US Army studies impact of resource competition, globalisation in wargame series

The US Army is propagating its assessment of an era of 'persistent conflict' around the globe through 'Unified Quest 2008', a series of seminars and wargames sponsored by the US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC).

Among other things, the service is trying to encourage civilian government agencies - as well as allied nations - to become more closely involved in planning for contingencies, from humanitarian relief operations to major combat.

The service recently adopted a new manual, FM 3-0 Operations, that places stability operations on a par with offensive and defensive combat missions. In addition to boosting civilian involvement in exercises such as 'Unified Quest', the army has invited participants from other militaries, academia and non-governmental organisations.

Much of the focus of 'Unified Quest 2008' was on conflict prevention, and participants in the capstone exercise addressed a series of scenarios in Asia, Latin America and Africa from 2013 onwards.

Army officials hope the game will encourage other US government agencies and foreign militaries to make investments in new capabilities. Brigadier General Barbara Fast, Deputy Director and Chief of Staff for the Army Capabilities Integration Center (ARCIC) and Deputy Chief of Staff, G9, for TRADOC, stated that many future scenarios will not necessarily call for military action.

"They are generally going to be addressed by other arms of the government," she said. "If we were to look only at these trends through the prism of the army or the prism of the military, I think we've missed the point."

Brig Gen Fast added: "This is really a self-examination for us as an army, and it's an introspective look that we hope to be able to offer insights beyond the army, both within the department and in the international arena writ large." 292 of 939 words