OT US Army War College looking for Professor of Strategic Game Design

[Anachro]

Maybe one of you here can get a sweet new gig? Looks awesome to me.

The US Army War College is seeking a Professor of Strategic Game Design.

This is a full-time civilian faculty position at the U.S. Army War College (USAWC) as provided under Title 10 USC 4021. Initial appointment may be up to four years, with the first year a trial period. The appointment may be renewed in one- to five-year increments thereafter. Academic rank and salary will be based on the selectee’s academic credentials, experience, and professional accomplishments.

Responsibilities

1. Collaborate with strategic leaders and faculty to develop and teach custom strategic and serious games for use in graduate-level curriculum and to inform senior leader decision making
2. Develop and teach protocols and systems to virtual existing strategic games to allow online play in support of distance education
3. Serve as a thought-leader on the implications to game programming of innovations such as 3-D technologies, artificial intelligence, big data, remote and autonomous systems
4. Serve as the Army War College expert on the potential revolutions in game design that will impact the character of strategic gaming and the education of senior leaders
5. Assist in the development and delivery of graduate-level curriculum which focuses on strategic and serious gaming; teach at least one elective each academic year
6. Participate in wargames and workshops, and write and publish on matters of importance related to strategic/serious game programming and wargaming
7. Engage in internal and external service in support of institutional missions

Job App Here

[RangerJoe]

I think that a lot of us could handle that red part in number 6. [:D]

[btd64]

ORIGINAL: Anachro

Maybe one of you here can get a sweet new gig? Looks awesome to me.

The US Army War College is seeking a Professor of Strategic Game Design.

This is a full-time civilian faculty position at the U.S. Army War College (USAWC) as provided under Title 10 USC 4021. Initial appointment may be up to four years, with the first year a trial period. The appointment may be renewed in one- to five-year increments thereafter. Academic rank and salary will be based on the selectee’s academic credentials, experience, and professional accomplishments.

Responsibilities

1. Collaborate with strategic leaders and faculty to develop and teach custom strategic and serious games for use in graduate-level curriculum and to inform senior leader decision making
2. Develop and teach protocols and systems to virtual existing strategic games to allow online play in support of distance education
3. Serve as a thought-leader on the implications to game programming of innovations such as 3-D technologies, artificial intelligence, big data, remote and autonomous systems
4. Serve as the Army War College expert on the potential revolutions in game design that will impact the character of strategic gaming and the education of senior leaders
5. Assist in the development and delivery of graduate-level curriculum which focuses on strategic and serious gaming; teach at least one elective each academic year
6. Participate in wargames and workshops, and write and publish on matters of importance related to strategic/serious game programming and wargaming
7. Engage in internal and external service in support of institutional missions

Job App Here

Wow, someone could have a lot of fun with this position....GP

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: btd64

ORIGINAL: Anachro

Maybe one of you here can get a sweet new gig? Looks awesome to me.

The US Army War College is seeking a Professor of Strategic Game Design.

This is a full-time civilian faculty position at the U.S. Army War College (USAWC) as provided under Title 10 USC 4021. Initial appointment may be up to four years, with the first year a trial period. The appointment may be renewed in one- to five-year increments thereafter. Academic rank and salary will be based on the selectee’s academic credentials, experience, and professional accomplishments.

Responsibilities

1. Collaborate with strategic leaders and faculty to develop and teach custom strategic and serious games for use in graduate-level curriculum and to inform senior leader decision making
2. Develop and teach protocols and systems to virtual existing strategic games to allow online play in support of distance education
3. Serve as a thought-leader on the implications to game programming of innovations such as 3-D technologies, artificial intelligence, big data, remote and autonomous systems
4. Serve as the Army War College expert on the potential revolutions in game design that will impact the character of strategic gaming and the education of senior leaders
5. Assist in the development and delivery of graduate-level curriculum which focuses on strategic and serious gaming; teach at least one elective each academic year
6. Participate in wargames and workshops, and write and publish on matters of importance related to strategic/serious game programming and wargaming
7. Engage in internal and external service in support of institutional missions

Job App Here

Wow, someone could have a lot of fun with this position....GP

Except that they would be teaching officers . . .

