NEWPORT, R.I. – U.S. Naval War College’s (NWC) International Programs and NWC’s Wargaming Department have teamed up to launch the first international wargaming course. The purpose of this course is to introduce international partners to the fundamental concepts of wargaming through the project management process, guided discussions, case study, group activities and practical application.
“The college’s first international wargaming course marks a significant milestone for us,” said Rear Adm. Jeffrey A. Harley, NWC’s president. “With our international partners, we practice together so that during real world operations, we can operate as one seamless team. We continue to support our international partners in many different ways and this is the latest initiative that continues to strengthen our global maritime partnerships while demonstrating the critical need of our college.”
The two-week international course was delivered through lectures and presentations in a classroom environment which included guided discussions, practical applications, small-group activities and analysis of existing wargames. The different ways of delivery throughout the course allowed for context and reinforcement of classroom instruction.
“I found this course to be an eye opener,” said Royal Malaysian navy Cmdr. Chinkeat Gan. “When I go back to my country, I am going to be one of the teaching staff at our staff college, and I plan to take what I learned here back with me to teach those in the Royal Malaysian navy how to be better wargamers.”
Throughout the course, the students were able to understand, execute and analyze wargames. This allowed for students to gain insight on complex maritime problems utilizing simulated and plausible scenarios. Students were also able to build on international collaboration in the operational planning and execution of contingency operations in a fiscally constrained environment. They also learned how to build enduring both professional and personal relationships within the international community as well as build on emergent international wargaming capabilities.
“After spending a year in the international program here at the Naval War College and learning how to be a war planner, taking this course is allowing all of us to learn how to be war fighters,” said Gan. “Being in class with leaders from other nations also helps us to reach a common goal. We have learned how to work together here, and when we go back to our countries, we can continue to work together as allies to work toward the betterment of each of our countries.”
The course was designed to complement the International Maritime Staff Operators Course (I-MSOC) which was just launched last year. I-MSOC focuses on NATO, United Nations and interagency operations in addition to U.S. planning and procedures for high-level students of partner nations’ navies. The development of I-MSOC was done because international students requested learning more at the operational level. After the success of I-MSOC, this course was developed to engage international partners in a wargaming environment. This course falls in line with NWC’s strategic internationalization vision which is in alignment with the Chief of Naval Operations’ purple line of effort. The purple line of effort prioritizes key international partnerships through information sharing, interoperability initiatives, and combined operations while exploring new opportunities for combined forward operations.