Congressman Zack Space, D-Dover, secured $4.65 million to fund simulation-training systems for the Ohio National Guard with national defense money late last month.
Space, who represents Ohio's 18th Congressional district, secured the money as part of the House Defense Authorization Bill, which is a bi-partisan bill worth $531.4 billion.
The money will fund four different virtual training situations, said Mark Wayda, director of Government and Public Affairs for the Ohio National Guard.
Two systems will simulate how to operate weapons from gun trucks and black hawk helicopters.
Another system will train soldiers to operate mine-resistant vehicles, which disarm or disable improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
A further system simulates collapsed buildings to train soldiers during rescue operations, Wayda said, adding that all the systems can be connected together to train larger groups of soldiers.
This virtual training allows us to train skills at a much lower cost and risk of injury
he said.
Before these systems, army personnel from the Ohio National Guard could train only once or twice a year, often in another state, Wayda said.
Both the Democrats and Republicans have been very supportive of training the troops in the National Guard he said.
Last year the Ohio National Guard received $920,000 for laser marksmanship training systems.
The Ohio National Guard has 10,800 soldiers and 300 airmen and has deployed more than 12,000 soldiers and airmen since Sept. 11.
The rest of the $10.45 million secured by Space will fund research projects across Ohio, including a $2.8 million project at Ohio University to find ways to use waste water as an alternative to diesel general generators, according to a news release from Space's office.
No one from OU working on the wastewater project returned calls by deadline.
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