The future of XR training and simulation appears to be some variant of the "metaverse". One thing most vendors and technologist agree on is that this "metaverse" will be powered by 5G and XG wireless technologies allowing ubiquitous connectivity while balancing massive amounts of sensors and smart devices and objects. That said few people have ever actually used an XR device connect to a private 5G network in an arrangement similar to what the future "metaverse" will rely on as its critical backbone.  General Dynamics IT and its 5G and Edge coaltion partners launched a Private 5G lab in January 2022. Nearly two years into the experiment we share lessons learned about the reality of using, deploying, integrating and connecting VR, AR, MR, volumetric video displays, holographic teleconfrencing devices and XR devices over a private 5G network.