Wargaming Division Orientation

Maj John DeLateur, Operations Officer GS-13 Bill Simpson, Wargaming System Analyst

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This is a brief requested

by Joint Forces

Command for a group of

foreign liaison officers

interested in Wargaming.

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Agenda

• Introductions

• Wargaming Division Programs and Organization

• Wargaming Division Mission and Tasks

• Title 10 Wargaming

• Wargaming Defined

• Wargaming Design Overview

• Questions and Answers

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MCWL Divisions

CG MCWL

VCNR

Chief of Staff

Counter IED Wargaming CETO

USMC CIED WG

Future Threats & Opportunities

Experiment

Experimentation

JCDE Technology

Technology

MEF LNOs CIED LNOs

MTTs

Counter IED

OSTI

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USMC Wargaming Program

Service Level

• Examine issues and provide insights

• Generate and refine concepts and issues

• Test and refine plans, concepts, and new technologies

• Assess alternatives (policies, courses of action, etc.)

• Shape and focus service and joint experimentation

Participant Level

• Mission analysis

• Estimate of the situation

• Calculate risk

• Make decision

• React to consequences

• Human participation

• Communication mechanics

Mission: Plan and execute the Marine Corps’ Wargaming Program and

act as the Service’s cognizant entity for wargaming matters.

Wargaming

Program

Title 10 Strategic Wargames

Expeditionary

Warrior Joint Irregular

Warfare

U.S. Army

Unified Quest

U.S. Air Force

Futures

Unified Engagement

U.S. Navy

Global

Culebra Series

MC Marathon

MAGTF CBRN

Defense Wargame

Strategic

Communications

Wargame

Other

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Organization

All USMC WG Programs are identified in most recent draft MCWL X-file, Aug 2010 5

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WGD Mission & Tasks

Mission: Plan and execute the Marine Corps’ Wargaming Program and act as the Service’s cognizant entity for wargaming matters.

Task:

• Supports the experimentation process as well as other combat development processes which address future visions and capabilities in the context of core responsibilities of organizing, training, and equipping forces to execute Service statutory roles and functions.

• Assist the Marine Corps and other Services in generating, refining, and assessing concepts, plans, decision alternatives, issues and technologies.

• Assist the Marine Corps and other Services in identifying capabilities and deficiencies.

• Assist MCWL in creating conditions that allow risk-taking and reduce surprises which are difficult to reproduce in experimentation, exercises, or operations.

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WGD Tasks Continued

• Plan and execute the Marine Corps Title 10 Wargame (Expeditionary Warrior).

• Support and coordinate USMC participation in other service-sponsored Title 10 Wargames.

• Plan and execute wargames in support of Marine Corps equities as defined by responsible authorities.

• Design and execute Marine Corps participation in joint and combined wargames co-sponsored with or conducted by agencies external to the service.

• Conduct wargames to assist in the development of distinct force capabilities; including concept development, doctrine refinement, and the identification and refinement of critical capabilities.

• Provide wargaming advice, expertise, and support to a broad spectrum of Marine Corps and external organizations.

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Expeditionary Warrior (EW)

• USMC Title 10 Wargaming Program – Sponsor: CMC

– Established in 2003

– Designed to study enduring problems (with policy and strategy implications) of pressing concern with long-term ramifications

– Responsive to key issues of senior leadership concern, while imbedding broad Title 10 equities

– Joint, combined, international, interagency, NGO, and PVO approach

• EW Program History

– EW03 USMC-SOCOM

Relationship/ Interoperabilities

– EW04 USMC-SOCOM

Relationship/ Interoperabilities

– EW05 Distributed Operations in the GWOT

– EW06 COIN/IW

– EW07 Campaign Design and

Campaign Planning

– EW08 Joint Seabasing

– EW09 COIN/FID Operations from a sea base

– EW10 Operationalize the sea base

• EW11 Purpose: Examine employment of Marine forces within a Joint context when operating in an access challenged environment.

