"Would you answer the call ?" Topic

It's one of those cases when the fates decreed that you might possess the necessary skills accumulated over many years of wargaming to command a real army in a time of crisis (I'm excluding those who had careers in the military)

So you might be good at beating your opponent at chess, Squad Leader or Black Powder, but what about telling real soldiers what to do in some ultimate showdown between good and evil ?

Would it be, "I go, you go?"

I was a captain in the army – I think that answers your question.

Yes, but I am excluded due to actual service. (hey wait I thought we veterans were a "protected class")

Can I bring a QRS with all the important tables I would need?

I'd answer the call of nature.

Only if they reversed the charges (I suppose that would make them retreats… or at least, tactical withdrawals).

If the Musorians invaded during a Kangaroo Exercise then they would get a "hiding" just like they use to back in the '80s & '90's. Be it 10mm or 1:1 scale

Regards Allan (ret SNCO)

Yes, but I'm too old these days …

Phil

I would but it would be entirely different to send real people to their possible death. My limited experience of being in charge at work has shown me the difference between second guessinf the leaders and actually making the decisions. Making life or death decisions would be even more difficult.

If a crisis of that nature arrives, I would expect to be otherwise engaged sticking people back together.

Can't think of any scenario when my clinical training would be of less use than my toy soldier expertise…

Yes. Hopefully my answer is not clouded by the fact that I know I am physically unfit for many of the strenuous and dangerous combat jobs (though I did my share of them in years past).

"fates decreed that you might possess the necessary skills accumulated over many years of wargaming"

I fear my only use would be as a grunt in a static unit of the volksstrum.

I'd tell the fates they were looney.

When I established that they were not, I would tell them "What, I'm the BEST you could find!???????"

As I could ONLY be considered by my expertise for a command in the 18th Century, I would ask them "What, have you no Frederick? Have you no Marlborough? have you no Suvarov!??? Go look up one G. Washington.

If that failed to sway them then I would simply sigh and say "Very well, let's go, but you will get everything you deserve by choosing me.

Otto

But

I've made life or death decisions before. I certainly didn't enjoy doing it. I suppose that if it was necessary and they actually thought I had the skills, which I don't unless it was an Ender's Game sort of thing where all these wargames have been training for a totally unrealistic war as I understand it, then I suppose I'd do it.

I'm sure I'm not qualified or competent, but if I was the best remaining choice, I suppose I'd give it a shot.
-Kle.

Although I am the first to decry those who say wargaming is "just a game" only a loony would think they are qualified to lead troops in battle simply from playing wargames.

If anyone asked me, "What are you going to do? What should we do?" I'd give my decision and opinion. If any "skill" I possess turned out well, lucky me/us. If things went south, oh, well….

I reject your premise, Wargamming has very very little in common with real life war.
no one dies just because you rolled a 6.

Given the state of my troops after a normal game, I would proudly command the 42nd suicide battalion into any battle the nation desires of me.

Nope. To paraphrase Groucho, I'd never want to be a part of an armed force that had me as a member…

My dice luck can be hot or cold….tactically pretty decent. However the old adage; Amateurs talk tactics, Professionals talk logistics.
I was a logistics manager for 25 years.
I was also in the armed forces.
Thus, exclusion.

Anyone fool enough to put somebody on charge based on wargaming experience deserves the disaster that will happen.
Would I step up? Would my "troops" pay any attention to me? Why should they? "Hey, something like this came up a few years ago in a Sword and the Flame game!"

Do we hire NFL coaches based on how well they play Madden?

I'll give it a go. What's the pay like?

If that situation arose, my first order would be for every soldier to call their families. My second order would be for them to bend over, grab their knees and kiss their you-know-whats goodbye, because I'm smart enough to know that if my wargaming experience is the military's only hope then the military has no hope.

So, yeah, I'd answer the call, but if the call comes, the cause is already lost.

Probably could – I am the "do to guy" at work to solve the crisis that evolve after the big bosses have a great idea

Sure, you never know until you do it.

