Appraising warfighting concepts with wargaming simulations

Military operations research professionals use analytical simulations to explore a wide range of issues in the acquisition and policy arenas. Many of these analytical simulations, however, are inappropriate for examining warfighting concepts because of their simplistic treatment of human behavior especially decision processes. In contrast, simulations used in battlestaff training programs are designed to accommodate decision processes. Thesr are, however, significant challenges in using training simulations for systematically examining military issues. This paper presents a methodology for using a training simulation to explore a technology-based warfighting concept. The methodology was developed to support JWFC's participation in the 1996 Defense Science Board Summer Study. Although developed and executed in just under two months, it required a significant commitment of resources. The effort, however, was very productive because it produced a methodology that is different from that used in most analytical-simulations-based studies. The methodology used by JWFC blended techniques from training-based wargaming events with those used for analytical experiments. Often people assume there is symmetry between simulation-assisted exercises and analysis if they both use computer models. Such an assumption, which focuses on the tool instead of the task, can lead to flawed methodologies. Understanding the difference, though, can provide a useful tool for military operations research.