The culminating event in the Army’s Campaign of Learning 2013, is an examination of the far future, during the Unified Quest 2013 Deep Future Wargame (DFWG) at Carlisle Barracks, Pa., Sept. 15-20.
The effort is led by the command often called the architect of the Army: U.S. Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC).
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TRADOC Commanding Gen. Robert Cone has made it clear that the service is shifting from a force of execution to one of preparation, and the DFWG will help the service plan for long-term innovation, and fewer and larger acquisitions.
The exploration considers the 2030-2040 time period and will consist of two working groups that will generate ideas to drive concepts development and explore potential capabilities.
For more than a decade, the Army has focused on current and near term challenges, exploring ideas and potential solutions for the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Unified Quest is the Army’s framework for studying issues the future Army must face and how it will fight. The wargames draw experts from within and outside the service to drive change.
This Deep Future Wargame brings the intellectual effort of those who shape the future to consider the far future once again.
For example, a Strategic Working Group of senior defense officials and subject matter experts will discuss their take on the challenges, to include coalition integration efforts and opportunities, including human performance and robotics/nanotechnology of the future.
Participants will also consider the characteristics of warfare and the Army Operating Concept for 2030.
Of particular interest in this war game will be cyber and space capabilities from 2030 to 2040 and the potential weapons and technology for materiel solutions, based on technology readiness levels and feedback from Army centers of excellence.
The insights and outcomes from DFWG will have an impact on the concept development process.
Throughout the wargame, subject matter experts will explore future tactical, operational and strategic capabilities in a plausible future operational environment of 2030 to 2040. What will not be forgotten is how the restrictive financial situation of the current environment will impact the future.
Experts will also explore global responsiveness of the force to future conflicts or crises and determine future investments in science and technology, institutional education, and training.
The Army’s Campaign of Learning has been developed and shaped to be an aid to senior leaders to focus efforts toward the current national security strategy without losing the knowledge and skills gained from more than 10 years of war, but it also helps them look toward the future. The campaign allows the Army to do this by identifying capabilities needed as part of the joint force, to protect U.S. national interests and achieve strategic objectives in 2020 and beyond.