'War Games' Played Like a Contact Sport.

• Author: Baker, A. Duffy
• Position: Brief Article

Televised docu-drama probes the complexities of military training exercises

The growing sophistication of military training exercises reflects what U.S. policy makers believe is a compelling need to prepare troops for an ever-changing environment of potential threats around the world.

An unusual behind-the-scenes look at how military training drills are plotted is the subject of a television special by the Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) Superstation, entitled "War Games." It aired Match 28.

The format takes complicated military scenarios and breaks them down like a football game. There is even an announcer, National Football League analyst Howie Long, who, along with the writers, sets up the situation concisely, yet with a strong dose of suspense.

Many sports-related metaphors are used. Observer controllers are referred to as referees, movements are compared to fourth-quarter big plays, planes and an aircraft carrier are linemen protecting the quarterback and after-action reviews are like football teams screening replays.

The first exercise of the two-hour long "War Games," is an Army drill at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC). One soldier refers to it as "the Superbowl of training events." The mission is to rescue a town and its residents from hostile forces. The audience is introduced to the two teams, BluFor, the "good guys" and OpFor, the "bad guys." Actors are hired to play the hostages. The scene is set in a mock city known as Shughart-Gordon, a 29-building, 7-square-kilometer complex.

Before the exercise begins, Staff Sgt. David Barron and Sgt. John Harper talk about their lives and their troops. They are the head coaches for BluFor. Their occasional comments are added as a voice-over throughout the JRTC exercise.

Once the action begins, it is naturally intense, especially when viewed through night-vision devices.

A scoreboard and clock run at the bottom of the screen, keeping track of casualties and equipment. Graphics are used to point our differences between the two teams and other interest points.

BluFor has just 18 hours to rescue the hostages. It is a rough fight, since the enemy had time to fortify and set traps.

One particularly high-adrenaline moment is when one soldier throws himself on barbed wire to make a human bridge for his comrades, getting himself "killed" in the process.

Also adding to the drama and sports-cast effect is a field reporter who is acting as one of the hostages. Ultimately, BluFor achieves...