On Patrol

Sound decision-making is crucial to readiness in today’s military.

Whether troops are “off duty” or “on guard,” the ability to properly assess a given situation and make the best decision for all parties involved is a valuable leadership trait and, according to some, a very learnable skill.

Off Duty, On Guard is an interactive online experience that allows the viewer to make decisions and experience the outcomes. Courtesy photo.Since 1998, WILL Interactive has been pioneering ways to influence behavior through their patented education and entertainment media known as Virtual Experience Immersive Learning Simulations (VEILS). Essentially the product is a cross between a feature film and a computer game, where the viewer becomes one of several lead characters in an interactive movie simulation. They can make decisions, see consequences of their choices, alter storylines and experience outcomes.

“Off Duty, On Guard” is a free, online example of a VEILS focused on off-duty safety.

While watching these films, the right answer is often obvious, but according to Sharon Sloane, Chief Executive Officer of WILL Interactive, what is important is the ability to make that decision rather than knowing what the right answer is.

“Our interactive films go beyond knowledge to actually positively influence people’s attitudes in order to change their behaviors,” said Sloane. “Instead of just providing information, knowledge or skills, we appeal very much to the emotional or affective side of the brain.

“In that way, we kind of go to the sweet spot of where real, live people actually make decisions,” she added.

The lessons in “On Duty, Off Guard” are universal, but the story lines are very specific.

A scene from The War Inside depicting marital problems that developed after a soldier returned home from combat. Courtesy photo“It has to be realistic to that audience,” said Sloane. “So everything that appears in our movies actually happened. Everything is based on the research that we have done.

“We have subject matter experts on set to ensure that nothing is hokey and that all the uniforms are proper and that people are speaking the way military personnel would speak, so it’s very realistic,” she said.

Training sessions are often facilitated by someone trained by WILL who often asks learners “why,” so the decision-making process can really be examined.

“Some of these issues are difficult to discuss. It’s a great ice-breaker that initiates conversation about critical decisions,” said Sloane. “In addition to discussing why, we also give them the opportunity to model how to get out of difficult decisions. Not only what you do but how you do it.”

Sloane points out that it’s not only the “correct” decisions that learners are encouraged to explore.

“There’s just as much to be gained from the poor decisions as there is from the good ones,” she said. “Sometimes people deliberately make poor choices to see what happens, and that’s good because you see the consequences of those choices and unlike real life you can go back and make better decisions and see how those play out.”

So far WILL has produced about 20 movies the Army focusing on safety, post-traumatic stress, combat operational stress, compassion fatigue, suicide prevention, and ethical decision-making.

During the experience the viewer has the opportunity to change a character's fate by making simple choices along the way. Courtesy photoAt this year’s GI Film Festival, WILL Interactive premiered The War Inside, a film designed for Army-wide distribution as a cornerstone for their soldier behavioral health and post traumatic stress education program.

The War Inside sheds light on the psychological challenges of coming home with combat stress and the toll it takes on individuals, families, and society. The viewer plays as one of four different characters connected to a platoon that has just returned from combat. Each character explores the challenges of coming home.

In addition to VEILS films, WILL Interactive has also produced live interactive theater sessions through a program called Lifeline, which was recently credited for saving the life of a Fort Hood officer’s son.

“Many people don’t really think about what happens if they make a series of really bad decisions,” said Sloane. “We have learned over the years that by experiencing similar situations and going through the decision-making process can really make a difference on the outcome.

“At the end of the day, when someone comes up to you and says, ‘You saved my life,’ we know we’ve made a difference,” added Sloane. “That’s what it’s all about.”