Guns, tanks, submarines, Apache helicopters and night-vision goggles aren’t your standard NIU equipment.

But just outside Chick Evans Field House on Thursday, the U.S. Army presented those items in a large simulation display that allowed students to be a part of the Army for a day.

Sgt. 1st Class Jocelyn L. Roy, who heads the Army Adventure program that travels all around the United States, said the program is beneficial because of the hands-on experience and discovery of new things people might not be aware of.

“We are here today to enhance public awareness of the U.S. Army,” Roy said. “We have many stations inside that give anyone the opportunity to try certain weapons they never thought they could operate, let alone use.”

Stations included the MIA2-Abrams, a submarine that offers the naval experience without the water, and an M-16 simulator that gave visitors a chance to shoot an M-16 at a computerized target and view their accuracy.

Students also could attempt to lead a simulated Apache flight or fire at other airborne targets. The stations included realistic night-vision goggles and a Global Positionary Satellite that can pinpoint a specific location anywhere in the U.S.

Roy pointed out a video station that gave an in-depth look at armor worn by U.S. soldiers, as well as videos about every aspect of the U.S. Army.

Sgt. Steven Maki, with NIU’s U.S. Army Recruiting program, said the exhibition was arranged to attract new soldiers.

“One of our goals is to spark an interest in students that either were leaning towards joining or for those that might have had no interest at all,” Maki said. “We try to show students and inform students about many things that they probably never knew about the Army.”

The Army Adventure program is highly regarded in the U.S., and scheduling was required far in advance.

“We had a surprisingly great turnout,” Maki said. “Around early afternoon, we had more people than we had stations to offer.”

Freshman accounting major Isaac Wilson said the simulations were an opportunity most people don’t receive.

“Being here was a pretty good experience,” Wilson said. “It was the first time I got to see many things, including the Apache flight. If I wasn’t signed up for the Army now, I would have signed up after today.”