Wargaming Division

WGD Emblem 2
Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory / Futures Directorate
Quantico, VA
 

 

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Neller Center Dedication.

The General Robert B. Neller Center for Wargaming and Analysis vitally important to the future of wargaming.

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General Robert B. Neller Center for Wargaming and Analysis

The United States Marine Corps harnesses the power of wargaming to stay ahead in modern warfare with the inauguration of the General Robert B. Neller...

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Wargaming and Analysis with Col Schreffler

Dive into the world of wargaming and the organization responsible for this effort, The Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory.

 

Mission

Plans and executes the Marine Corps Wargaming Program.  Through formal reporting of analytical and assessment results, it assists in the identification of wargame findings that are appropriate for further exploration through live-force experimentation, doctrine and policy review, and science and technology examination.  In coordination with Marine Corps Systems Command Program Manager Wargaming and in support of MCWL/FD’s mission, the WGD establishes an “Improved Wargaming Capability” that includes a comprehensive analytical and assessment capability, an integrated wargaming architecture operating with appropriate methods, models, and tools, and the acquisition of a qualified support staff to enable transition to the proposed purpose-built Wargaming Center.

Marine Corps’ Wargaming Program. The Wargame Program is the annual syllabus of wargames conducted by the Division in support of Marine Corps equities as defined by the responsible authorities.

The Culebra Series focuses on developing distinctive force capabilities; including concept development, doctrine refinement, and the identification and refinement of critical capabilities. Culebra often connects with, and leverages, Title 10 supporting concepts. Current examples are:

Marine Corps Marathon Series. Conducted in conjunction with the Marine Corps Marathon Office, the purpose is to discuss anti-terrorism and force protection issues pertaining to the running of the annual Marine Corps Marathon.

Industry Wargame Series. Conducted in conjunction with the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), this program helps maintain a dialogue with industry, facilitates a larger role for industry in Marine Corps events, and leverages the considerable expertise of the defense industry in addressing key expeditionary capabilities issues.

CD&I Strategic Communication. Conducted in conjunction with CD&I MCCDC, the purpose of the MAGTF Strategic Communication (SC) Wargame is to examine the Strategic Communication Concept and to be able to inform doctrine development, identify the DOTMLPF implications, identify and examine the stated and unstated assumptions in the concept and identify the MAGTF capability gaps to execute the SC process.

Past examples include:

PP&O “How We Fight”. PP&O sponsored the “How We Fight” series of seminar wargames to educate and refine the interim USMC policy for the execution of Security Cooperation procedures.

USMC Logistics Modernization. The Logistics Modernization (LogMod) Initiative Wargames were the initial iteration of an expected series of unclassified war games to explore the full range of Logistics Modernization issues in support of the Logistics Modernization Solution Planning Directive.

The Division designs and executes Marine Corps participation in wargames co-sponsored with, or conducted by, agencies external to the Service. An example of the former is the series of wargames investigating urban operations and irregular warfare co-sponsored by JFCOM; an example of the latter is the Marine Corps’ participation in the Air Force Research Laboratory Wargames.

Title 10 Updates

This year's iteration of the Expeditionary Warrior (EW) series explored the Future Maritime Operations draft concept, which emphasizes regional networks and relationships to gain awareness and context about the operating environment, provides agile, scalable task-organized forces to respond to the threat or crisis, and leverages forward deployed forces to act early.

Expeditionary Warrior (EW), the Marine Corps’ Title 10 wargame series, is conducted annually by the Wargaming Division of the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory to examine issues relating to the future of the force, with representatives from every Service of the U.S. Armed Forces, combatant commands and multinational partners.  This year, EW13 examined a vision of maritime operations that leverages forces deployed forward to gain awareness of the operating environment, act early, and scale the response to the threat or crisis across the range of military operations, including major combat.

Topics

Topics of the Title 10 wargame leverage ongoing joint and naval initiatives and issues.  EW12 examined the joint and naval force’s ability to overcome anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) challenges.  EW11 served as a prelude by helping develop the Joint Operational Access Concept (JOAC), while also informing MCWL’s Enhanced Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Operations series of experiments.  From 2008 to 2010, the EW series studied seabasing.

After up to a year of working groups, planning conferences, excursions and other events, the wargame pathway culminates in the Main Event, which typically occurs in the winter and deconflicts with the other Services’ Title 10 wargames.  Insights and observations of the wargame are captured, analyzed and published in two products.  A QuickLook Report is published within two weeks of the conclusion of the Main Event by the Commanding General, Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory.  This initial report is followed several months later by a Final Report, which is approved for publication by the Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command.  Planners across Headquarters Marine Corps transition the findings for use in Service-level planning documents such as the Marine Corps Service Campaign Plan.

Queries about the Title 10 wargame series can be sent via email to EW@usmc.mil

Title 10 Updates

This year's iteration of the Expeditionary Warrior (EW) series explored the Future Maritime Operations draft concept, which emphasizes regional networks and relationships to gain awareness and context about the operating environment, provides agile, scalable task-organized forces to respond to the threat or crisis, and leverages forward deployed forces to act early.

Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory