War is hell . . . and a company in San Diego helps soldiers prepare for what they'll see in battle by creating realistic combat simulations.

--They're called Strategic Operations . . . or STOPS . . . and their clients include the military, law enforcement, and even CNN, who sends news correspondents there before they get dispatched to cover war zones.

--The company creates, quote, "Hyper-realistic training environments" . . . which basically means that they create a combat zone on a big movie set.

--And they even hire AMPUTEES . . . to play wounded soldiers.  The actors are made up with fake blood and gore to make it look like they've just lost a limb on the battlefield, and soldiers have to respond to their injury and help treat them.

--The idea is that soldiers . . . and reporters . . . will be prepared to see shocking injuries, and less likely to panic.

(CNN)