It seems like a never ending game of intellectual defeat. The more complex our society gets, the greater resources the world has access to, the more complicated the art of war becomes. So what do aromas and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives have in common? More than you would think.
“The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.” – George S. Patton
Biological warfare is not new. Persian, Greek and Roman literature dating at about 300 BC discuss the use of animal cadavers for the use of infecting wells and other sources of communal water storage areas. There is a long documented history of research and risky experimentation from world powers like Japan, the Soviet Union and America of biological warfare. As these experiments delivered extensive knowledge in the realm of biological consequences, many began and catalyzed research for chemical and radiological weaponry as well. During WWII, as the Soviet’s kept their noses to the pavement with work revolving around viral weaponry, the United States were busy developing a nuclear bomb. If not one, it will certainly be the other.
What all of these weapons have in common are raw ingredients, rather, pieces to a sublime puzzle that are easily masked, or even overlooked. With the rise of immersive training environments, the aromas of these CBRNE weapons permeate throughout the training field. It is no longer a race at building the strongest warriors, but a race to the education and training of response to sensory input. Which aroma could kill you and which can you ignore?
As our military stays on forefront of innovation, more technologists offer rapid development of special effects to enhance current training environments. Smell generators (often referred to as aroma simulation systems or scenting systems), smoke and fog effects under the guide of subject matter experts (SME) give considerable edge in the efficacy of identification and response of the most modern CBRNE weapons.