Are VR and AR Really Viable in Military Education?: A Position Paper

When people talk about virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR), they usually associate these novel technologies with leisure activities. In the case of the armed forces, more often than not, enthusiasts tend to relate videos games (e.g., Call of Duty) to military training and education. However, little is known about the true potential, these technologies may bring to modern-day armed forces specially in the Latin American context. This position paper thoroughly presents some real possibilities about VR and AR in the military education and training, how they are being used by defense forces and what is required in the short term to foresee the possibilities other armies are already harnessing to date. In addition, a brief comparative analysis between advantages and disadvantages in the adoption of both technologies was made to know a more accurate scenario of them. Issues that may arise from the acceptance of such technologies are also discussed as well as how research can support a sustainable pathway toward the utilization of VR and AR in the context of Latin American armed forces.