Breaking down that Jack Ryan SDCC virtual reality field training course

Suiting up with gear and driving to the training course

Once it was your turn to complete field training, there was still about 15minutes of prep time before starting the course. Amazon Prime Video provided lockers to store personal belongings, and then in groups of 8-10 people, you were brought into a gear tent. Sitting on a row of military cots, you and your group first watched a call to action video from the CIA, explaining why the success of your mission was critical and putting you into the action just like Jack Ryan.

After the video, a team of staff members helped each participant get suited up for the adventure. The first step was putting on a standard vest-style harness, but because this stunt course lives in a world of virtual reality, there were several pieces of VR gear that needed to be worn as well: gloves and shoe-covers with sensors, and a tech backpack that went over your harness.

When you were checked to have your harness, hand/foot sensors, and tech backpack with the attached VR headset, you were ready to begin your field training mission! Of course, this started with an action movie-esque profile picture in the gear tent and then came the command to run.

Outside of the tent, you were made to jump in a golf cart driven by a field training staff member. You drove to the opposite end of the field training course and when you arrived at the stairs leading to the helicopter, another field training agent – in character – yelled for you to jump off and start your mission!

It wasn’t until you made it to the helicopter that the VR component began: