COURSE OF ACTION WAR GAME

1
COURSE OF ACTION WAR GAME
001206
2
PURPOSE

• Understand the importance of a COA War Game
• Discuss COA War Game
• Inputs
• Process
• Outputs

3
REFERENCES
MSTP
FM 34-130
4
COA WAR GAME
Mission Analysis
COA Development
Transition
COA War Game
Orders Development
COA Comparison Decision
5
WHAT IS A WAR GAME?
A simulation, by whatever means, of a military
operation involving two or more opposing forces,
using rules, data, and procedures designed to
depict an actual or assumed real life situation.
JP 1-02
Time
Scalable
Adversarial
6
PURPOSE OF A WAR GAME?
assists planners in identifying strengths and
weaknesses, associated risks, and asset
shortfalls for each friendly course of
action. -- MCWP 5-1

• Test friendly COAs against selected enemy COAs
• Improve friendly COAs

7
COA WAR GAME
8
COA WAR GAME INPUTS
Commander
Planning Support Tools
9
COA WAR GAME PROCESS

• Preparation
• Maps, Terrain Board, etc.
• Roles and Assignments
• Arbiter
• Thinking enemy fights enemy COAs
• Red Cell
• Task Organized
• G-2 / S-2 has staff cognizance

10
COA WAR GAME PROCESS

• Methods of Wargaming
• Sequence of Essential Tasks
• Avenue in depth
• Belt
• Box

11
Avenue in depth - Focuses on one avenue of
approach at a time - Used for offensive COAs
- Used in defensive situations when canalizing
terrain inhibits mutual support
(SOUSSE)
CTFT
XXXX
MEF
II
MEF
I I
XXX
1AD
II
MEF
XXX
2
MARDIV
PLWHITE
PLWHITE
(KASSERINE)
1 AD
MARDIV
XX
2
(SFAX)
(GAFSA)
(GABES)
(MEDENINE)
4/9/99 1142 AM
27
II MEF
COA DEVELOPMENT GOWP 99
XXXX
CTFT
12
Belt Best used - - When terrain is divided into
well-defined cross compartments - During phased
operations - When enemy is deployed in clearly
defined echelons
(SOUSSE)
CTFT
XXXX
MEF
II
MEF
I I
XXX
1AD
II
MEF
XXX
2
MARDIV
PLWHITE
PLWHITE
(KASSERINE)
1 AD
MARDIV
XX
2
(SFAX)
(GAFSA)
(GABES)
(MEDENINE)
4/9/99 1142 AM
27
II MEF
COA DEVELOPMENT GOWP 99
XXXX
CTFT
13
Box - Requires least amount of time - Used
for critical events
(SOUSSE)
CTFT
XXXX
MEF
II
MEF
I I
XXX
1AD
II
MEF
XXX
2
MARDIV
PLWHITE
PLWHITE
(KASSERINE)
1 AD
MARDIV
XX
2
(SFAX)
(GAFSA)
(GABES)
(MEDENINE)
4/9/99 1142 AM
27
II MEF
COA DEVELOPMENT GOWP 99
XXXX
CTFT
14
COA WAR GAME PROCESS

• Describe operations of all friendly forces

• Describe operations of all enemy forces
• Discuss probable outcome of contact
• Identify potential
• Decision points
• Branches sequels

• Identify additional actions / resources
• If necessary, modify COA

15
RULES DURING WAR GAME

• Evaluate each COA independently
• Remain unbiased
• Continually assess
• Feasibility
• Acceptability
• Suitability
• Distinguishability
• Completeness
• Record advantages/disadvantages
• Stay on timeline
• Identify possible branches/sequels
• Record War Game results based on commanders
  evaluation criteria

16
COA WAR GAME PROCESS

• Recording methods
• Synchronization Matrix
• War Game Worksheet
• Decision Support Template / Matrix

17
SYNCHRONIZATION MATRIX
18
SYNCHRONIZATION MATRIX
19
COA WAR GAME WORKSHEET
20
DECISION SUPPORT TEMPLATE
3
2
21
DECISION SUPPORT MATRIX
DP
EVENTS INDICATORS
NET/NLT
CDRS OPTIONS
1 AD continues turning mvmnt or executes branch
plan for envelopment of 1st echelon
Whether or not enemy 1st echelon units are fixed
(NAI 1 - 3)
1
H24/H36
1st echelon enemy forces withdrawing into/through
Gabes 103d Armor Bde covering withdrawal and as
possible counterattk force 204th, 201st, and
104th preparing for BHO vic Gabes refugees
being forced North (NAI 4-5)
Bypass, isolate or clear Gabes force options
2d MarDiv or LF6F
H96/H120
2

Options defeat 2d echelon via encirclement
defeat 2d echelon by annihilation (1AD/2MAW) or
allow enemy to withdraw
Enemy delays 2dMarDiv and reorients on mountain
passes IOT hold 1 AD and allow forces to
withdraw to border (NAI 9)

3
H144/H168
22
COA WAR GAME PROCESS

• Brief
• Advantages / Disadvantages
• Changes to COAs
• Decision Points
• Critical Events
• Branches Sequels

23
COA WAR GAME OUTPUTS

• Information on Cdrs Evaluation Criteria
• War Gamed COAs with
• Refined Graphics
• Refined Narratives
• Refined
• Staff Estimates
• Estimates of Supportability
• Planning Support Tools

24
OUTPUTS TO ORDERS DEVELOPMENT
SYNCHRONIZATION MATRIX
COA WAR GAME WORKSHEET
DECISION SUPPORT MATRIX
25
OUTPUTS TO ORDERS DEVELOPMENT
Staff Estimates (Para 1, 4, 5/ Annexes
Appendices)
COA Narrative (Para. 3b)

• OP ORDER
• SITUATION.
• MISSION
• EXECUTION
• ADMIN LOGISTICS.
• COMMAND SIGNAL.

COA Graphics (Annex C, App 18)
Annexes Appendices
SYNC MATRIX (Para 3c, 3d, Annex X)
DSM (Annex X)
26
SUMMARY

• Discussed
• The importance of a COA War Game
• COA War Game
• Inputs
• Process
• Outputs