Graphic training aids (GTAs) are publications that assist during the conduct of training and the process of learning. Current Training Aids come in different forms, including

model A model is an informative representation of an object, person or system. The term originally denoted the plans of a building in late 16th-century English, and derived via French and Italian ultimately from Latin ''modulus'', a measure. Models c ...

s, displays,

slide Slide or Slides may refer to: Places * Slide, California, former name of Fortuna, California Arts, entertainment, and media Music Albums * ''Slide'' (Lisa Germano album), 1998 * ''Slide'' (George Clanton album), 2018 *''Slide'', by Patrick Glees ...

book A book is a medium for recording information in the form of writing or images, typically composed of many pages (made of papyrus, parchment, vellum, or paper) bound together and protected by a cover. The technical term for this physic ...

picture An image is a visual representation of something. It can be two-dimensional, three-dimensional, or somehow otherwise feed into the visual system to convey information. An image can be an artifact, such as a photograph or other two-dimensiona ...

s and media presentations. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, Graphic Training Aids were in high demand. Large quantities of young men were recruited which demanded a higher rate of training. A large replica of an

M1 Garand The M1 Garand or M1 rifleOfficially designated as U.S. rifle, caliber .30, M1, later simply called Rifle, Caliber .30, M1, also called US Rifle, Cal. .30, M1 is a semi-automatic rifle that was the service rifle of the U.S Army during World War ...

rifle would be presented in front of a class. During his presentation, the trainer would use it as a reference. Printed media was also used in the form of exploded view drawings, which depicted various parts of rifles. A curious form of a Graphic Training Aid was used during the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vietna ...

, in the form of a

comic book A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are oft ...

. The Graphic Training Aid, called M16A1 Operation and Preventive Maintenance, explained the proper maintenance of an

M16 rifle The M16 rifle (officially designated Rifle, Caliber 5.56 mm, M16) is a family of military rifles adapted from the ArmaLite AR-15 rifle for the United States military. The original M16 rifle was a 5.56×45mm automatic rifle with a 20-rou ...

and was highly effective since it was targeted at the young

infantry Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and mari ...

men and illustrated by the popular comic book artist,

Will Eisner William Erwin Eisner (March 6, 1917 – January 3, 2005) was an American cartoonist, writer, and entrepreneur. He was one of the earliest cartoonists to work in the American comic book industry, and his series ''The Spirit'' (1940–1952) was not ...

. United States Army Graphic Training Aids, Field Manuals and other training media are produced by organizations such as the

United States Army Training and Doctrine Command The United States Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) is a major command of the United States Army headquartered at Fort Eustis, Virginia. It is charged with overseeing training of Army forces and the development of operational doctrine. ...

(TRADOC), the Army Training Support Center (ATSC), G3 and the Training Aids Service Center (TASC). Other forms of Graphic Training Aids exist as well. The vast majority of Training Aids exist for non-military training such as safety training and work training. Such guides are produced by the

U.S. Department of Labor The United States Department of Labor (DOL) is one of the executive departments of the U.S. federal government. It is responsible for the administration of federal laws governing occupational safety and health, wage and hour standards, unemploy ...

Occupational Safety and Health Administration The Occupational Safety and Health Administration'' (OSHA ) is a large regulatory agency of the United States Department of Labor that originally had federal visitorial powers to inspect and examine workplaces. Congress established the agenc ...

. Image:M2CarbineGTAPage3.jpg, Exploded view drawing of an

M2 Carbine The M1 carbine (formally the United States Carbine, Caliber .30, M1) is a lightweight semi-automatic carbine that was a standard firearm for the U.S. military during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The M1 carbine was produce ...

Image:Front_cover_-_the_M16A1_Rifle_-_Operation_and_Preventive_Maintenance_(art_by_Will_Eisner).jpg, Comic book manual M16A1 Operation and Preventive Maintenance

External links

FM 25-101 Appendix E: Training Aids, Devices, Simulators, and Simulations

Defense Data International

U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) website

U.S Army Training Support Center (ATSC) website

* Dostál, J
Education technology and senses in learning (Učební pomůcky a zásada názornosti).
Olomouc, EU: Votobia, 2008. 40 s. .
U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration website
Handbooks and manuals {{military-stub

See also

External links