Themes: Joint Operational Access and Enhanced MAGTF Operations 8

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EW11 Pathway (12 Months)

EW11 Main Event 31 Jan-04 Feb

National Capital Region

2011

IPC 16 Sep

Scenario Dev Mtg 02 Sep

FPC & Scenario Reconciliation 02 Dec

2010

Objectives Approval Jul/Aug/Sep

Topic Dev Mtg 26 Mar

Planning Team Series

Confirmation Brief CG MCCDC/CG MCWL

Nov Update Brief CG MCCDC/CG MCWL

All pathway events will be held at

Quantico, with exception of Main Event

StaffEx/Rehearsal/ Facilitator Training 12 Jan

Sep Decision Brief CG MCCDC/CG MCWL

Executive Outbrief Invitations Staffed & Distributed

Sep Main Event Announcement Message

Topic Dev Routing Apr-Jun

May Objectives Message

USJFCOM J9 Brief (Suffolk)

Planning Team Mtg TBD Nov

Planning Team Mtg TBD Oct

Stakeholder Mtg TBD Sep Joint Planning

Work Group TBD OCT/NOV

Aug Update Brief CG MCWL

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Definition of Wargaming

• A Wargame is a model or simulation of war conducted without maneuvering actual forces and with a sequence of events that affects and is affected by -- decisions of the players...

• Peter Perla “Art of Wargaming”

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Wargaming is...

Interaction of Opposing Forces

No Forces or Equipment

Rules, Data, Procedures

Human Decision Making

• Artificial replication of a situation of competition or conflict • Involves no actual military forces • Human participation and decision-making • Interaction of two or more opposing forces • Objectives, rules, data, and procedures depicting an actual or assumed real world situation.

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Wargaming Is Not ...

Exercise

Modeling Simulation

Reproducible

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Generates and Refines Concepts and Issues

Tests & Refines Plans, Operational Concepts, and New Technologies

Assesses Alternatives (Policies, Courses of Actions, etc.)

Shapes and focuses Service & Joint Experimentation

Identifies Capabilities and Deficiencies

Permits Risk-Taking

Replicates Decision-Making Conditions

Helps Reduce Surprises

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What Does Wargaming Do?

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Wargame Design Overview

How we do it at Wargaming Division

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Definition of Wargaming

• A Wargame is a model or simulation of war conducted without maneuvering actual forces and with a sequence of events that affects and is affected by -- decisions of the players...

• Peter Perla “Art of Wargaming”

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Game Design is an Art

• The 1st part of wargame design determines the tasks and decisions needed to satisfy game objectives.

• The 2nd part of wargame design provides the essential information and context needed to perform the tasks and make the required decisions.

• The 3rd part of wargame design ensures the capture of the required information needed to satisfy the game objectives.

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Game Objectives First - Game Scenario Last

• The scenario sets the limits of the game.

Picking the scenario too soon may prevent

you from reaching the game objectives.

• One scenario alone maybe

inadequate.

• If the scenario is

mandated, it still may need

to be adjusted to be ready

for gaming.

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Wargame Design Cycle

1. Initial Action Phase 2. Initial Planning Conference 3. Game Development Phase 4. Main Planning Conference 5. Finalizing Game Design Phase 6. Final Planning Conference / Rehearsal 7. Game Preparation Phase 8. Game Execution 9. Post-game actions

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Initial Action Phase

1. Is a wargame the right tool? 2. Rough Estimate of Required Resources 3. Are the resources available?

A. Manpower (Gamers and Participants) B. Time (for design and execution) C. Facilities

4. Draft Game Objectives 5. Schedule Initial Planning Conference 6. Draft Game Design Outline

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Sample Game Objectives

1. To ID gaps and shortfalls in the Concept of Operations of the Mk 1 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC)

2. To determine possible enemy actions against the MK1 APC

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Initial Action Phase (Cont)