In the end, most people, when their lives depend on it, will figure out a way to do okay and we have institutionalized methods to even out the worst of it.

I am reminded of the old joke of the "sergeant navigation" where the platoon leader runs his finger along the map until one of the experienced sergeants nods slightly, indicating he's found the right spot.

"What do you mean they're routing? They charged down a hill, have a general within 100 paces and have a +1 for pilum at first contact! Haven't these idiots read the revised edition?"
Or, to put it briefly, no,

The Canadian Army used to have this exercise as part of the Officer training program – basically, you are given a pile of engineering supplies and a squad of engineers and asked how to build a bridge over a river; this was prior to the cadets learning any real engineering. While many cadets struggled with the nuts and bolts, the correct answer was to turn to the experienced Sapper Sergeant and say, "Sergeant, build a bridge over that river"

This scenario reminds me of the film 'The Flight of the Phoenix' in which the survivors of a plane crash in a desert attempt to build a working plane from the salvagable bits on which to fly to safety. Their endeavours are led by a man who says he is an aircraft designer – but they discover that his only experience is designing flying model planes! Despite their lack of faith, he succeeds and they are saved.

In a similar situation where some military knowledge and/or skill was required, wouldn't a wargamer be at least slightly better than someone with no such knowledge at all? The problem would be that the wargamer's experience might not be of the right period/technology!

I was a captain in the Army Reserve, but never served in combat. I work part-time as a police officer. So I have had a few close calls over the years. Still, if they need me, put me in coach, I'm ready to play.

This is my home and these are my neighbors, if they need me that bad, then with God's help I will do my best.

Mike Bunkermeister Creek
Bunker Talk blog

What's the pay like?

If you ever get the chance to stop people who were going to blow up/shoot up a school full of kids, the reward is more that you could possibly run out of in a lifetime.

I have been told I have a very "Custer" personality on a game table……I would answer, but there would be hell to pay.

Can you assess a situation and make a decision under duress. How fast can you adapt? Can you identify the weaknesses and strengths of a group of people quickly? Do you have 'situational awareness'?

Can you maintain morale while the most horrific, chaotic, lethal environment surrounds you.

Can you deal with and learn from mistakes and move on?

Then can you make tactical, operational and strategic decisions in order to survive, succeed and get home?

If I'm talking through my hat, I apologise. I am not a veteran, everyone around me is.

I reject your premise, Wargamming has very very little in common with real life war.
no one dies just because you rolled a 6.

I don't know about that, I think a heart attack is a plausible low-odds result of that event.
-Kle.

What's the pay like?

If you ever get the chance to stop people who were going to blow up/shoot up a school full of kids, the reward is more that you could possibly run out of in a lifetime.

Warm, fuzzy feelings and the thanks of a grateful nation are all very well but if I am to command armies I'd prefer to be paid in cash.

Plus, I want a hat with a feather in it.

I'm a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, what do you think?

Wargamming has very very little in common with real life war.
no one dies just because you rolled a 6.

Lots of people have died in war when a commander made the "right" decision, but the outcome was influenced by random circumstances outside his control.

Warm, fuzzy feelings and the thanks of a grateful nation are all very well but if I am to command armies I'd prefer to be paid in cash.

Then the career you are looking for is not "military commander", but "arms dealer".

Plus, I want a hat with a feather in it.

… or perhaps this …

Actually I was thinking of something more along the lines of this:

Hmmmm…IF I was transported back into a pre-aircraft "Age of Musket's/Rifles" era…I think I "might" do quite well.

Near Recent/Modern/Contemporary and Future…I'd be going "Where'd they come from?" quite a bit.

At least I know my limitations.

A lot of people answered the call to serve over the years. Bankers; teachers, shop workers, farm hands. You name it, when asked they all filled command positions when necessary.

Spartacus was a slave, a large percentage of PLA officers during the cultural revolution were semi-illiterate. We can imagine any conscript armies had officers of our calibre in them.
We may not be a Scipio or Suvorov but we would do our best.