Friends and shareholders:
Attached please find this morning's press release announcing the company's first IVR HD 300™ training simulator installation for the United States Army.
We are proud to have our first IVR™ series training simulator now available to train Army personnel. Fort Hood is the largest active-duty armored post in the United States Armed Services, and has trained more than its share of soldiers. Currently, many soldiers, some you may even know, train and deploy to war zones from Fort Hood, which continues to be a major hub of activity supporting the Global War on Terror.
Although we announced this sale last year, the Army held off installation while appropriate training quarters were built and prepared. I trust that will give you some idea of the length of the sales and delivery times for these system.
The IVR HD-300 will serve multiple training roles at the base. The simulator will train Army military police and K-9 units, serving both domestically and in Iraq, and officers from the Fort Hood Police Department responsible for base security. This installation is of particular importance, as Fort Hood is a large, high-profile military base training a large number of personnel. This is exactly the type of highly visible location that we have been seeking for our new simulators. We naturally expect word-of-mouth advertising to be extensive as a result.
I thought you might like to see two excerpts from our training director, Jerry Long's written report, following the second day of installation:
"While we waited for the FedEx we talked about and demonstrated how the “Threat-fire Belt” could best be deployed in their training program. The Chief and the Captain along with Lt May and Sgt West were extremely excited about this feature on the system. Lt May (about 6’5” and 280 lbs +) wanted to take the first hit. He agreed to take a 1 sec charge and boy, was he impressed. I should also point out that Lt May is the chief promoter in pushing the dept. to purchase a firearms simulator. After the LT had a hit I had the other officers take a position as if they where covering a suspect and asked each to concentrate on their sight picture just to demonstrate what would happen if they were ever shot. None could maintain a line of sight from muzzle to target even on low settings.
"We were running out of time but were able to conduct a few demonstrations of the system’s scenarios following the Threat-Fire-Belt. To say that they were impressed with the quality of the system would be an understatement. All the words that we use in the marketing of our systems scenarios were being tossed about by the officers; tunnel vision, tracking, scanning, cover your 6, contact and cover officer tactics, speed and accuracy, etc etc. They openly admitted that this certainly will provide a better training dimension than just going to the range. The chief jokingly commented that it was good enough that he could cut his ammo purchases and save a ton on money. "
I could now write again about our system's technological superiority, its revolutionary patent-pending design, or its ability to immerse trainees in realistic environments unlike any system before it. However, I instead would like to share with you an unsolicited, obviously uncompensated, "off-the-cuff" remark made by our guide on base, Lieutenant Kevin May, after trying the IVR simulator:
"If this system cost $100,000 more, it would be well worth the price! This is absolutely the best system I have ever seen!"
What can I possibly add?
If my comments in this correspondence seem a bit abbreviated, please let me take this occasion to remind you that we are currently "in registration" with our SB-2 filings, which will register the shares which may be issued under our recent convertible debenture to Dutchess Private Equity Fund. Until the registration statement becomes "effective," other than public announcements in the ordinary course of business, we are precluded by federal securities law from any promotion of, or comment about, our company, other than as discussed in the SEC-filed registration statement. Once the registration is effective, I look forward to a shareholder conference call to further address our company, its progress, and our expectations for the future.
These are simply my personal comments, and should not be relied upon in your investment decisions. I strongly urge you to conduct your own due diligence with regard to any investment in VirTra Systems. I respectfully refer you to VirTra Systems' filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
--L. Kelly Jones, VirTra Systems CEO
Media Relations:
VirTra Systems, Inc.
Steve Haag, vice-president
of investor relations
Arlington, Texas
(817) 261-4269
shaag@virtra.com
VirTra Systems Installs First U.S. Army Simulator
ARLINGTON, TX – June 14, 2005 – VirTra Systems, Inc. (OTCBB: VTSI) today announced successful installation of an IVR HD-300™ training system for the United States Army.
The training simulator was installed last week at Fort Hood, in Texas. Fort Hood is the largest active duty armored post in the United States. The Provost Marshal’s Office will utilize the system for situational awareness, use-of-force, and marksmanship training for both military police and civilian law enforcement personnel assigned to the post.
The specialized IVR HD-300 includes a large complement of recoil training weapon conversion kits, non-lethal accessories, and six patent-pending Threat-Fire™ belts.
“Realistic training is essential for the success and survivability of our law enforcement officers,” commented Sergeant Doug West, a firearms instructor and range officer. “VirTra Systems’ technology allows us to present real-world situations in a controlled-environment, and allows the trainee to utilize all levels of approved force-options. The instructor has the opportunity to professionally evaluate the officer's strengths and weaknesses.”
Lieutenant Kevin May, a kennel master with the K-9 unit, commented, “The IVR HD takes training to the next level. This simulator delivers the most realistic training environment we have ever seen. Combined with the Threat-Fire belt’s ability to simulate stress during a shooting, this 300-degree simulator will better prepare our law enforcement officers to deal with situations they face on post as well as in theater.”
“Fort Hood’s installation marks our largest IVR installation, as well as our largest Threat-Fire deployment, to-date,” commented Michael Kitchen, VirTra Systems’ executive vice-president of training and simulation. “Requests for product information and pricing continue to increase as the advanced technology within our IVR simulators is utilized in the field and observed in operation.”
About VirTra Systems
Utilizing patented technology, VirTra Systems sells situational awareness firearms training systems to military agencies such as the U.S. Air Force, Army, and Department of Defense, and to national and international law enforcement agencies. The company also produces multisensory promotional virtual reality systems and 3-D theaters for clients such as General Motors, Pennzoil, Red Baron™ Pizza, and the U.S. Army. For more information, visit the company's website at www.virtra.com.
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally preceded by the words such as “plans,” “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” or “intends.” Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. VirTra Systems urges investors to review in detail the risks and uncertainties contained within its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
