Objective Force Representation

Abstract

Wargaming-or gaming-is an integral part of the development of ideas. Kings of Prussia, major combatants during the World Wars, and the U.S. Army during the current transformation of the military have used gaming to help elucidate, illuminate, and educate. Homes, schools, businesses, and governmental offices conduct gaming because it is a shorthand form of communication. Like a map, a game enables a significant transfer of information for little cost and enables a user to gain a good understanding of the place or event represented. This Strategy Research Project (SRP) provides the designer notes supporting a new board game system called Objective Force Commander (OFC), which represents the Army's Objective Force in the strategic and operational environment. Gaming is one of the most effective ways to teach groups of people about new concepts or ideas, because it allows participants to discover for themselves, at their own pace, the advantages and disadvantages of ideas. Gaming also places individuals in a position or role that they might never face in life, such as a wartime combatant commander. The importance of the Objective Force to the Army leadership and future security of the United States makes training U.S. military and civilians and ally forces about its implementation and effectiveness critical. As the ideas are developed, and a new generation of leaders grown, now is the time to create a board game on the Objective Force and incorporate it into training. The SRP discusses the benefits and limitations to the representation of the Objective Force as part of modern (future) warfare using a board. While all models are representations of the real thing, the design philosophy presented here is simplicity. Additionally, the system presented represents a revolutionary way to examine conflict. Initial development of the first scenario is already underway.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 07, 2003
Accession Number
ADA414207

Entities

People

  • Karsten G. Engelmann

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Autonomy
  • C4I
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Artillery
  • Combat Operations
  • Command And Control
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Geography
  • Indirect Fire
  • Information Operations
  • Information Systems
  • Information Warfare
  • Intelligence Surveillance And Reconnaissance
  • Military Operations
  • Military Organizations
  • Precision-Guided Munitions
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Organizational Process Management (OPM).
  • Theoretical Analysis.