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TR A I N IN G Watch as training unfolds in "Battlefield Baghdad" Download our tablet edition from Google play or the App Store to see more pictures and video. BY SARA SCHREIBER Laser play iCOMBAT's new laser tag facility serves up something different for law enforcement I rounded a corner and suddenly I was in the middle of a bazaar; a market selling rugs and fruit, and I noticed ancient script scrawled on old-looking walls. Beyond the market was a modest house…empty, but its contents suggested a family lived there. It was clear I was somewhere in the Middle East, or so it seemed. Upon closer inspection, I thought this could be a sound stage on a Hollywood lot and all the actors were on break. In reality I was in Waukesha, Wisconsin at a brand new laser tag iCOMBAT facility, where officials had just cut the tape on "Battlefield Baghdad;" according to the website: "A realistic tactical laser tag experience using stateof-the-art equipment and fully immersible Hollywood style sets." On the entertainment side, thrill seekers can rent out the venue for parties, fund-raisers or Saturday-night flings. Players can earn ranks for completing missions and objectives, similar to a video game. Realistic weaponry and laser combat gear offer easy set-up and multiple sensor locations that light up and beep when hit. Sounds, smells and ambient lighting make players feel as though they're really on the streets of Baghdad on a dark and stormy night. But it's not all kids' play; the more than 12,000-square-foot structures (currently popping up in various locales across the country) might be worth looking into on the public safety side, too. The buildings' generous size and resources offer trainers something different, as well as a safe place for cops to train in a real world environment…so to speak. Thomas Hausner, a 30-year SWAT veteran, works with iCOMBAT management on the law enforcement end. He says iCOMBAT looks to provide "the entertainment aspect to augment the law enforcement/military training aspect." It's not always easy for SWAT teams to find a place to train. Vacant buildings come and go, and weather is unpredictable at best. "When it's -40 with a wind chill factor, it's nice to be in a controlled environment," Hausner says. "Because if you're worrying about whether or not you're staying warm, you're not worrying about your training." Another benefit of the allin-one setup is the departure from old-school laser tag paraphernalia. Hausner likes the realistic weight and feel of the armory, which consists of irTacti- The armory is powered by irTactical systems, a realistic tactical training platform of advanced laser combat weapons. The irVest and irHeadband follow Mil-Spec MOLLE styles. More than 20 sensors light up and beep when hit, and all player data is recorded. 16 Law Enforcement Technology August 2013 www.officer.com