The growing sophistication of military training exercises reflects
what U.S. policy makers believe is a compelling need to prepare
troops for an ever-changing environment of potential threats around
the world.
An unusual behind-the-scenes look at how military training drills
are plotted is the subject of a television special by the Turner
Broadcasting System (TBS) Superstation, entitled “War Games.”
It aired March 28.
The format takes complicated military scenarios and breaks them
down like a football game. There is even an announcer, National
Football League analyst Howie Long, who, along with the writers,
sets up the situation concisely, yet with a strong dose of suspense.
Many sports-related metaphors are used. Observer controllers are
referred to as referees, movements are compared to fourth-quarter
big plays, planes and an aircraft carrier are linemen protecting
the quarterback and after-action reviews are like football teams
screening replays.
The first exercise of the two-hour long “War Games,”
is an Army drill at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC).
One soldier refers to it as “the Superbowl of training events.”
The mission is to rescue a town and its residents from hostile forces.
The audience is introduced to the two teams, BluFor, the “good
guys” and OpFor, the “bad guys.” Actors are hired
to play the hostages. The scene is set in a mock city known as Shughart-Gordon,
a 29-building, 7-square-kilometer complex.
Before the exercise begins, Staff Sgt. David Barron and Sgt. John
Harper talk about their lives and their troops. They are the head
coaches for BluFor. Their occasional comments are added as a voice-over
throughout the JRTC exercise.
Once the action begins, it is naturally intense, especially when
viewed through night-vision devices.
A scoreboard and clock run at the bottom of the screen, keeping
track of casualties and equipment. Graphics are used to point out
differences between the two teams and other interest points.
BluFor has just 18 hours to rescue the hostages. It is a rough
fight, since the enemy had time to fortify and set traps.
One particularly high-adrenaline moment is when one soldier throws
himself on barbed wire to make a human bridge for his comrades,
getting himself “killed” in the process.
Also adding to the drama and sports-cast effect is a field reporter
who is acting as one of the hostages. Ultimately, BluFor achieves
its objective, but not without heavy casualties.
Next on deck is the Navy on a Wolf Hunt. Three teams, Alpha, Bravo
and Charlie, compete against each other and the clock to stop two
hostile submarines from taking out a super carrier.
Members of the crew are introduced, only this time as a team, including
facts about their personal lives. There is a touching moment when
Aviation Operator Michael Riollano, part of Alpha, discusses the
danger involved and the haunting prospect of losing a friend in
a crash.
There are also humorous moments, as when Lt. Brent Gaut admits
that he joined the Navy after seeing the movie “Top Gun,”
starring Tom Cruise.
The suspense of these naval operations is enhanced by the tense
competition among the teams. Obviously, each group wants to win.
They experienced some equipment problems. Bravo loses its P-3 Orion
aircraft, which costs them dearly. Without the P-3 surveillance
systems available to coordinate movements, chaos gets the upper
hand, and the submarines manage to sink the super carrier. The absence
of two of Charlie’s helicopters and their S-3 Viking aircraft
manages to work to that team’s advantage. Charlie was the
only team that managed to destroy both submarines and protect the
carrier.
The Air Force portion of the show is an operation called Red Flag.
Rookie and less-experienced pilots and crews formed the Blue Team.
They are sent into an air-to-air dogfight with the ultimate goal
of bombing an enemy airfield. The Red Team, composed of seasoned
pilots, does its best to stop them.
This kind of exercise began after Vietnam, when statistics proved
that pilots with 10 or more missions under their belts had a better
chance of success and survival.
Even after they are “destroyed,” Red Team planes come
back around to simulate a larger amount of enemy aircraft than are
actually used in the exercise. The Blue Team has more enemies thrown
at them than they would typically see in the real world. The action
resembles a scene out of “Top Gun,” down to the last-minute
rescue of the bomber (which only has enough fuel for another half
hour) from a MiG by another plane that had already turned for home.
The last mission of the program is also the biggest. It is a Combined
Arms Exercise (CAX) by U.S. Marines. Things are raised to a new
level, since the Marines use live ammunition. More than 2,000 troops
are to attack and capture enemy territory, then defend it against
counter assault. This happens in the middle of the desert. The Desert
Storm-style aura of this mission is not lost. The stamina of the
Marines is tested, given their lack of sleep and high level of frustration.
They get pep talks from squad leaders. When the enemy is finally
routed and the day won, there is a “real” feeling of
victory.
TBS is considering expanding “War Games” into a regular
series. For the military services, the series could become a valuable
recruiting tool, if it catches-on among teenagers.