Conflict Kinetics (CK)

The push for innovation is constant in the world of military training. However, not all technological advances lead to a better, more effective force. Traditional simulators and training systems, while useful, have often missed the mark when it comes to measuring and enhancing the human element at the heart of performance. Legacy training platforms typically evaluate the outcome of an action without considering the factors that led to that result: perception, decision-making, movement, emotional stability, and stress management. Scenarios include elevated‑contact and anti‑drone lanes to rehearse counter‑UAS shots and deconfliction at ‘plus‑life’ speeds.

Conflict Kinetics (CK), a company that specializes in high-fidelity training solutions, is changing that narrative. Through its innovative Gunfighter Gym™ (GfG™), CK has built a system that not only assesses the physical act of firing a weapon but also evaluates the mental and emotional processes that contribute to successful combat performance. GfG addresses the human performance gap in defense training and bridges the divide between technical proficiency and cognitive dominance. It does so by combining neuroscience, professional sports performance models, and AI-driven data analytics to build warfighters who think, decide, and act faster and smarter under stress.

GfG goes beyond conventional training tools, capturing ~70+ data features per shot (and growing with new wearables/IoT and AI processes) and measuring cognitive coherence, motion stability, emotional modulation, and adaptability under stress. This new approach is built on the premise that real-world performance hinges not only on hitting targets but also on how the brain and body work together under pressure.

Training That Thinks in Human Terms

CK was created to close the training–combat gap. Its programs recognize that hitting a target is only part of the equation; the real challenge lies in how the human brain reacts under duress. Traditional training focuses on repetition. CK focuses on cognition—training the mind to anticipate, adapt, and dominate.

The difference lies in philosophy. Most conventional systems remain siloed and heavily tech-centric, treating humans as accessories to machines. CK’s approach is the opposite: it begins with the individual. The company integrates the man–machine interface, uniting human behavior, the operational environment, and the organizational context in which warfighters must perform. Every sensor, algorithm, and simulation is designed to serve a single purpose: to enhance the human element that technology alone can never replace. We fuse inside‑out weapon telemetry, outside‑in environmental/positional sensing, and biocentric signals (e.g., heart rate/HRV, skin conductance, respiration, ocular responses) to resolve cognitive, motor, and stress effects in real time.
Where traditional training ends at the body, CK ventures into the mind. Most programs neglect how warfighters think and feel under fire. The company trains across five domains—cognitive and motion coherence, emotional control, memory integration, and adaptability under stress—because peak performance requires harmony among all of them. A soldier who can move fast but cannot think clearly under pressure is not combat-ready. CK ensures both converge.

What truly distinguishes CK is its grounding in neuroscience and psychology. Military training has long lagged behind professional sports and human performance research in leveraging psychology to improve outcomes. CK bridges that divide by fusing clinical, forensic, and operational psychology with artificial intelligence. The result is a model that enhances physical execution while also strengthening decision-making under pressure, training the neural pathways that govern real-time judgment and composure in combat.

Equally important, CK’s approach is rooted in integration, not replacement. Modernization in defense too often relies on discarding legacy systems for new technology, creating friction and waste. CK instead works within existing infrastructures, augmenting traditional programs with data-driven human performance tools. The result is faster implementation, lower cost, and higher impact. By aligning with what already works and enhancing it through analytics and neuroscience, CK builds bridges rather than silos.

At its core, this represents a quiet but powerful rebuke of an outdated procurement mindset that values cost efficiency above combat effectiveness. “Lowest price, technically acceptable” has become a mantra in defense acquisition. CK challenges that by reframing readiness as a human optimization problem, not a hardware problem.

As a result, GfG builds decision-making ability through a blend of cognitive conditioning and stress exposure, replicating the unpredictability of actual combat conditions rather than the artificial comfort of the range.

As Dan Shultz, COO of Conflict Kinetics, explains, “Legacy simulators judge accuracy; we develop lethality.”

A Human-Centric Approach

The success of the GfG lies in its ability to capture the full spectrum of human performance. The SCEAD™ framework is the cornerstone of this system, designed to measure the physiological and psychological responses of the user in real time. SCEAD™ (Stimulate–Collect–Exploit–Analyze–Display) with nodal projection, AI coaching, and true ballistics.

ONBOARD‑T™ — the “mind‑body‑weapon” umbrella that operationalizes ocular/neuro/biomechanics within SCEAD™.

TRAC‑FIRE™ — timing/latency mastery from stimulus to impact; keeps motor execution coherent under rising stress.

CORTEX‑SHOT™ — resilience and decision quality under fire; maintaining cognitive dominance while executing.

