Wargaming is a crucial process used in the Military Appreciation Process (MAP) across all levels (individual, staff and joint) to test and improve tactical and strategic courses of action against simulated enemy and threat scenarios. But it also an important activity in it's own right outside of the MAP. It can be used more broadly to test hypotheses in day-to-day decision making, and as a PME tool to develop, refine and hone tactical acumen. Wargaming helps to generate a ‘second order thinking’ mindset that is crucial in military roles.
In recognition of the importance of wargaming, The Cove has curated the following wargaming resources to assist you in deepening your understanding and enable you to conduct wargaming activities effectively.
Videos
- This video provides a demonstration of how a Wargame should be conducted.
- The Army Learning Production Centre (ALPC) has also produced this video on Course of Action Analysis.
- HQ FORCOMD Wargaming Conference 2017 Opening Address by MAJGEN Mick Krause
- HQ FORCOMD Wargaming Conference 2017 ‘Johnny, Timmy and Spike’ video by LTCOL Nick Bosio
- For those interested in wargaming as a hobby with professional development outputs, here is a video presentation on The ADF Wargaming Association.
Articles
These articles further the conversation on professional gaming, both now and in the future:
- Playing Board Games for PME? Using Diplomacy to Discuss Communication, Strategy, Values and Ethics by John Dansie.
- Introduction to Wargaming by Andrew Somerville.
- Reinvigorating Wargaming – Time to Establish ‘Fight Club’ by David Hill.
- Smart Soldier: Wargaming in Army by Stephen Ellis.
- Is Wargaming a Useful Tool to Train Officers by Ray Janowicz.
- A Quick Introduction to… Kriegsspiel by Vicky Osborn.
- The Failure of ‘Course of Action’ Analysis in Joint Warfighting by Dougal Robertson.
- Thespian Officers, Narratives and Planning by James Davis.
- Experimenting with COTS Wargame as a PME Tool by The Cove.
- Using a COTS PC Game to Run a CPX by Ed Farren.
- Putting the Human Adversary into Professional Military Education by Mark Mankowski.
- Using Artificial Intelligence by Marc Zanier.
- Gaming the Future with #NextWar: Kaliningrad Fires by Vicky Osborn.
Resources
- To commence your very own wargaming club, review DG TRADOC’s Professional Gaming List 2022 - this resource gives you a multitude of gaming options that will improve your strategic thinking and skill in wargaming, including links to free versions of some games so you can get started immediately.
- For how to use wargaming as a PME tool read Wargaming PME Session: Setting up and Tips by The Cove.
Why not contribute to the discussion and write your own wargaming article? You make a submission to The Cove via this link.
Great article on a subject and skill set that must become a core value of the Army, like shooting and combatives. Wargaming is not just a great PME Tool, it is also a fundamentally great planning tool and method for experimenting with ideas of change like modernisation. This is what we do professionally in the ADFs Joint Experimentation Directorate (JED). Army has also had a long tradition of working with DST through the old HEADLINE experiments and currently FLWs ORA-A Team conducts regular war games to understand and develop Army capability. At JED we have just concluded the Joint Experimentation and Wargaming Course, and the ORA-A team has been conducting activities with the USMC Warfighting Lab. We are more than happy for organisations and individuals to reach out to us for advice at anytime for any purpose.
Kind Regards,
Chris Goldston
JED Design Team Lead
Over the past two years Wargaming has undergone a slow resurgence within Army. Readers that want to learn more about serious wargaming for PME should go to the Army's Wargame Repository (the Army Wargaming Intranet Site) at http://drnet/Army/LSC/Pages/Army-Wargaming.aspx. This site now contains a substantial amount of support materials. Units seeking further information, support or assistance with intergrating Army Wargaming into either formal or informal PME may contact MAJ Andrew Somerville, SO2 Wargaming and Simulation at Headquarters Land Simulation and Wargaming (A subunit of the Battle Lab). Or contact your local Battle Simulation Site staff.
MAJ Andrew Somerville