ENHANCING RECRUITING EFFORTS FOR THE U.S. ARMY: A STUDY OF IMMERSIVE VIRTUAL REALITY EXPERIENCES
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Authors
Chojnacki, Bruce E.
Subjects
virtual reality
VR
recruitment
interactive
engagement
storytelling
simulator
VR
recruitment
interactive
engagement
storytelling
simulator
Advisors
Sadagic, Amela
Date of Issue
2024-06
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
The Department of the Army requires a steady influx of recruits annually to meet its operational requirements. In recent years, the U.S. Army has faced challenges recruiting soldiers, as traditional recruitment methods failed to attract sufficient military candidates. Recent developments in commercial off-the-shelf virtual reality (VR) technology present an opportunity to enhance the recruitment process by using inexpensive infrastructure to offer an immersive, interactive experience that can be delivered on a massive scale. This thesis introduces “Soldier Sight—The Future of Recruitment,” a system that utilizes VR technology and interactive storytelling to engage users in the discovery process, tell stories about military occupational specialties, educate potential recruits about the Army’s career benefits, and broaden the recruitment reach. We conducted a usability study to assess Soldier Sight’s capability in delivering a novel multi-sensory experience and identify the elements of interactive storytelling that contribute to a cohesive, engaging, informative, and insightful user experience. Results indicate strong potential: participants provided positive marks for the usability metrics. They indicated that the system generated interest in the Army and would be a valuable recruitment tool. Our research provides vital insights into the potential of VR and interactive storytelling to augment recruitment and generate interest in critical military and civilian domains.
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Thesis
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Distribution Statement
Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.