Do you know the difference in the US Army between a butterbar and a PFC?
The PFC has been promoted twice.

Do you know the easiest way to get lost in the US Army?
Give the butterbar the map.

[geofflambert]

Do they accept gorns?

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

Do they accept gorns?

The planning for the war against your home planet has already been completed - something along the lines of bamboo tubes, gunpowder and diamonds the size of fists. We are just waiting on adequate transport to get us there within two generations ...
BTW, we know the flaw in your disintegration gun ...

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

Do they accept gorns?

They do not accept Gorns, only cash and plastic. This is because Gorns don't fit in wallets/purses. And it's so hard to make change for a Gorn when you're only buying stamps.

[pontiouspilot]

Is a prime qualification a wasted youth? Blame AH and S&T.

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: Zorch

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

Do they accept gorns?

They do not accept Gorns, only cash and plastic. This is because Gorns don't fit in wallets/purses. And it's so hard to make change for a Gorn when you're only buying stamps.

Gorns become the wallet or purse.

[btd64]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

ORIGINAL: Zorch

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

Do they accept gorns?

They do not accept Gorns, only cash and plastic. This is because Gorns don't fit in wallets/purses. And it's so hard to make change for a Gorn when you're only buying stamps.

Gorns become the wallet or purse.

Nothing better than a pair of Gorn shoes. Even better than alligator shoes....GP

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: btd64

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

ORIGINAL: Zorch



They do not accept Gorns, only cash and plastic. This is because Gorns don't fit in wallets/purses. And it's so hard to make change for a Gorn when you're only buying stamps.

Gorns become the wallet or purse.

Nothing better than a pair of Gorn shoes. Even better than alligator shoes....GP

I didn't know Gorn wore shoes? [&:]

[durnedwolf]

ORIGINAL: Zorch

ORIGINAL: btd64

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe




Gorns become the wallet or purse.

Nothing better than a pair of Gorn shoes. Even better than alligator shoes....GP

I didn't know Gorn wore shoes? [&:]

Gorn shoes are made from the same fabric as the Emperor's new clothes.

[dr.hal]

To get back to the original point of this thread, I find trying to introduce strategic wargaming into a classroom more difficult than one might think. I tried to use the orginal WITP and found that a semester was not nearly long enough to allow the unique characteristics of this game to take hold. What I was interested in was allowing students a feel for supply and logistics as well as long term planning (the strategic aspects of this game). Tactical games are far more "exciting" with lots of BANG and BOOM, which students like, but that's not WITP. But given the slow turn around time, it was difficult for students to get a feel for some of the problems in planning and executing a long term vision as they couldn't get enough turns in during a semester. I started this with the original WITP with the help of Matrix, then with AE but it didn't work well (although I did hook some students to play on their own outside the classroom). I'm glad to see the AWC take up a long term interest in this sort of "gaming" if indeed they go beyond the tactical gaming concept.

[Jorge_Stanbury]

A board game, or a computer game based on a board game might be a better teaching aid; as you mentioned WITP takes too long and daily turns are not the ideal scenario for long term planning game when time is at premium

I just bought a board game called "Nevsky", totally different era, but it supposedly deals (I haven't opened it yet) with the long term planning of raising, equipping and provisioning and army before going on campaign for a limited period of time (as these are peasant levies)
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/249590/nevsky

Obviously not the kind of war future officers will see, but something on those lines in terms of how long it takes to learn and play can be helpful

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: dr.hal

To get back to the original point of this thread, I find trying to introduce strategic wargaming into a classroom more difficult than one might think. I tried to use the orginal WITP and found that a semester was not nearly long enough to allow the unique characteristics of this game to take hold. What I was interested in was allowing students a feel for supply and logistics as well as long term planning (the strategic aspects of this game). Tactical games are far more "exciting" with lots of BANG and BOOM, which students like, but that's not WITP. But given the slow turn around time, it was difficult for students to get a feel for some of the problems in planning and executing a long term vision as they couldn't get enough turns in during a semester. I started this with the original WITP with the help of Matrix, then with AE but it didn't work well (although I did hook some students to play on their own outside the classroom). I'm glad to see the AWC take up a long term interest in this sort of "gaming" if indeed they go beyond the tactical gaming concept.

