Post on 01-Apr-2016
description
TEAM STRATEGY GAMESB u i l d i n g a n U n d e r s t a n d i n g o f I n t e r n a t i o n a l A f f a i r s
t h r o u g h S t r a t e g i c G a m e Wa r f a r e
P U R P O S E :
Nation Rebuilder’s team based strategy games are designed to provide an opportunity
for students to engage in outdoor intelligence gathering and strategic command games
that resemble a current international crisis. While the games are fun and active for all
ages, they also provide a valuable opportunity to teach and inform participants about the
weighty responsibility of intelligence gathering and strategic decision making.
D E S I G N :
The program was designed with input from an international affairs professor and a
former Navy Seal in order to create hypothetical missions that are based upon current
international events at the time. The games generally involve a group of approximately
20-40 participants that are assigned to various teams, some in opposition, others in
alliance, who are tasked with specific strategic objectives depending on the emerging
crisis. The strategic games are a great team building exercise and fun learning activity for
school outdoor-ed programs, church camps, youth retreats.
TEAM STRATEGY GAMES
TEAM STRATEGY GAMES
E X A M P L E S T R AT E G Y G A M E E X A M P L E S :
2009 Operation Mountain Shield
The future stability of Afghanistan was in question as Taliban extremists operating in
neighboring Pakistan sought to regain power in Afghanistan. British intelligence and U.S.
Special Forces worked together to obstruct Taliban objectives in the region.
2010 Operation Desert Strike
The Saudi government requested security assistance along its southern border with
Yemen as the stability of the Yemeni government was threatened by a growing Al Qaeda
presence in the country. Growing concerns regarding Al Qaeda’s capacity to encroach
into neighboring Saudi Arabia and control its oil fields resulted in the Saudi’s pursuing
international intelligence and requesting security operations to eliminate Al Qaeda
threats in the region.
2011 Operation Unified Protector
Gadhafi’s ongoing attempt to maintain control through his loyal supporters was tottering
as Libyan opposition groups were aided by U.S. military forces and British intelligence in
their attempt to find and capture Gadhafi supporters themselves, and free their country.
2012 Operation Spearhead
Intelligence being gathered in Syria seemed to confirm that the Assad regime in Syria had
been using chemical weapons on opposition forces. U.S. and British intelligence were to
confirm these reports, locate weapons of mass destruction and obtain permission for
their elimination.
S T R AT E G I C G A M E M I S S I O N :
Each game is designed to correspond to actual events that are happening around the
world at the time. Although based on events in real-time, the games adopt a
hypothetical element for the sake of simulating an international crisis and a potential
response of key state actors. Depending on the geographic features of the available
game location, examples of strategic game objectives could include:
• Locate and destroy Iranian nuclear facilities
• Liberate South Korea from invading North Korean forces
• Find prisoners taken hostage by Taliban groups operating in Afghanistan
• Disrupt Somali pirate networks operating off coast of East Africa
• Disrupt ISIS operations in their attempt to regain control of Iraq
S T R AT E G I C G A M E O B J E C T I V E S :
Teams are created by identifying what likely groups would be involved in a particular
crisis, such as U.S. Special Forces, British intelligence operatives, local national groups,
terrorists, dictator regimes, etc. Each team is given a set of clearly defined objectives,
that if fulfilled will determine a winner for one side or another.
The game location is researched using geospatial intelligence apps such as Google Earth
so that a map of the current international hotspot can be superimposed upon the game
location. National boundaries, geographic features and mock military assets can be
appropriately marked upon the map
Game objectives require strategic planning by participants by requiring teams to fulfill
consecutive tasks. Before launching an all out attack on an enemy, teams maybe
required to coordinate their activities with allies or conduct intelligence gathering
missions to locate enemy assets such as hidden oil fields, or missile sites, or prisoners.
As information is gathered, team commanders then communicate further plans for
additional missions or enemy engagements.
The next page provides an example satellite imagery of a 3 acre woodland with an
outline of Libya superimposed over top and the objectives listed for each team. The
maps was distributed and objectives explained to participants in a pre-game intelligence
briefing.
TEAM STRATEGY GAMES
Operation Unified Protector: Game Objectives
Strategic Objectives:
Gadhafi's forces: • Protect Gadhafi from being removed from power.
• Maintain control of oil fields in West and gain control of oil fields in the East.
• Capture Libyan opposition, U.S. & British forces in the West.
• Avoid being captured in the East.
Libyan opposition:• Maintain control of oil fields in East and gain control of oil fields in West.
• Capture Gadhafi forces in the East who are looking for oil fields.
British MI6 intelligence:• Locate and capture Gadhafi.
• Avoid being captured by Gadhafi forces.
U.S. Army Rangers:• Assist Libyan opposition in gaining oil fields in the West.
• Assist Libyan opposition in attack and capturing Gadhafi forces in the East.
• U.S. cannot remove Gadhafi from power.
• Evacuation area in water is considered a safe zone.
To Win:
Gadhafi forces must gain 4
out of 5 bases and protect
Gadhafi.
Libyan opposition, U.S. & MI6
must gain all 5 bases and
capture Gadhafi.
West: Gadhafi controlled
East: Opposition controlled
TEAM STRATEGY GAMES
U.S. Embassy
British Embassy
Libyan oil fields
U.S. Navy evacuation
Libyan Prison
H OW I T WO R K S :
Terrain
The strategic games are ideally conducted on 3-4 acres of private property. Property
with geographic features make the game more challenging. A wooded area is preferable,
with dense undergrowth for hiding, or streams that have to be crossed, or open areas to
be traversed without being caught. The greater the variance, the more interesting the
game.
Teams
It is recommended that you have between 20-40 students that can be split into 3-4
teams that will compete against one another or form alliances in their mission. It is
recommended that adults operate as judges who roam the property to help decide
issues and discrepancies that arise.
Game Briefing
A pre-game intelligence briefing creates great expectation and excitement and is a good
learning experience for participants to learn about the real world situations that the
game simulates.
The purpose of the briefing should be to convey clearly the overall nature of the
situation and explain specific objectives of each team. Use PowerPoint to present a map
and show various features of the game location.
TEAM STRATEGY GAMES
TEAM STRATEGY GAMES
A B O U T U S :
Nation Rebuilders is a family owned business that was started in 2011 in order to
create and distribute curriculum and educational materials to train the next
generation to both understand the times, and to know how to effectively lead with
Christian character and wisdom in 21st century world affairs.
M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N :
www.nationrebuilders.com
TEAM STRATEGY GAMES