Wargaming is increasingly central to officer education at the U.S. Naval Academy, preparing midshipmen for complex decision-making in dynamic environments. Rooted in historical precedent, educational wargaming fosters critical thinking, adaptability, and leadership by simulating real-world naval challenges.
Read MoreThe U.S. defense community is increasingly drawn to integrating AI, simulations, and data modeling into military wargames, hoping to boost analytical rigor. However, experts caution that over-reliance on technology can distort wargaming’s core purpose: exploring human decision-making in complex, uncertain scenarios.
Read MoreOver the past five decades, the U.S. Navy has used wargaming, mostly tabletop-based, to train sailors, but widespread adoption faces challenges. Key requirements include senior leadership support, dedicated time, suitable shipboard space, and IT compatibility. While games like Harpoon and Command: Modern Operations offer depth, they are time-consuming or restricted by security protocols. Compact, simple games like Littoral Commander and Swarming Boats show promise.
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