Video game players often play the role of soldiers in sticky situations. At Marine Corps University in Quantico, soldiers are learning the same from Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.

COD 4 was released almost 2 decades ago in 2007. Its mission, All Ghillied Up, is one of the most recognizable and iconic missions of all time.

This is the game that introduced players to John "Soap" MacTavish. A modified version of the game developed for the Sergeants School is helping Marine Corps students improve their critical thinking, decision-making, and leadership skills.

It is essentially the difference between practical learning and reading from books. By playing Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, soldiers experience real stakes and situations that require them to make the right decision quickly.

The game also collects user data, which is later analyzed by an LLM. The AI will then provide feedback to help hone certain skills.

“Traditional classroom and discussion provides the necessary knowledge while video gaming allows students to develop knowledge into skill through practice," said Lt. Cmdr. Mike Natali, manager of the Office of Naval Research program.

Lt. Cmder. Natali's office funds the program known as Research into Competency Acquisition with Novel E-gaming. It's a relatively new approach used to train Marines.

In fact, the very first batch started in January 2026.

But the question remains: What other games does the US military rely on?

What Other Games Do the USMC Use For Training?

While Call of Duty 4 is being used experimentally at Marine Corps University, the U.S. military relies on several other games and simulations for serious training purposes.

The most widely used platform is Virtual Battlespace (VBS), currently in its fourth version (VBS4). It is a highly customizable tactical trainer employed by the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, and many allied forces.

VBS is used for mission rehearsal, convoy training, urban combat drills, medical scenarios, and leadership development. It allows commanders to create realistic environments and replay missions with detailed after-action reviews.

Another major title is America’s Army, an official U.S. Army game launched in 2002. It was designed both as a recruitment tool and to teach basic soldiering skills, teamwork, and rules of engagement.

For armored vehicle training, the military uses Steel Beasts, a realistic tank simulation that replicates modern combat vehicles and tactics. The U.S. Air Force and Navy also use high-fidelity flight simulators such as DCS World for pilot training.

Additionally, modified versions of Arma 3 are popular for small-unit tactics and special operations rehearsals because of their flexibility and realism.

These tools are chosen because they provide safe, repeatable, and measurable training experiences that bridge classroom theory with real-world pressure.

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Written by

Prit Chauhan

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi