NEWPORT R.I. – U.S. Naval War College (NWC) recently held a wargame addressing the Navy’s responsibilities to organize, train and equip its forces.
As part of the Navy’s Title X wargaming series, the “Global 8” started in 2015 when the chief of naval operations directed a revision from a once-a-year event to a series of games with enhanced support for U.S. Pacific Fleet (PACFLT).
PACFLT uses wargaming to familiarize and integrate Navy and joint stakeholders from the component to task group levels of command, and to identify challenges associated with complex warfighting environments.
Building upon the detailed work of wargames over the last three years, Global 8 is the first of two global games supporting PACFLT this fiscal year.
This game enabled PACFLT leaders to conduct an operational-level, multi-sided war game and advance synchronization and planning. It featured future capabilities breakout discussions in which the attending flag and general officers and operational and program experts discussed the implications of integration and employment of joint capabilities.
More than 425 personnel played, adjudicated, supported or attended senior leader discussions during Global 8, to include Adm. Scott Swift, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
A total of 29 flag and general officers and senior executive service leaders participated, to include: commandant, Marine Corps; commander, Pacific Air Force; commander, Marine Forces Pacific; commander, Third Fleet; commander, I Marine Expeditionary Force; commander, Special Operations Forces Pacific; and several deputy commanders.
“The war game met the objectives of the fleet commander and his staff and the level of involvement and participation of all players made for a dynamic and insightful event,” said Thomas Culora, dean of the Center for Naval Warfare Studies.
Global 8.5, an iterative game to further explore issues identified in Global 8, is planned for execution during summer 2018.