The 635th Materiel Maintenance Group (MMG) at Holloman Air Force Base is leveraging innovative gaming techniques to bolster War Reserve Materiel (WRM) readiness, particularly Basic Expeditionary Airfield Resources (BEAR) assets. Colonel Brandon S. Maroon, 635th MMG Commander, has developed a unique wargame, "BEAR Necessities," designed to educate, challenge, and promote awareness of the complex processes involved in producing deployment-ready capabilities.
Drawing upon his extensive background in exercise planning and certification in Basic Analytic Wargame Design from the Naval Postgraduate School, Maroon recognized an opportunity to enhance the training and problem-solving skills of personnel managing the USAF’s only BEAR base. Over five months, he collaborated with interested gamers, logisticians, and civil engineers within the 635th MMG to design and playtest the game. Master Sergeant Kyle Colussi, BEAR’s Data Analytics Specialist, served as the co-designer, skillfully crafting the game's components, including cards, a game mat, and tokens.
"I’ve led teams across NATO in creating large-scale operational exercises and wargames that took months or years of planning to test Joint Force Commands and intergovernmental agencies," Maroon stated. "So, when I saw the dilemmas our ‘BEAR’ men and women were facing, I knew I could use my previous experience to develop a tactical, educational, and experiential wargame that challenges their decision-making and resourcefulness in a quick and engaging way."
"BEAR Necessities" offers a dynamic problem-solving experience for players. The game can be played solo, cooperatively, or competitively. The objective is to ready and deploy tasked Unit Type Codes (UTCs), which primarily consist of WRM equipment but can also include personnel. Each UTC represents a unique capability crucial for supporting lethality in military operations, and the game is tailorable to mirror specific mission sets such as deploying to austere islands in the USINDOPACOM area of responsibility. Moreover, through clever game mechanics, the game injects unforeseen events that can disrupt daily operations.
The BEAR wargame is structured around four phases: Resource Phase, Readiness Phase, Deployment Phase, and Reconstitution Phase. Players must make deliberate action-economy and worker-placement choices based on available resources, production actions, and acquired skills to ensure UTCs are ready to deploy from Holloman AFB.
Success is measured by the ability to mobilize all tasked UTCs within a given timeline, typically five to ten rounds. Mission Capable points are earned with each deployed UTC, representing support to the warfighter and boosting to the players’ skills. Finally, the degree of success at the end of the game is evaluated by aligning with Air Force Sustainment Center Priorities: Produce to Promise, People Make It Happen, Process is How We Do It, and Prepare for Competition and Warfighting.
“The game's innovative design provides a no-fail, low-cost testing environment for personnel with varying levels of experience in managing WRM and has proven to be an invaluable tool for addressing the complexities of readiness shortfalls under resource constraints,” said Maroon. "BEAR Necessities represents a forward-thinking approach to training and readiness, ensuring the 635th MMG remains prepared to support global operations and maintain its critical role in providing expeditionary airfield resources”.