Successful Wargaming Design Workshop with Naval Postgraduate School

Successful Wargaming Design Workshop with Naval Postgraduate School

The NATO MW COE Concept Development and Experimentation (CDE) Branch, in collaboration with the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) from USA, successfully concluded a Wargaming Design Workshop held from 11 to 15 November 2024, in Poljče. The event provided a comprehensive platform for developing skills in designing wargames, a vital tool in modern military operations.

Wargaming as a Strategic Tool

Wargaming serves as an invaluable simulation method for recreating realistic warfare scenarios, allowing military organizations to test operational strategies, train decision-makers, evaluate emerging tactics, and predict potential conflict trends. For NATO MW COE and the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF), wargaming is instrumental in assessing NATO Mountain Warfare concept, national capabilities, and the command and control challenges faced at tactical and operational levels.

During the workshop, participants explored these applications through hands-on exercises and discussions, reinforcing the importance of wargaming in supporting NATO’s Warfighting Development Agenda under Allied Command Transformation (ACT). By modeling decisions before implementation, wargaming helps to mitigate risks and improve the effectiveness of military strategies.

Workshop Highlights

The Wargaming Design Workshop achieved its goal of equipping participants with foundational skills in designing military games tailored to mountain warfare environments. Key aspects of the event included:

• Expert Instruction: Two experienced instructors from the Naval Postgraduate School guided participants through the principles and practice of wargaming design.
• Focused Engagement: A select group of nine officers and two non-commissioned officers (NCOs) actively participated, ensuring a high level of interaction and personalized learning.
• Real-World Application: The workshop emphasized solving operational and tactical dilemmas, particularly those relevant to mountain environments, fostering a deeper understanding of Armed Forces Operations Plans and tactical plans.

Outcomes and Impact

The workshop has strengthened NATO MW COE’s capabilities in wargaming design, providing a solid foundation for future endeavors in this field. These new competencies will enhance the organization’s ability to address the complex challenges of modern military operations, especially in mountain terrain.

By the end of the event, participants were equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to design and implement effective wargames. This accomplishment aligns with NATO MW COE’s mission to advance military science and support NATO’s strategic objectives through innovation and collaboration.

A Step Forward in Military Excellence

The successful conclusion of the Wargaming Design Workshop underscores NATO MW COE’s commitment to professional development and operational excellence. The insights and skills gained will not only benefit the participating officers and NCOs but also contribute to NATO’s broader goals of preparedness and strategic innovation.

As NATO MW COE continues to refine its expertise, the outcomes of this workshop highlight the value of partnerships like that with the Naval Postgraduate School in fostering military innovation and readiness.