A question often asked on forums is whether militaries use wargaming, and if so, which systems they use. The first part of that question is easy to answer: yes, militaries do use wargaming, and at the moment, there is a significant rejuvenation in this practice. Western militaries, in particular, are focusing on wargaming as they prepare to compete with a more assertive China and address the acute threat from Russia. The so-called “peace dividend” is over, and militaries are transitioning from predominantly counter-insurgency (COIN) operations to more conventional warfare. This shift and reassessment of doctrine is a massive undertaking. As an example of how serious and professional wargaming has become, the UK opened the Defence Experimentation and Wargaming Hub in March of this year. As described, “The hub will help Defence respond to the evolving global threats we face. The need to constantly learn and adapt at pace has never been more important.”
So, which games do militaries use? Well, that entirely depends on the problem set they are trying to work through. If you’re trying to understand an adversary’s decision-making process at the political level, for example, you might actually role-play! Yes, you read that correctly—role-play. This approach requires participants to research and understand their character and culture, much like any decent actor. They then act out the scenario they want to better understand. The comedy movie The Death of Stalin always springs to mind, as it amusingly demonstrates the paralysis of decision-making and panic that likely occurred in the Soviet Union.
For those of us who would rather use a PC than role-play with our friends (no judgments here), one piece of software used by militaries is Command: Modern Operations. This software is useful for playing specific scenarios at the operational level. The list of platforms available to the user is impressive and some of the details are very impressive. Here is more proof if you need it:
“UK Strategic Command’s Defence Modelling and Simulation Office (DMSO) has awarded a contract for the supply of Command Professional Edition (Command PE) software for Defence users.
The software, developed by Matrix Pro Sims, is used for wargaming and analysis at the operational level. This new tool gives users in Defence the ability to test ideas and is particularly valuable for Strategic Command’s new Defence Experimentation and Wargaming Hub in Portsmouth.
Command PE allows users to simulate every air and naval engagement from post-World War II to the present day and beyond. Working from a vast open-source database of military hardware and capabilities means simulations of even the most complex operations are realistic and accurate. No two runs through the same scenario are the same, helping users understand the volatility and unpredictability of conflict.
Crucially, as an originally commercial game turned wargaming software package, Command PE is straightforward to learn and operate.
In addition to the maritime, land, and air domains, Command PE can model space assets in their known orbits, as well as cyber capabilities by incorporating the degradation or disablement of aspects such as communications or sensors.
This investment will help our people across Defence with training, education, and analysis. Command PE will also allow for greater integration with international partners, allowing for exchange of knowledge and ideas, and joint wargaming and analysis.”
It should be noted that wargaming isn’t just the domain of enthusiasts like us or the military; it can—and often is—be used by almost everyone to think through a problem or to mentally rehearse a scenario. Whether you’re figuring out transportation to a birthday party or practising for a job interview with a friend asking you possible questions, you’re engaging in a form of wargaming.
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