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Battle of Fallujah Virtual Staff Ride

Staff Ride Place Holder
Staff Ride Place Holder
 

This virtual staff ride examines a joint coalition task force liberating the city of Fallujah, Iraq in 2004. The study encompasses large-scale combat operations in dense urban terrain with a focus on joint, combined arms operations of two US Army battalions under the operational control of the 1st Marine Division.

This study is particularly suited for the discussion of enduring insights of complex urban operations at the battalion to division levels. It can also be tailored to concentrate on issues relevant to leaders at lower levels.

The Fallujah VSR is fully exportable to any organization that has access to the Army-licensed gaming software, Virtual Battlespace 3 (VBS3). Each exportable package includes full instructor support materials, student readings, and instructions on how to use everything. Please see below.

Battle of Fallujah Virtual Staff Ride Material

Fallujah VSR Introduction

Fallujah VSR Introduction

This file provides an overview of the VSR, what products comprise the VSR, how to download the products, and how they are used to conduct the VSR. The exportable VSR contains all the elements of a “ground” staff ride, but with the terrain being presented with a computer in a classroom environment.

Download the VSR Introduction

Virtual Terrain for Fallujah

Virtual Terrain for Fallujah

The VSR runs off the Army’s games-for-training platform, Virtual Battlespace 3 (VBS3). Only a government employee on a CAC enabled computer can download the program. New VBS3 users must request authorization to download the program through Milgaming. New download authorizations may not be available due to contract restrictions with the software manufacturer. Use this link to access the Army’s Milgaming site for the Fallujah terrain files. After downloading VBS3, the user must download the terrain and model files and then upload them into VBS3. Detailed instructions on how to complete this process are at the Milgaming link. For technical questions or issues relating to VBS3, contact customer support at Bohemia Interactive Simulations at (866) 755-5127.

Army Milgaming Site

Preliminary Study Materials

Preliminary Study Materials

These materials help prepare staff ride participants for their virtual visit to the campaign area. The Fallujah read ahead is compiled from On Point II, and U.S. Marines In Iraq, 2004-2005: Into the Fray.

Download the Read Ahead

Field Phase and Materials

Field Phase Materials

These resources are for the staff ride facilitator or instructor. The notes are the materials the instructor uses to tie the terrain, the historical narrative, and the visual aids together. The visual aids help keep the participants oriented to the virtual terrain and to the historical context of the operation.

The Operator’s Notes are for the virtual computer operator and serve as a sort of script for the computer operator to synchronize movements in the virtual terrain with the staff ride leader.

Download the Instructor Notes

Download the Computer Operator’s Notes

Download the Visual Aids

Download the Videos