“Exploiting Wargaming for Professional Military Education (PME),” is a monograph from our guest contributor Saikat K Bose who is a professional soldier with prolonged operational experience. More importedly, he has a longstanding interest in wargaming, combat modelling, and study of military history and sociology. Of his two published books, the first, Boots, Hooves, and Wheels is a longue durée sociological study of evolution of warfare in South Asia against the backdrop of wider developments across the world, while the next, Framing the Mahabharata, is a similar sociological study of chariot warfare in Bronze and Iron Ages.
His current monograph, makes a compelling case for integrating wargaming and combat modeling into PME curricula. He argues that these tools can effectively train military commanders in critical thinking and decision-making under pressure. However, unlocking this potential requires not only technically sound wargames but also a shift in organizational and cultural attitudes within the military.
This insightful work is a must-read for military personnel of all ranks, as well as trainers and entrepreneurs interested in harnessing the power of wargaming for diverse applications.
Potential of Wargaming in Enhancement of Professional Military Education
