In 1995, Baudrillard wrote The Gulf War Did Not Take Place. Contrary to the book’s controversial title, he did not claim that no military action took place. Rather, what Baudrillard was merely suggesting was that what we perceive as the first Gulf War was a copy of a copy of a war, a simulacrum borne of military simulation exercises and media portrayals. [1] Since then, the blurring of war and wargames, whether, inter alia, in the case of drone warfare, first person shooter-games, cinematic predictions and recreations of battlefields, or variations of costumed play, has only become clearer. Wargames are the means by which the military envisions its actions; they are also how civilians play at soldiery. Board wargames are abstract reflections of a few of the physical dynamics of particular armed conflicts, and their devotees tend to be peaceable, intelligent and often rather apolitical individuals who read widely about all aspects of military affairs. There is no sense, as some have argued with violent video games, that playing the simulations fosters real-life aggression and desensitises users to the moral gravity of actual warfare and killing. Indeed, the experience of seeing how easily plans can go awry and severe losses can be sustained is far more sobering and salutary than the jingoistic feelings of invincibility fostered by Rambo-style movies and video games” Figure 6: A platoon commander learns a valuable lesson from reviewing the AAR footage from the Brigade Tactics Competition Army uses three software platforms to conduct virtual and constructive simulation-based training. These are Virtual Battle Space 3 (VBS3), Steel Beast Professional (SB PRO) and the Joint Conflict and Tactical Simulation (JCATS). These three programs, or a combination of programs, enables training up to and including ATL 7. The table below provides a basic overview of the level of training that each simulation is suited to support. Of note, there is overlap between the platforms and in these cases, the training objectives will influence which simulation software is used. Research & Innovation Navigation link in category Research & Innovation. Press escape key to return to main menu

Quite simply, in terms of describing manual map hex grid war gaming, Sabin has written the most readable book on this topic to appear in a long time. It is well written, entertaining and presents a lot of original material and new ideas on war-game design. As the United States attempts to articulate “ a new American way of war” to better meet the exigencies of great-power competition, the Louisiana Maneuvers — in their scale, scope, and sophistication — can provide contemporary defense planners with a number of valuable and enduring insights. Indeed, beyond providing a clear demonstration of the benefits of peacetime experimentation and innovation, the Louisiana Maneuvers highlight the importance of new ways of thinking and far-reaching structural reform when facing formidable peer competitors and rapid alterations in the combat landscape. Just as the U.S. military innovated in the face of technological change during the interwar years, the United States should once again change to better leverage digitally enabled technologies that may prove transformational today. Eight decades on, the Louisiana Maneuvers provide three abiding lessons: first, the need for personnel reform when confronted with a radically altered battlefield landscape; second, the importance of mission-driven acquisitions to incorporate the best available private sector innovations in the Department of Defense; and finally, the game-changing role of simulation to drive reform in change-resistant bureaucracies. Professional & Support Services Navigation link in category About. Press escape key to return to main menu Wargames as an Academic Instrument', in Pat Harrigan & Matthew Kirschenbaum (eds.) Zones of Control: Perspectives on Wargaming (Cambridge MA: MIT Press, 2016) Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences Navigation link in category Our faculties. Press escape key to return to main menu

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Air Power's Second Century: Growing Dominance or Faded Glory?', Journal of the JAPCC, 15, Spring 2012 I'm of two minds about this book: the first two sections (covering Theories and Mechanics of wargames) read more like a primer (which in fact they are) about what wargames are and how they can be used in the classroom felt more like a bit of a waste since they were large on the theory and rather vague on the execution. On the other hand, the last section (Examples) is where the book really shines, with Mr Sabin applying the vague theories of the first two sections with 7 different simple designs. The reason that the section shine is not really the games, but rather the explaining of the methods and reasons that were used to craft the systems and what the games tell about specific aspects of conflicts (both modern and ancients). Like the too-rare good designer notes in commercial paper wargames, it is in these that the reader will find value rather than in the games themselves. Reading about the reason why certain aspects of a conflict were simplified is a very interesting read and show how art (and judgement) is used in a strong design. The Current and Future Utility of Air and Space Power’, Royal Air Force Air Power Review, 13/3, Autumn/Winter 2010.

Student Services Online Navigation link in category Student Services. Press escape key to return to main menu As a participant, how has the experience of fighting against an adaptive, peer level opponent developed your tactical acumen?Patrols can and will act as independent entities. ROBC (Regimental Officers Basic Course) teaches you to split your patrols up but never send a single vehicle on a task. This competition taught me that when competing against a live, thinking, and well-drilled enemy, that the ‘battle run’ mindset will result in your destruction. You can afford to allow considerable separation between two vehicles as long as they maintain mutual support, but you must also be willing to take a risk and push that distance further to exploit opportunities. In a perfect world one cavalry patrol will fix, and the other will exploit an identified enemy, but circumstances will not always present this and opportunities may be missed if some risk isn’t taken’. SB PRO. A COTS platform produced by eSim Games, SB PRO provides Army with a constructive simulation capability. While SB PRO can be used to support training at ATL 1 to 3, it is generally accepted that at this level VBS3 provides a better platform to conduct this training. As a constructive simulation, the software is able to control the reaction of entities within the simulation based on a series of behaviours selected by the user; this allows a single operator to control a platoon or even a combat team. In addition to supporting a two-dimensional representation of the battlefield – which is standard to constructive simulations – SB PRO is also capable of generating three-dimensional views of the battlespace. This enables the operator to see the battlefield from the point of view of any of their call signs. It allows training audiences to develop an improved understanding of terrain and its influence on land force capabilities and operations. Crisis simulations are used in business and finance, both for the development of crisis response strategies, and as entertainment and job application screening. [6] Recreating existing systems (and their human components) within a controlled setting, and then subjecting them to various unexpected and potential events, allows managers to visualize strategies that they can deploy if and when such events actually occur. Such simulations, whatever purpose they are put to, share a committed belief in their power to train the human body’s responses and emotions. Put differently, the simulated reality is sufficiently ‘real’ to shape actual action. In a survey of players who participated in wargames at MIT between 1958 and 1964, 56% of people holding policy positions agreed that the experience of such simulations had practical value in their work. [7] The critical necessity for accuracy in reporting, assessments and the art of providing valuable recommendations’. LS&W has commenced planning for the 2023 Brigade Tactics Competition. Individuals and units interested in participating in this year’s event should commence their preparation now. Undertaking regular simulation-based training activities and in particular accessing SB PRO PE will ensure that personnel are familiar with the virtual and constructive simulation platforms. These training activities provide reps and sets in terrain analysis and decision-making which when coupled with mentor-led AAR and reflection enhances the tactical acumen of the participants and ensures they are cognitively prepared for the competition. In addition, regularly accessing the BSS ensures that personnel focus on fighting their opponent rather than trying to remember what keys to press as they undertake a peer-on-peer engagement in real-time.