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| Photo Provided By: Laura Biron |
The US Military is the largest
spender and user of game-based learning technology. They use gaming programs like “America’s
Army” for recruitment, as well as other programs and simulators for training.
While these games and simulations give their users career and munitions
knowledge, they do little to prepare troops for the grisly realities of
war. The US Military estimates that 10
to 20 percent of US service members who return from war develop PTSD (Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder) from the overwhelming experiences that they have
while in combat (Biron). PTSD caused by war can have devastating consequences
to the sufferer. Small triggers like a sound or smell can be prompts for the
sufferer to relive traumatic events in the form of flashbacks. People with PTSD often suffer from
depression, anxiety, detachment, and hyper-arousal that causes them to always
be on edge. They are also more likely to
be unable to hold a job and suffer alcohol and drug problems (NIH). In recent years, the military has developed
game-based technology to prevent PTSD in soldiers before they enter combat
situations and they have also developed game-based technology for returning
soldiers to use in therapeutic settings to lessen existing PTSD symptoms.
The US Military is attempting to
avoid PTSD in their troops before they ever encounter a war situation through
the use of gaming. With funds from U.S. Military, a team of scientists in the
virtual reality lab at the University of Southern California's Institute for
Creative Technologies wants to ready troops for mental trauma before they are
ever deployed overseas. It is developing virtual gaming re-creations based on
war stories shared by veterans who have returned from real wars. This technology exposes troops to more
realistic, bloodier and more heart-wrenching versions of battle than
traditional video games do (Hsu). The
difference is, that in the midst of these gory scenes, a virtual
teacher/counselor appears on the screen to talk the soldier through the grisly
situation. The hope is that the instructions of this virtual teacher/counselor
will calm the soldier and cause their helpful information to be more likely to
be committed to memory while the soldier is in a heighted state of arousal
(Hsu). Getting used to the realities and
emotions of what might happen in battle can better prepare the soldier and,
hopefully, prevent PTSD from occurring.
The use of virtual gaming can also
be beneficial to soldiers who have returned from war and are experiencing
symptoms of PTSD. Many sufferers of PTSD
have difficulty sharing and talking about their war experiences with
others. It is very necessary for them to
talk about their time at war in order to dissect their situation and begin the
healing process. One therapeutic PTSD
tool that seems to be showing success is the Virtual Iraq/Afghanistan program.
It is in place in close to 50 hospitals and clinics across the U.S (Biron). In
a therapeutic setting, soldiers play games that simulate the sights, sounds,
and even the smells of a battle situation.
Participating in these games triggers memories and emotions that the
suffering veteran has suppressed. Once
these emotions have surfaced they can be discussed with a therapist and
hopefully healing will occur.
Game-based learning plays a huge
role in the recruiting and training of US Military troops. It is encouraging that it can also be used in
the prevention and treatment of PTSD.
Sources:
Biron, Lauren.
“Virtual Reality Helps Service Members Deal with PTSD.” Defense News.
National
Institute of Health. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Hsu, Jeremy. “ For the US Army Video Games Get Serious.” Live Science. August 19, 2010.
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