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Self in Virtual Simulation & Real Repercussions: Drone Pilots & FBR Soldiers

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Simulations are defined as virtual situations that imitate real life. (Bill's page contains an in-depth explanation of simulations.) In the context of “Point.Click.Kill” by Eric Hagerman and the film Full Battle Rattle directed by Tony Gerber and Jesse Moss, soldiers prepare for real battle through simulated scenarios of violence and war. Although these soldiers are aware of the fact that at some point they will be taking action against real life enemies, they attempt to remove themselves emotionally from what they are doing, trying to avoid such haunting. There is already the spacial separation between them and the real war, engendering this desired emotional detachment. Such is the case of Captain Adam Brokus of the United States Air Force as he “teaches 20-somethings how to fly war drones 7,500 miles away” (36, Hagerman) during the day and then tucks his children into bed, making sure they are safe at night. This dichotomy of behavior raises the question of true identity and creates a conflicting image of self. The idea of haunting emerges as well as he is forced to transition into his personal life, knowing he is responsible for the future death of other human beings. Yet he reconciles this fact with the knowledge that in the he is helping his country and maintain the safety of him and his family.
 
An additional source of haunting and real life consequences is that the technological advancements of UAVs have far outpaced the training of the pilots that are responsible for controlling them. Hagerman sheds light on the fact that an astounding “one-third of the 200 Predators delivered to date have crashed catastrophically due to both aircraft malfunction and human error” (38, Hagerman), underscoring the issues that arise in creating a weapons program that seems to be taking a life of its own with relatively little scrutiny or careful consideration of unintended consequences. Despite this evidence of the risks and danger, UAV programs are more popular than ever.
 
In a similar experience, the soldiers of Full Battle Rattle participate in a 3-week Iraq battleground simulation at Fort Irwin in California’s Mojave Desert. Despite knowing Fort Erwin is a fake combat zone and they are technically separated physically from the real war in Iraq, the feelings of these soldiers are very real. This simulation evokes emotional of real war and they experience emotional and mental haunting, even tearing up at the mock memorial of a fallen comrade. Chloe's page goes into further detail on the haunting that occurs in Full Battle Rattle. Furthermore, in the final scene of the film, the 4th brigade is shown boarding a place destined for Iraq, demonstrating the liminality between the breakdown of the simulation and initiation of reality.
 

This page has paths:

  1. Haunting: Effect on The Self Sarah Frauen

This page has tags:

  1. Drone Pilots Chloe Lewis
  2. Guattari's theory on Simulation Spaces zachary hersh
  3. Simulation Machine Zheqing Zhu
  4. Sarah Frauen, Author Sarah Frauen
  5. Full Battle Rattle Chloe Lewis
  6. Reconstruction of People's Identities through Artificial Intelligence Zheqing Zhu

Contents of this tag:

  1. Transformation of Social Relations Through Military Incentives
  2. Self: Conclusion