Marine Corps Implements Five-Phase Wargaming Framework for Force Design 2030

The Marine Corps, under Gen. David Berger's guidance, emphasizes wargaming in its Force Design 2030 initiative. The five-phase wargaming framework aims to enhance force planning by systematically addressing future operational challenges and validating concepts. It involves assessments of potential problems, operational concepts, implementation strategies, performance parameters, and solution development. This structured approach seeks to ensure that wargaming informs material and non-material solutions, enhancing the overall effectiveness of military force design.

Published Mar 26, 2026

The Marine Corps has adopted a five-phase wargaming framework to inform its Force Design 2030 initiative, initiated by Gen. David Berger's 2019 guidance. The process begins with identifying potential future operational problems, followed by assessing whether existing operational concepts can address these challenges.

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Subsequent phases focus on the implementation of new concepts, establishing performance parameters for solutions, and determining the necessary capabilities to meet mission requirements. This structured approach aims to ensure that wargaming effectively contributes to force planning, validates concepts, and integrates with analysis and experimentation, addressing deficiencies in past practices. The Department of Defense is also urged to formalize wargaming standards and improve training for practitioners.