QUANTICO, Va. -- Marine Corps University held a ribbon cutting ceremony Friday, Sept. 23, 2022 announcing the launch of the new Wargaming Cloud.
This capability enables individual and head-to-head wargaming options across a wide range of historical and modern scenarios. This new Wargaming Cloud provides a library of digital wargames that faculty and students can leverage to support professional military education learning objectives. By making this capability available to resident students and faculty in a Cloud environment, the games can be played from distributed locations, to include from personal devices. This creates the opportunity to integrate wargaming to a much higher degree than at any time in the past and will contribute to increased repetitions in tactical, operational, and strategic decision-making.
“The difference with the new Wargaming Cloud is the ability to expand wargaming opportunities beyond the classroom. This offers Marines access to a library of digital games on their own time and at their own pace.” Brig. General Maura Hennigan, Marine Corps University President
Wargaming is an active and immersive learning method that challenges participants’ decision making. Players consider objectives, risks, sequencing of actions, and force employment in order to accomplish their respective missions. The players must determine which factors presented to them are most important and impactful, weigh those factors, and then make calculated decisions.
“The modern battlefield is complex and dynamic,” said Brig. General Maura Hennigan, Marine Corps University President. “Investments in capabilities like this ensure we remain skillful decision makers. Realistic training and challenging educational opportunities are critical to our success as warfighters and prepare us for the next fight.”
While the capability is new, the concept of wargaming is a tested and true practice in the Marine Corps. Marines in every training and education continuum exercise various elements of wargaming to enhance individual and collective skills. After assessing the initial implementation of the cloud, the Marine Corps will consider expanding this capability to non-resident students and Fleet Marine Force personnel for continuing education.
“We conduct wargaming in a multitude of ways—and have been throughout our history,” said Hennigan. “The difference with the new Wargaming Cloud is the ability to expand wargaming opportunities beyond the classroom. This offers Marines access to a library of digital games on their own time and at their own pace.”