To develop an LMTS-based tool for predicting small arms, live-fire marksmanship qualification performance, Idaho Reserve Component (RC) soldiers fired for qualification on LMTS and on the live-fire range with either the M16A2 rifle (N =95) or M9 pistol (N =81). A statistically significant relation between LMTS and live-fire qualification scores was found and validated for both rifle (r = .55) and pistol (r = .47) and then used to develop weapon-specific tools for RC trainers to use in predicting the probability of individual soldier, first-run, live-fire, rifle and pistol qualification based on scores fired on LMTS. Use of these prediction tools will enable RC marksmanship trainers to schedule LMTS-based training more efficiently by targeting only those soldiers in need of remediation (i.e., those predicted to be unlikely live-fire qualifiers), as well as to identify when enough training has been provided (i.e., when the predicted likelihood of live-fire qualification is good). These tools also provide the RC unit commander with a set of LMTS-based, empirically derived live-fire performance standards to support (a) implementation of a competency-based rifle, as well as pistol, sustainment training program of instruction using LMTS, and (b) use of LMTS-based qualification firing in place of live-fire qualification firing when outdoor range facilities are not readily available.

To determine the relation between simulation- (Laser Marksmanship Training System LMTS) and live-fire-based rifle marksmanship performance, 186 Reserve Component (RC) soldiers from Idaho and Oregon fired for qualification on a scaled LMTS version and live-fire version of the Army's standard pop-up target qualification course. LMTS was fired under either a dry-fire mode or a Blazer (i.e., sound/recoil replicator) mode. Statistically significant positive linear relations were found (and then validated) between first-run live-fire scores and both LMTS dry-fire- (r = .50) and Blazer-based (r = .55) scores. These relations were of sufficient strength to permit development of easy-to-use tools for accurately predicting soldier chances of first-run, live-fire qualification. With these tools, RC marksmanship trainers can implement a competency- based training program where soldiers most in need of remedial training (i.e., poor shooters) can be quickly identified, and the point at which sufficient training has been provided (i.e., when first-run live-fire qualification is likely) easily determined. These tools also provide RC unit commanders with empirically derived live-fire performance standards needed to support use of LMTS in place of live-fire for rifle marksmanship proficiency validation purposes when standard pop-up target course range facilities are not readily available. Although both tools will serve these purposes, that based on LMTS dry-fire is recommended because of the added expense of firing with Blazer without an accompanying statistically significant increased predictive benefit.

This report reviews research on use of the Laser Marksmanship Training System (LMTS) to support small-arms marksmanship training and live-fire performance prediction. In general, the findings to date indicate that (a) an LMTS established rifle battlesight zero should not be used for record fire qualification without prior live-fire zero confirmation, (b) LMTS is capable of supporting effective initial entry, as well as sustainment, rifle marksmanship training although further research is needed to provide a definitive conclusion in regard to the latter, (c) LMTS based performance can accurately predict the likelihood of both rifle and pistol live-fire qualification, and (d) these predictions provide an associated set of empirically derived, live-fire performance standards needed to support the implementation of competency-based small- arms training with LMTS as well as the use of LMTS for validating previous live-fire qualification performance when outdoor range facilities are not readily available or when mission requirements dictate.

"This research compared the relative impact of two approaches for training Basic Rifle Marksmanship (BRM). One hundred and eighty four One-Station Unit Training (OSUT) infantry trainees (i.e., the experimental group) trained under a U.S. Army Reserve (USAR)-developed, device-based (i.e., the Beamhit Laser Marksmanship Training System LMTS) approach, and 202 infantry trainees (i.e., the control group) trained under the standard U.S. Army Infantry School BRM program of instruction. Results revealed that the experimental group outperformed the control group on shot grouping, weapon zeroing, and known-distance firing. No between-group differences were found, however, for record fire qualification scores or for performance during pop-up target engagement practice periods leading up to qualification. The implications of these findings for initial marksmanship training are discussed along with plans for follow-up USAR-sponsored research to assess (a) the impact of LMTS-based training on sustainment performance, and (b) the feasibility of using LMTS-based performance to predict live-fire qualification scores."--Stinet.