GAMING TO A GOAL
The U.S. Army is one of the largest supporters of education in the nation. The Army not only supports post-secondary education through scholarships and tuition support for Soldiers, but it also actively ensures students can be at the peak of their performance, too – and one of the innovative ways this is accomplished is through games.
The U.S. Army Game Studio (AGS) – located in Huntsville, Alabama – falls under the U.S Army’s Aviation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Center (AMRDEC) and contains laboratories which include motion capture, sound capture, 3D modeling, programming, animations and training facilities.
The AGS develops interactive training environments, using technology to economically train Soldiers in training vehicles and simulations. The AGS also reflects the Army’s commitment to education in that many of the trainings they develop are not for Soldiers, but for current high school students and educators. Many of these resources are free and require zero obligation, so all young people, regardless of their interest in wearing the uniform, can use them.
For instance, STARS: Elements is a free app designed to help students grasp the foundations of chemistry. The game is available via both the web and mobile apps.
But that’s not the only game for civilian audiences that AGS has developed. America’s Army: Proving Grounds playable both online and on PlayStation, is designed to educate civilians about how U.S. Army Soldiers operate as part of a full-spectrum capable team that embarks on special operations missions. The America’s Army comic book series showcases the wide variety of Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) and the technologies and equipment available to Army Soldiers.
And there’s something for the sports fan, too. Both soccer and football coaches will be interested in GoArmy Edge, a resource that allows them to draw plays, edit them and view them in real-time 3D.
Whether you are interested in gaming, sports or education, leveraging these resources can only lead to a ‘win’ for your students or team. Find all of these resources and more at the America’s Army website.
