CHI Systems, under contract to the U. S. Army Research Institute, is developing an immersive training system, called Virtual Environment Cultural Training for Operational Readiness (VECTOR), which applies highly experiential, scenario-based virtual environments to training in cultural familiarization. This paper describes the cultural-training application, the architectural design, and the associated implementation of the immersive environments and intelligent agent technology. This training system employs 1) a virtual environment/3D game engine, 2) cognitive and emotion modeling, and 3) intelligent tutoring/instructor agents. The virtual environment allows a trainee to explore the manner in which synthetic actors, or non-player characters (NPCs), respond to the actions of a trainee-led security force. An important determinant of the success of the training system is the representation of significant aspects of NPCs' cultural background and affective processes. One of the innovative features of the virtual environment is the use of executable cognitive models and emotion models, which play significant roles in the overall reactions and behaviors of NPCs toward the trainee. In addition to influencing the behavior of the active NPCs, the emotion models constrain interactions with NPCs encountered later in a scenario. In this way, the training system provides a means of modeling the overall cumulative emotional state of the simulated population and their impact on the simulated situation. The initial implementation of the virtual environment, focused on Iraqi Kurdish culture, is discussed.