Obviously you didn't set sufficient homework. Setting a minimum of 20 turns (3 day turn cycle), for discussion at each weekly tutorial, would see the class well into 1943.

I'm not certain that AE is really the sort of game the military has in mind. Too much in the way of abstractions. OK as an off the shelf product but the job specifications point towards true simulations and their development by civilian software house specifically for professional military use. The term "strategy" used in the job description is not limited to operational/strategic genre games like AE. Think of the HPS tactical sims. Responsibility #3 is probably the key job description. Apply realistic 3D visual environments to simulations like Matrix's Steel Panthers, HPS's Tigers.

Drone training would also play a significant future role. Again getting the realistic terrain etc would be a prime consideration. The point is to train the military to fight and shape the future battlefield remotely.

Alfred

[jwolf]

ORIGINAL: dr.hal

To get back to the original point of this thread, I find trying to introduce strategic wargaming into a classroom more difficult than one might think. I tried to use the orginal WITP and found that a semester was not nearly long enough to allow the unique characteristics of this game to take hold. What I was interested in was allowing students a feel for supply and logistics as well as long term planning (the strategic aspects of this game). Tactical games are far more "exciting" with lots of BANG and BOOM, which students like, but that's not WITP. But given the slow turn around time, it was difficult for students to get a feel for some of the problems in planning and executing a long term vision as they couldn't get enough turns in during a semester. I started this with the original WITP with the help of Matrix, then with AE but it didn't work well (although I did hook some students to play on their own outside the classroom). I'm glad to see the AWC take up a long term interest in this sort of "gaming" if indeed they go beyond the tactical gaming concept.

Back about 15 years ago in the Paradox forums, someone posted about his attempts to use Europa Universalis 2 in his early modern Euro history course at his college. I don't have a link or precise memory of the details, but the experiment turned out rather well and he got at least one scholarly paper out of it.

[dr.hal]

AE is not something to be used by a war collage, I was trying to use it really as an example of semi-modern logistics in an abstract way. A war collage, I would hope, would want more realistic criterions. But I was far less demanding! I didn't use the 3 day a turn which was probably a mistake. It was fun however and some lessons could be gleamed from the various factors at play, most notably supply and fuel (which few folks seem to think about when playing wargames). I had to use this as an after school activity so my "demands" as to their attention were limited.

[dr.hal]

ORIGINAL: jwolf

ORIGINAL: dr.hal

To get back to the original point of this thread, I find trying to introduce strategic wargaming into a classroom more difficult than one might think. I tried to use the orginal WITP and found that a semester was not nearly long enough to allow the unique characteristics of this game to take hold. What I was interested in was allowing students a feel for supply and logistics as well as long term planning (the strategic aspects of this game). Tactical games are far more "exciting" with lots of BANG and BOOM, which students like, but that's not WITP. But given the slow turn around time, it was difficult for students to get a feel for some of the problems in planning and executing a long term vision as they couldn't get enough turns in during a semester. I started this with the original WITP with the help of Matrix, then with AE but it didn't work well (although I did hook some students to play on their own outside the classroom). I'm glad to see the AWC take up a long term interest in this sort of "gaming" if indeed they go beyond the tactical gaming concept.

Back about 15 years ago in the Paradox forums, someone posted about his attempts to use Europa Universalis 2 in his early modern Euro history course at his college. I don't have a link or precise memory of the details, but the experiment turned out rather well and he got at least one scholarly paper out of it.

Interesting jwolf, let me know if you dig anything up that's more specific on the paper.

[dr.hal]

One thing I thought of doing was giving each student a character (and thus a command domain) and then imposing restrictions on communications, including those induced by the characters themselves. This worked to some extent. Main characters such as King, MacArthur, Nimitz, etc., could not talk to each other directly, only by written note (passed through me, who sometimes injected gibberish), and some players were told to be hostile to others. This was done at the Japanese level too, especially between Navy and Army types. It led to some interesting confusion and misdirection. I know, hard to believe huh???? In all instances I acted as head of state of each nation involved (which says a LOT about me!).

[BBfanboy]

dr. hal: passed through me, who sometimes injected gibberish

You mean like "I can't do that, Dave."?