Editing America's Army (section)

== Government applications ==
According to game historian Carrie McLeroy, ''America's Army'' has "grown in ways its originators couldn't have imagined".<ref name="McLeroyHistory" /> Dozens of government training and simulation applications using ''America's Army'' platform have been developed to train and educate U.S. Army soldiers.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Jean, Grace|date=February 2006|title=Game Branches Out Into Real Combat Training|url=http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/archive/2006/February/Pages/games_brance3042.aspx|url-status=dead|journal=National Defense Magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081001005713/http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/archive/2006/February/Pages/games_brance3042.aspx|archive-date=1 October 2008|access-date=2008-10-28}}</ref>

In 2005, ''America's Army'' developers partnered with the Software Engineering Directorate and the Army's Aviation and Missile Research Development Engineering Center in Huntsville, Alabama, to manage the commercial game development process and use the ''America's Army'' platform to create government training and simulations. "''America's Army'' has pushed to reuse the same elements for many purposes", said Colonel Wardynski, the originator of the game. "We can build one soldier avatar and use it again and again. When we build something in ''America's Army'', the U.S. government owns it completely ... and [it] can, therefore, be used for any application or use of the game. So costs keep going down." After ''America's Army'' went live, requests started coming in to use the game for purposes other than recruiting, such as training.<ref>{{cite web |author=Testa, Bridget Mintz |publisher=Defense Systems |date=2008-05-26 |title='America's Army' provides an enterprise platform for Army training |url=http://defensesystems.com/articles/2008/05/much-more-than-a-game.aspx |access-date=2008-10-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226230809/http://defensesystems.com/articles/2008/05/much-more-than-a-game.aspx |archive-date=2008-12-26 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The partnership with SED, an Army software life cycle management center, allowed the development team to re-purpose the commercial software to meet the needs of soldiers preparing for deployment. SED engineers developed customized applications used by many different Army and government organizations, including the JFK Special Forces School and the Army's Chemical School. They are used to provide training in the use of rare equipment such as PackBot robots, CROWS, and Nuclear Biological Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicles.{{Citation needed|date=June 2009}}

=== Virtual Army Experience ===
The Virtual Army Experience (VAE) was a mobile U.S. Army simulator that launched in February 2007. The VAE, enclosed in a {{cvt|19,500|sqft|m2|adj=on}} inflatable dome, was displayed at public events across the U.S., such as NASCAR races and air shows, and allowed participants to virtually experience aspects of soldiering. The core of VAE was the America's Army game reworked to provide a variety of scenarios. The VAE could be deployed in a single full-scale rendition or split into two smaller versions enabling it to appear at separate events. During its lifetime, the VAE hosted over 130,000 participants at more than 100 events.<ref>{{cite magazine |author =Voight, Joan |date=2007-11-26 |title=Army Recruiters On a New Mission |magazine=AdWeek |url=http://www.adweek.com/aw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003676881 |access-date=2008-10-28 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081210092617/http://www.adweek.com/aw/esearch/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003676881| archive-date= 10 December 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>

=== Army Experience Center ===
From August 29, 2008, to July 31, 2010, the U.S. Army operated the Army Experience Center, a facility where visitors could virtually experience many aspects of Army life. Located inside the Franklin Mills Mall in Philadelphia, the {{convert|14500|sqft|m2|adj=on}} facility featured a number of interactive simulations and online learning programs to inform visitors about Army careers, training, and educational opportunities.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=U.S. Army News |date=2008-09-02 |author =McLeroy, Carrie |title=Army Experience Center opens in Philadelphia |url=https://www.army.mil/article/12072/army-experience-center-opens-in-philadelphia/ |access-date=2008-10-28 | archive-url= http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20090811120507/http%3A//www%2Earmy%2Emil/%2Dnews/2008/09/02/12072%2Darmy%2Dexperience%2Dcenter%2Dopens%2Din%2Dphiladelphia/| archive-date= August 11, 2009| url-status= live}}</ref>

Pete Geren, Secretary of the Army, said, "Potential recruits are afforded a unique opportunity through the Army Experience Center to learn what it means to be the best-led, best-trained and best-equipped Army in the world by allowing them to virtually experience multiple aspects of the Army."<ref>{{cite web |publisher=MarketWatch.com |title=U.S. Army Opens 'Army Experience Center' in Philadelphia: High-Tech Facility Allows Visitors to Experience Many Aspects of Army |date=2008-08-29 |url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/us-army-opens-army-experience/story.aspx?guid=%7B8650D27D-4056-4C42-961F-BB180FB2E1A0%7D&dist=hppr |access-date=2008-10-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090126070104/http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/us-army-opens-army-experience/story.aspx?guid=%7B8650D27D-4056-4C42-961F-BB180FB2E1A0%7D&dist=hppr |archive-date=2009-01-26 |url-status=live }}</ref> The head of Army Recruiting Command, Major General Thomas Bostick, called the AEC "a learning laboratory"—but not just for those who are thinking of joining. "It's incumbent upon the American public to know about their Army", Bostick said.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=USA Today |author=Matheson, Kathy |date=2008-08-30 |title=Army Experience Center offers simulations at mall |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2008-08-30-army-experience-center_N.htm?csp=34 |access-date=2008-10-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220131612/http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2008-08-30-army-experience-center_N.htm?csp=34 |archive-date=2009-02-20 |url-status=live }}</ref> In July 2010, the Army closed the center at the end of its two-year pilot program.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/army-experience-center-test-program-ends-july-31-96048299.html |title=Army Experience Center Test Program Ends July 31 - PHILADELPHIA, June 10 /PRNewswire/ |publisher=Prnewswire.com |access-date=2014-07-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112234036/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/army-experience-center-test-program-ends-july-31-96048299.html |archive-date=2014-01-12 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Technology Education Program ===
Launched in 2007, the Technology Education Program provided real-world applications of classroom learning that augmented the curriculum in academic areas including math, physical science, physics, chemistry, technology, computer science, art, animation, graphic design, social studies, anatomy, physiology, and psychology. Army experts and soldiers worked with students to teach them about robotics, optics, missiles, video games, and intellectual, emotional and physical development.<ref name=Lamp2008>{{cite web|publisher=Fort Leavenworth Lamp Online |date=2008-09-25 |title='America's Army' finds place in classroom |url=http://www.ftleavenworthlamp.com/articles/2008/09/25/dod_news/dod6.txt |access-date=2008-10-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112191623/http://www.ftleavenworthlamp.com/articles/2008/09/25/dod_news/dod6.txt |archive-date=January 12, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |publisher=Business First |date=2008-09-22 |title=Do your homework! Wait, no, let me |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2008/09/22/tidbits1.html?b=1222056000%5E1703169&brthrs=1 |access-date=2008-10-28 |first=Doug |last=Buchanan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227121244/http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2008/09/22/tidbits1.html?b=1222056000%5E1703169&brthrs=1 |archive-date=2008-12-27 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In April 2008, Discovery Education featured ''America's Army'' in a live webinar in which over 1000 students and educators participated with game developers and software engineers.