Mass Virtual Selected for Prestigious AAAA Materiel Readiness Award for Small Business Contribution

Orlando, FL – Nov. 18, 2025 — The Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA) has selected Mass Virtual as the recipient of the 2025 Materiel Readiness Award for a Contribution by a Small Business Organization, recognizing the company’s outstanding support of Army Aviation readiness through immersive training innovation.

The award honors small businesses that make significant contributions to the logistic support and materiel readiness of Army Aviation. Mass Virtual earned this distinction for its development and deployment of the Virtual Aerial Systems Training (VAST) platform in support of the 204th Military Intelligence Battalion (Aerial Reconnaissance) — the Army’s only jet Aircrew Training Program (ATP).

VAST delivered more than 6,250 hours of instruction and enabled the battalion to sustain an operational tempo of 450 flight hours per month across its Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft. The immersive, scenario-based training system has become an institutional requirement for non-rated crewmember deployment preparation and Day Zero pilot training, providing training even before mission-ready aircraft are delivered to the Army.

“We are deeply honored to be recognized by the AAAA for our work advancing Army aviation materiel readiness,” said John Brooks, CEO of Mass Virtual. “This achievement reflects the collaboration and trust we’ve built with our Army partners, whose insight and feedback continue to shape the training solutions that strengthen readiness and mission success across Army aviation.”

By shifting critical instruction into an extended reality (XR) environment, the VAST platform has increased aircraft availability, reduced maintenance burden, and accelerated qualification timelines — all while strengthening safety and proficiency across Army jet ISR operations.

“Mass Virtual’s collaboration with the 204th MI Battalion has set the standard for how industry can support Army modernization,” said Angel R. Acevedo, Project Support Manager (PSM), within Project Director, Sensor-Aerial Intelligence (PD SAI). “The VAST platform not only enhances readiness today, but also builds a foundation for the Army’s future ISR training enterprise.”

As the Army transitions to the jet-powered High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES), VAST continues to serve as a model for scalable, immersive training that supports modernization goals and multi-domain readiness.

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