Tactical Wargaming After H-hour: An Unstructured Mental Process

Abstract

This monograph investigates the suitability of the Wass de Czege Combat Power Model as a framework for thought in which the military decision- making process--specifically the critical steps of wargaming--can occur at the tactical level of war. The model can assist the decision-maker in understanding how to apply combat power, and it can further function as an analytical tool, especially in time-constrained situations. The monograph first discusses the historical development of the estimate process, leading to what is currently used in the US Army today. Included in this is a discussion of when the concept of wargaming first appeared in doctrine and how the wargaming methodology evolved-to its present format. A description of the military decision-making process in use today follows, with emphasis on its inadequacies in time-critical situations at the lower tactical levels of warfighting. Next is a description of the recoganition-primed decision-making theory developed by Gary A. Klein and associates and how this theory accurately delineates the process by which decision-makers, especially military leaders, make and assess decisions. Tactical wargaming, Recognition-primed decision-making, Decision-making process, Wass de Cze and e Combat Power Model.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 08, 1991
Accession Number
ADA258107

Entities

People

  • James M. Milano

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Combat Vehicles
  • Command And Control
  • Doctrine
  • Employment
  • Lessons Learned
  • Mental Processes
  • Military Planning
  • Military Research
  • Munitions
  • Pattern Recognition
  • Psychology
  • Reasoning
  • Task Forces
  • Thinking
  • Training
  • War Games
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • Team-Based Human-Centered Cognitive Task Decision Making and Information Performance.