1. Is a wargame the right tool? 2. Rough Estimate of Required Resources 3. Are the resources available?

A. Manpower (Gamers and Participants) B. Time (for design and execution) C. Facilities

4. Draft Game Objectives 5. Schedule Initial Planning Conference 6. Draft Game Design Outline

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Game Design Outline

• Key Personnel Assignments

• Game Objectives

• Topics of Interest

• Game Assumptions

• Essential Scenario Details – Type(s) of Operation

– Timeframe and Duration

– Level of Play

– Size and Type of Forces required

– Geographic Requirements

– Environmental (weather and hydrographic) requirements

– Number of Sides

• Opposition Concept

• Role Playing

• Player Requirements

• Open, Closed, Hybrid game

• Time and Move Convention

• Adjudication

• Modeling and Simulation

• Game Report Requirements

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Initial Planning Conference

Agenda ID Key People & Command Relationships Approve Design Outline Set Development Milestones & Events Set Good Idea Cut-Off Date ID Info and Info Display Requirements ID Participating Commands Discuss: Admin, Security, VIP’s ID Requirements for Reports & Products Draft Game Announcement Message

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Game Development Phase

1. Release Game Announcement Message 2. Define: Game Schedule, Layout, Organization, &

Process 3. Complete: Game Design, Capture Assessment &

Production (CAP) Plan, Game Billet Structure 4. Conduct: Workshops and Planning meetings as

needed 5. Plan: Game Support, Admin, Security, VIPs,

Protocol, Public Affairs

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Data Capture

Mission Analysis

Develop COA’s

Red Team COA’s

2007 Excursion

Factors

CAP

Team

The issues raised and the factors considered during the game are just as important if not more

important as the players decisions.

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Capture Assessment Production (CAP) Plan

• Purpose of CAP Plan • Analysis of Objectives &

Thing being gamed – Questions and Issues ID’d – Scenario Elements and Game

Procedures required to address questions and issues ID’d

– Guidance to Note Takers

• Use & format of data • What kind of reports and to

whom? • Is there post-game analysis

or other use of the data that requires a specific format for collection?

• Methods of collection – Note Takers – Outbriefs – File Capture – Questionnaire – Interviews

• Game Critique • CAP Team organization and

placement • Report Formats & Deadlines

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Main Planning Conference

Where the Critical Game Decisions are Made Agenda

Review Progress Approve: Game Design, CAP Plan, Game Billet Structure ID Desired Participants Plan: Information Technology (IT), Game Support, Admin,

Security, VIPs, Protocol, Strategic Communication Approve: Game Report Chop-chain & Deadlines ID: Post Game Events No More Major Changes Should be Made After the MPC

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Finalizing Game Design Phase

1. Request Game Participants

2. Establish Player Registration

3. Finalize Scenario(s) & Vignettes

4. Finalize Player Information

5. Draft Game Book (Optional)

6. Draft Player & Move Taskers

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Final Planning Conference & Rehearsal

Agenda

Review Status of Preparations & Manning

Approve: Scenario(s), Taskers, Questionnaires, Player Info, etc.

Review Status of Game Support & Admin Prepreparations

Conduct Game Rehearsal

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Game Preparation Phase

1. Complete Production of Materials

2. Inventory and pre-stage all game materials by room or game space

3. ID & reserve transportation requirements

4. Train Gaming Staff

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Game Execution Phase

1. Arrival / Setup

2. Registration / Admin / Game Social

3. Player Training & Orientation

4. Inbriefs

5. Game Play

6. Executive Session / Outbriefs

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Post-game actions

1. Game Assessment

2. Game Reports: Drafting, Routing, Approval

3. Senior Leadership Engagement

4. Support to other events

5. Publicity

6. Archiving: Working, Historical

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The Secret of Game Success

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Q&A

Questions?

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Definitions

• Analysis: involves numerical or quantitative examination of the results.

• Assessment: involves qualitative examination.

• Adjudication: determines the outcome of interactions in a game

• CAP Plan: (Capture Assessment and Production) The process by which data is captured, assessed and turned into the desired end product of a game.

• CAP Team: Selected personnel who carry out the CAP Plan.