Gaming Super Soldiers - The UpStream

Looks like we've found an alternative option to creating super soldiers! The Office of Naval Research is currently conducting research in video game training that it says has "surprising" results in regards to military personnel reaction time and adaptability in the fight against terror. Personally I always thought that this was common sense but I guess Uncle Sam just got the memo. According to an article available on the Department of Defense's official website, doctor of educational psychology and program officer Ray Perez said the research has discovered that video game players perform "10 to 20 percent higher in terms of perceptual and cognitive ability" than non-gamers.

Perez also said that soldiers need to be "agile problem solvers" and "agile thinkers," Perez notes that video game training can help field adaptability and the "cognitive advances" derived from the training can last up to two and a half years. So it looks like all of my hours logged on CoD could pay off if I decided to enlist! Terrorists better beware because I have quite a k/d ratio.

"We know that video games can increase perceptual abilities and short-term memory," Perez said, adding that games allow players to focus longer and expand the field of vision compared to non-gamers. If it means the brave men and women serving have a better chance of coming home, we're all for it, and being that I know a few people in the armed forces that are gamers it gives me hope in seeing them return.