The University of Southern California Institute for Creative Technologies develops immersive technologies and techniques to solve problems for service members, students, and society. One such technology is the Mobile Counter-IED Interactive Trainer (MCIT), which takes a first principles approach to counter-IED training focusing on understanding terrain, reading atmospherics, and helping trainees predict threats rather than just react. MCIT consists of four modified shipping containers that introduce different IED types and perspectives through narrative vignettes. Trainees then participate in a virtual red vs. blue ambush exercise. Over 30,000 troops have been trained with MCIT.

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At the University of Southern California Institute for Creative Technologies leaders in artificial intelligence, graphics, virtual reality and
narrative advance low-cost immersive techniques and technologies to solve problems facing service members, students and society.
MCIT
Mobile Counter-IED Interactive Trainer
With MCIT, ICT took a “first principles” approach to counter-IED
training, focusing on understanding how terrain is a weapon, reading
atmospherics, and helping trainees make predictions and be proactive
rather than reactive. The target audience includes lower level enlisted
(E1-4,5) and lower level Officers (O1-2).
MCIT consists of a series of four (4) modified 40’ Conex boxes (CBs).
The first three CBs introduce the various types of IEDs and familiarize
troops with how insurgents utilize IEDs, both from the BLUFOR and
OPFOR viewpoints. Narrative story vignettes from an insurgent bomb
maker and U.S. Soldier or Marine help deliver the training materials
and guide the trainees through the self-paced experience.In the last box,
trainees take on the roles of being an insurgent ambush team as well as
mounted patrol and take part in an interactive red vs. blue exercise. A
debrief follows the experience to assess lessons learned.
Working with educational psychologists and military subject matter
experts, ICT also developed the Experiential Counter-IED Immersive
Training Environment (ExCITE) that combines a rich suite of
physical, visual, aural, and virtual elements including narrative video
and multiplayer red vs. blue game for deliberate practice.
Several prototypes were delivered in 2009. ExCITE content was
deployed to follow-on production systems systems (not done by ICT),
with another nine systems deployed. ICT continues to work on new
scenarios, content for training around dismounted c-IED issues, and
further enhancements/improvements. ICT designed and built a multi-
cultural/multi-language variant (MCIT-MC) that was deployed in
Germany in Dec 10. This unit localized the video and software with
versions in Bulgarian,Polish and Romanian.To date over 30,000 troops
have been trained with MCIT and over 1300 Polish troops have been
trained in MCIT-MC.
MCIT was accomplished through ICT’s strategic partnership with the
developer of the original MCIT concept, A-T Solutions, in support of
JIEDDO JCOE, Army Simulation, Training and Technology Center
(STTC), industry partners, Psychic Bunny, Blind Spots Content,
Isolated Ground, Quicksilver Software, Stranger Entertainment.
6/2012
2009-present