Competition aims to prepare student officers for joint work between the Brazilian Armed Forces
Air Force Agency – ECEMAR, by Colonel Schenk, Aviator
The Air Force Command and Staff College (ECEMAR, per its Portuguese acronym) hosted the opening of the 2023 War Games, which will involve schools from the Armed Forces. The ceremony, held on July 17, was attended by the Commander of ECEMAR, Air Brigadier Helmer Barbosa Gilberto, the instructors of the School and the Student Officers of the Aeronautical Command and Staff Course (CCEM-A).
The competition, which will be held until Nov. 8, is separated into three simulated war exercises: URANO, ATHENA and AZUVER. In the latter, there will be joint work with the Naval War College (EGN) and the Army Command and Staff College (ECEME). The activity is part of the CCEM curriculum and aims to apply the doctrine of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) through a simulated war exercise and the application of the principles of war and strategies of aerospace power.
The exercises are also intended to teach student officers to understand the need for planning, not only integrated, but jointly, from conception to the level of an operational command and a Component Air Force (CAF), with emphasis on operational and logistics areas. The idea is to know how FAB tasks and actions should be employed in military campaigns in the face of the complexity of the decision-making process, which involves the joint employment of the Armed Forces.
In his remarks, Brigadier General Helmer Barbosa Gilberto emphasized the importance of this type of activity. “Thinking about war is the first step in preparing a military leader. That’s what we do here at the Brazilian Air Force Air Warfare Academy. We are preparing all of you so that, when you leave here, you can exercise your Command, Leadership and Management functions, and as advisors in a Joint Command structure,” said the Senior Officer.
War Games
The War Game is an active and effective methodology for gaining experience in relation to the conduct and employment of military forces in a conflict situation. It allows the understanding of theory in practice. The exercise still has a long history of utility as a training device and test of war planning in different countries.
Photos: Petty Officer Fonseca / ECEMAR