1. Stimulate: The system begins by introducing a variety of stimuli, from simple visual cues to complex scenarios involving multiple targets, varying lighting conditions, and environmental stressors. The stimuli are designed to mirror the chaotic, unpredictable nature of real-world combat.

2. Collect: As the shooter responds to the stimuli, the system collects a wealth of data, including weapon telemetry (e.g., muzzle alignment, recoil patterns), biometric readings (e.g., heart rate, skin conductance, respiration rate), and environmental factors (e.g., lighting, terrain). These data points are captured and synchronized in real time, creating a comprehensive profile of the shooter’s performance.

3. Exploit: With AI-driven analytics, the system processes the collected data to identify patterns and uncover areas for improvement. The AI trainer provides personalized feedback based on the shooter’s performance, recommending targeted drills and adjustments to improve cognitive coherence, motion stability, and emotional regulation.

4. Analyze: After each training session, the system analyzes the collected data to generate insights into the shooter’s performance. The analysis helps track progress over time, pinpointing strengths and weaknesses in cognitive processing, decision-making, and physical execution. This data can be used to adjust training programs, ensuring continuous improvement.

5. Next 18–24 months: expand AI across clinical, forensic, and operational psychology; add higher‑fidelity inside‑out/outside‑in/biocentric sensors; and integrate mission‑rehearsal geospatial imagery—while keeping SCEAD™ at the core. This immediate feedback allows instructors to tailor future training sessions to address specific areas for improvement.

This closed-loop system allows trainees to gain a deep understanding of their performance while also receiving immediate corrective feedback to improve decision-making, shooting accuracy, and emotional stability.

Success with U.S. and Allied Forces

The GfG has already shown measurable results in a variety of military environments. Through its Training-as-a-Service (TaaS) model, CK has provided point-of-need training for units that need to stay in top form without waiting for the next range day.

One of the most notable deployments of the GfG has been with the U.S. Marine Corps. In a rigorous field test conducted by the Marine Corps’ Marine Corps Operational Test & Evaluation Activity (MCOTEA), Marines trained using the GfG system were found to be 116 percent more lethal than the next most effective group. The training also resulted in a significant reduction in task completion time: while other groups took over three minutes to complete specific tasks, the Marines trained with CK completed the same tasks in less than 35 seconds. (attributed to a MCOTEA-run test at Camp Lejeune).

The Marines’ performance in the test went beyond raw speed, demonstrating precision under stress and cognitive coherence. According to Shultz, “When our Marines were first to find and finish a target, they weren’t just reacting faster; they were thinking faster and with greater clarity under stress. That’s the kind of cognitive dominance we’re building.”

The data collected from this trial underscored the importance of addressing the full spectrum of human performance. Marines were trained to think clearly, adapt rapidly, and perform under high-stress conditions. These results reflect the effectiveness of the GfG in creating a more capable and prepared force.

Expanding the Future of Military Readiness

CK is not resting on its laurels. The company’s roadmap for the next 18 to 24 months includes significant advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR). By integrating these technologies, CK aims to provide even more immersive and realistic training scenarios that better simulate the challenges of modern warfare.

The addition of AI will allow the system to adapt even more quickly to the trainee’s needs, offering more nuanced feedback and more dynamic training environments. Shultz explains, “The human system—the neurological and neuromuscular pathways—doesn’t change. But the technology around it does. We are continuously refining our system to leverage the best available technology while focusing on improving the core capabilities of the human being.”

One key area of focus will be expanding the system’s ability to collect and analyze data from a wider range of biometric sensors. This will enable more precise tracking of how stress and fatigue affect a soldier’s performance. Additionally, Conflict Kinetics is working on incorporating more sophisticated counter-unmanned aerial systems (UAS) capabilities into its system, ensuring that the training platform stays aligned with the evolving nature of modern combat.

Building Cognitive Dominance

The ultimate goal of Conflict Kinetics’ GfG is not just to create soldiers who can hit a target but to develop individuals who can maintain cognitive dominance in the most extreme situations. This involves training soldiers to perform at their peak under stress, think clearly in the chaos of battle, and control their emotional responses to the ever-changing environment around them.

“We don’t just train our soldiers to hit targets. We train them to dominate under pressure. We train them to think, adapt, and act with clarity and precision, no matter what chaos is unfolding around them,” says Shultz.

As CK continues to refine its system and expand its capabilities, the future of military readiness will look very different. Soldiers will be evaluated not only on their ability to pull the trigger but also on their capacity to perform under extreme pressure, make quick decisions, and adapt rapidly to changing circumstances. As the system evolves, CK will play a vital role in shaping the future of military readiness by developing soldiers who think and act decisively under even the most chaotic conditions. The company isn’t just training soldiers to fire weapons; it’s training them to dominate the battlefield.