The Marathon County SWAT Team had an opportunity to be the first Team in the state to use the new state of the art training facility at Volk Field, in Camp Douglas.

Life appears to imitate art and all of the different scenarios they encounter is captured on video similar to on a movie set.

At first glance the 3 and a half story training facility at Volk field may look like a dull building but the technology inside makes it razor sharp.

"We have sound effects, and 55 cameras inside and outside the building," says SFC. Jamie Bender.

Sergeant Bender is the Non Commissioned Officer In Charge of the facility and says it was designed as a place members of the military and law enforcement officers can practice their skills.

Cameras allow others on the team to watch the training as it happens and those images are recorded so the officers can review their performance.

"By capturing all the angles they can see themselves from a different angle they've never seen before," says Sgt. Bender.

In addition to a variety of sounds and smells, the layout of the building can be transformed to mimic real life scenarios officers may encounter.

" We have apartment buildings, hotel motel rooms, convenience stores and class rooms."

He says the Army National Guard paid great attention to detail when creating this training facility.

"Right down to the furniture every thing is as real as we can possibly make it... it's pretty unique, their might be other facilities throughout the state but technology wise this is very advanced not too many buildings in the country like this, there's probably a handful of them."

Sgt. Bender says the building also has a video based system for trainees to practice how they would react in situations they might encounter everyday.

Sergeant bender says these exercises can help them maintain "Grace Under Pressure" when lives are on the line.
When every second counts - they'll be ready to make the best decision possible.