SHALL I PLAY A GAME? WARGAMING IN PME

Key Takeaways

• Wargames translate strategic theory into actionable decision practice
• Early curriculum integration reduces learning curve and rule disputes
• Faculty expertise essential for smooth facilitation and outcome focus
• Realistic expectations prevent over‑ambitious game scope
• Enjoyable games boost engagement and retention of concepts

Summary

After four years of experimentation, Keith Burkepile concludes that wargaming is essential for professional military education. He describes how the Joint Overmatch board game was integrated into the Army War College curriculum, highlighting faculty preparation, early introduction, and realistic expectations as critical success factors. The article provides practical recommendations for instructors to balance game complexity with learning outcomes. Burkepile’s experience demonstrates that well‑designed wargames can assess and develop joint decision‑making skills beyond traditional Socratic methods.

Pulse Analysis

Wargaming has long been a cornerstone of military education, providing an experiential bridge between abstract doctrine and the pressures of real‑world operations. Unlike lecture‑based methods, games force participants to confront the consequences of strategic choices, fostering deeper comprehension of joint force integration and operational design. As modern conflicts grow more multi‑domain and rapid, the ability to rehearse decisions in a simulated environment becomes a critical differentiator for emerging leaders.

Implementing wargames, however, demands disciplined preparation. Burkepile’s four‑year journey with the Joint Overmatch exercise underscores three core practices: introduce the game early to flatten the learning curve, set clear, achievable expectations to avoid scope creep, and treat the game as a professional tool requiring faculty mastery. By rehearsing adjudication, aligning scenarios with curriculum objectives, and minimizing rule‑centric disputes, instructors can keep the focus on strategic learning outcomes while preserving student engagement.

The implications extend beyond the Army War College. As joint and coalition operations dominate future battlefields, other service academies and civilian institutions are eyeing wargaming to cultivate decision‑making agility. Integrating well‑designed games can revitalize curricula, provide measurable assessment of leadership competencies, and ultimately produce commanders better equipped for the uncertainty of modern warfare. Continued investment in faculty development and game design will ensure wargaming remains a vital component of professional military education.