An Unaided Night Vision Instructional Program For Ground Forces

"The report documents an instructional program on unaided night vision skills and knowledge critical to all ground force night operations. The program was developed jointly by the U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences (ARI), the Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory, and the Naval Aerospace and Operational Medical Institute. A series of experiments conducted by ARI showed the program to be effective with both experienced soldiers and Infantry trainees. The program is presented in the dark using neutral density filters on 35-mm slides to allow individuals to dark adapt over a 30- to 45- minute instructional period. Demonstrations show what happens to vision at night as well as techniques to reduce visual illusions and other problems encountered at night. The report contains the instructional guide for the program, a separate summary of the program content, and a job aid to remind soldiers of critical night vision concepts and guidelines regarding use of their eyes during night exercises." -- Abstract.

Fighting at night has become increasingly important to combat success as new and better generations of night equipment allow soldiers to see and operate more effectively at night. The goal of the NIGHTFIGHTER program being executed by the Infantry Forces Research Unit (IFRU) of the U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences is to improve soldier, leader, and unit training for night operations. Research under NIGHTFIGHIER encompasses a broad spectrum of skills and issues, ranging from basic skills which do not require special equipment to the specialized skills demanded by the most sophisticated night technologies. and from training issues which have persisted over time to those emerging as night operations become more common. The research reponed here is on an instructional program which emphasizes basic unaided night vision knowledge and skills. Through the use of35-mm slides with neutral density filters, students experience what happens to their vision at night and learn techniques to overcome visual problems encountered at night. The program was developed under separate Memoranda of Agreement with the Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory and the Naval Aerospace and Operational Medical Institute. The report presents a series of experiments conducted by the IFRU which showed the program increased the proficiency of experienced soldiers, as well as Infantry trainees, and can be presented effectively by military instructors. Research findings on the unaided night vision program have been presented to the command group at the U.S. Army Infantry Center and to all Army agencies which supponed the research. The program has been demonstrated to the observer/controllers and the opposing force at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC), to the command group of the 82d Airborne Division, to the Ranger Training Brigade, and to numerous visilors 10 the U.s . Army Infantry School dismounted Battlespace Battle Lab's Night Fighting Training Facility. It is being used by Ihe opposing force at the JRTC, the 82d Airborne Division, and the Ranger Training Brigade. The program will be pan of the Battle Lab's Night Fighting Training Facility and in the exportable training package to be distributed by the Battle Lab