San Luis Obispo Tribune Posted on Sun, Apr. 02, 2006 COMBAT TRAINING AT CAMP ROBERTS Virtual War Experience By Monika Tjia About 80 National Guard soldiers simulated combat in Iraq and Afghanistan on Saturday afternoon without leaving the Central Coast. Soldiers from the 649th Military Police Company based out of Fresno and San Luis Obispo participated in new virtual convoy training at Camp Roberts. "It gives them the realism of combat that prepares them to go to war," Col. Bill Hatch said. Different units from the California National Guard will participate in the training at Camp Roberts every month, Hatch said. Most of the soldiers who will use this technology already have served in Iraq or Afghanistan but may be deployed again. The National Guard Bureau, the California National Guard and the Stanford Research Institute partnered to put the training together.

National Guard soldiers used assault rifles, above left, fitted with transmitters that allow targets to be virtually shot during simulation exercises Saturday at Camp Roberts. Pfc. Sam Clarke, above right, drives a simulated Humvee through a desert war zone.

Saturday's training gave soldiers from the 649th Military Police Company an opportunity to experience combat situations common in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Pfc. Patrick Cummings was one of about 80 National Guard soldiers trained to protect convoys in war zones. Camp Roberts is set to host virtual combat training every month. TRIBUNE PHOTOS BY NICK HOOVER

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