We had the privilege of welcoming the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme (AFPS) for the second time in November 2024
Since the Defence Experimentation and Wargaming Hub (DEWH) previously hosted AFPS in November 2023, the hub has focused on proof of concept and developing its core capabilities. A year on, the DEWH is now operational and regularly hosting a variety of military and cross-governmental decision support activities, providing rapid capability development, experimentation exercises and delivering strategic Defence-level planning events and wargames to enhance decision-making.
This visit demonstrated the wide spectrum of wargaming styles that could be employed to deliver evidence-based decisions, faster and enable Defence to tackle the urgent and important challenges of the modern operating environment.
The six MPs were introduced to two wargames, a manual wargame developed by our in-house Dstl team members called Ripple Effect. This exposed the MPs the consequences of their decision-making surrounding climate change and security; and is based on real world case studies. They also experienced a simulation style wargame Command PE.
Command PE gives users at the tactical to operational levels, the ability to visualise scenarios, test force compositions, and run simulations of multi-domain operations, engagements, and exercises. Working from a vast open-source database of military hardware and capabilities it enables the simulation of every military engagement from post-World War II to the present day, with a focus on maritime and air operations.
The Defence Experimentation and Wargaming Hub provides a controlled, strategic space for testing, adapting, and evolving Defence capabilities as well as supporting data-driven insights and analysis in order to enhance Defence-level decision making.
AFPS learned first-hand how beneficial wargaming can be for Defence. It was great to see the parliamentary members spending time with the personnel supporting the hub including Dstl and industry partners.
Captain Eugene Morgan RN, Assistant Head Wargaming, Strategic Command said:
Together with Dstl, the DEWH is building the spiritual home for wargaming making it persuasive throughout Defence and delivering better decision-making, at pace.
The AFPS is designed for Members of Parliament (MPs) to engage with the Armed Forces and learn from them so that MPs may be better informed when making governmental decisions on the Armed Forces.
The 2024 cohort included a cross-section of the political spectrum with all main political parties represented.
Kelly Lusted, Strategic Command Assistant Head of Secretariat and Defence Engagement and the lead for the AFPS said:
The aim of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme is to give Members, the vast majority of whom have no experience of our Armed Forces, an insight into military life that would not otherwise be available to them. It is then hoped that they will be able to make a more informed and useful contribution to defence debates in their respective Chambers.
The day culminated with a visit to Southwick Park’s D-Day map, a reminder of the historical importance wargaming has playing in the course of British military history.