Development, Programmatic Transition, and Sustainment of VR Medical Simulation Training for TCCC Responders: The Virtual Advancement of Learning for Operational Readiness (VALOR) Program

In future multi-domain combat operations against near-peer competitors, efforts to achieve the "Golden Hour" (the doctrinal requirement to provide definitive care within 60 minutes of sustaining traumatic injuries) are likely to be overwhelmed by casualty counts incurred from the use of highly effective weaponry employed by powerful nations on a scale not seen in combat by NATO nations in recent decades. The rapidly evolving geopolitical climate requires nations to develop solutions to address this limitation in order to maintain optimal readiness for such a conflict. This presentation will discuss ongoing efforts to develop and sustain such capabilities though the United States Air Force-funded Virtual Advancement of Learning for Operational Readiness (VALOR) program, a large-scale XR for medical simulation training research program which has developed capabilities and training curricula in the areas of Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC), Advanced Resuscitative Care, En-Route Care, and more, including live test and evaluation, as well as current deployments and sustainment efforts. Particular detail will be paid to the VALOR CORE curriculum, a 25-scenario TCCC VR medical simulation training curriculum spanning TCCC, Prolonged Casualty Care, Small Unit Care, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and high Explosives medical response, and medical certification readiness. Additionally, the core design principles of the VALOR project will be discussed, which were developed to address drawbacks and limitations of prior virtual simulation efforts.