports as a military sport last year. On Friday the Ministry of Defence announced the launch of the International Defence Esports Games (IDEG) – a gaming tournament that will see military teams from 40 nations enter.
Soldiers will compete in Call Of Duty as well as drone simulator VelociDrone.
Soldiers from the British Army are using video games including Call of Duty as part of their training, a military chief has said
Troops are using games to sharpen their ‘war-fighting readiness’ with computer game skills proving increasingly useful because of the widespread usage of drones in conflict
Defence bosses are looking to attract gamers into the military as they look to reverse a major recruitment shortage.
The army has around 70,000 troops in the regular forces of a target of 76,000, latest figures show.
In February, the army said it would accelerate the recruitment of ‘cyber warriors’ in response to more than 90,000 online attacks on Britain over the past two years.
‘If you’re a top gamer or a coder – your country needs you,’ Defence Secretary John Healey said last year.
‘You can see the changing nature of warfare in Ukraine, where the combination of artillery and drones is responsible for the large majority of all the casualties,’ he added.
‘The sort of skills that drone pilots have are many of the same skills as some of our best console warriors in civilian life.’
Video games replicate real life battle scenarios and Ukrainian forces have used similar methods to simulate warfare.
But veterans have warned against the games replacing real world training.
‘This should never replace it but should operate alongside it and enhance it,’ Colonel Philip Ingram said. ‘Whether it’s Call of Duty or bespoke training packages, they have got a place, but it won’t replicate other training.’
