News & Announcements
04 Aug 20 - U.S. Naval Sea Cadets Try their Hand at a Virtual Replay of the Battle of Midway
Newport, RI - This summer, high school students across the country are engaged in a variety of new virtual experiences to keep busy. For a few members of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps, for nine days in July found themselves back in 1942, engaged in a virtual replay of the Battle of Midway. Often referred to as the Miracle at Midway, the U.S. Navy won a great victory. In this virtual replay, the Imperial Japanese Navy may come out on top.
The virtual Battle of Midway is a first ever cooperative effort between the Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island, and the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps. The Naval Sea Cadet Corps is a federally chartered youth organization that closely works with the U.S. Navy to provide young people (age 10 to 17) a window into what life is like in the armed forces and to give Cadets a considerable leg up should they decide to pursue a military career or attend a 4-year college after high school. The Naval War College does war gaming as part of its professional training and the participating Naval Sea Cadets are experiencing a sophisticated simulation that highlights many of the realities of war – losing ships in battle, poor communications and the benefit of good planning.
The Game Facilitator, Peter Pellegrino of the Naval War College’s War Gaming Department said “While most of the US Naval War College's war games involve active duty senior officers, it is equally if not more important to expose these Naval Sea Cadets, Naval Academy Midshipmen, and Junior Officers of the U.S. Navy to war gaming, as they truly represent the 'future Navy.'”
Sixteen Cadets, eight on each side, one team representing the U.S. Navy (USN) and the other the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), follow explicit rules to maneuver their roughly equal forces across a game play map based on grid coordinates. The game rules drive outcomes based on the strategic choices made by the players. There are a few challenges thrown in to reflect surprises that do occur in real life and which make the game outcome even less certain.
“By the 3rd day I felt like I was in the middle of a great war novel, waiting anxiously to see what would happen in the next move” said Lieutenant Gary Schindele, NSCC.
A war game is fun and engaging but highlights the value of preparation and the essence of warfare – uncertainty.
“I have learned more about the logic and strategy that goes into developing a plan of attack and the logistics that are required to be successful in war. I feel that this training helped to develop my problem-solving skills and logical thinking” said Petty Officer First Class Jonathan Christie, NSCC.
The Battle of Midway war game lasted nine days with each fleet operating over the Pacific Ocean. At the end of the game each team mulled over what they did right or wrong. The war game especially allowed Cadets to experience uncertainty and the responsibility associated with making a move into a space fraught with danger, but also opportunity.
Cadet reflections about the past week offer inspiration that this was an experience that mattered.
“The best thing about the simulation was that it felt almost real. While that might seem like a leap, it felt real because of the involvement, and curiosity from the other participants and shipmates. Certain aspects of the simulation were added and or changed at random times, and did its job and executed flawlessly at confusing us, but also making it more interesting at the end of everyday” said Petty Officer Third Class Aidan Dlugacz, NSCC.
“I think the game places a value on situational awareness, which helps me reinforce that skill in myself. Being aware of the movements of friendly and enemy forces is crucial” said Chief Petty Officer Lyndon Gruner, NSCC.
“This training was professional, insightful, and most of all, fun! I learned that the art of war is chaos and making sense of the chaos was the most exciting part” said Ensign Brittany DiPippo, NSCC
“I learned a lot about making decisions, looking at the big picture and working with others. You really rely on your team and it was incredibly fun. Not to mention the strategy and planning and learning history what it was like to be a Commander in 1942 was awesome” said Chief Petty Officer Joshua Desmond, NSCC.
“The game was very life-like. It felt like an intensified game of "Battleship" but with many more moving parts, more players, and higher stakes” said Chief Petty Officer Joy Teixeira, NSCC.
By learning their lessons well, they have grown as individuals and as citizens appreciative of what those who participated in the real Battle of Midway faced a lifetime ago.
Oh, who won? Statistically, in this war game the USN lost. The IJN sunk more ships and shot down more aircraft.
“The best part about the game was that it put my leadership skills to the test. As a Fleet Admiral for this war game, I oversaw the other IJN team members and I had to make decision that could ultimately affect the outcome of the game. My communication skills were put to the test, in a way that was much different than any other experience in the Naval Sea Cadet Corps I had ever participated in. The game was mostly through email, and one typo could mean a missed opportunity to destroy an enemy force” said Chief Petty Officer Joy Teixeira, NSCC.
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The U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps is a national youth leadership development organization that promotes interest and skill in naval disciplines while instilling strong moral character and life skills through leadership and technical programs modeled after the U.S. Navy's professional development system. The mission of the youth program is to create leaders with character. We are sponsored by the Navy League of the United States and official supported by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard.
Naval Sea Cadets are taught about leadership, the sea-going military services, community service, citizenship, and teamwork. Cadet units operate like a military reserve unit and learn hands-on skills from experts in their fields following a "learn-do-learn" learning model.
Naval Sea Cadets are authorized to wear the U.S. Navy uniform and do so with pride! After completing Recruit Training, Cadets can attend Advanced Training in the fields of U.S. Navy Sailing Operations, U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Operations, SCUBA Certification, SEAL Training, Marksmanship, Medicine, Aviation, and much more!
If you are interested in becoming a Naval Sea Cadet in Rhode Island, please contact your local Public Affairs Officer and Recruiter at 401-808-5390 or bdipippo@seacadets.org. For more information on the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps, please visit www.seacadets.org.
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The virtual Battle of Midway is a first ever cooperative effort between the Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island, and the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps. The Naval Sea Cadet Corps is a federally chartered youth organization that closely works with the U.S. Navy to provide young people (age 10 to 17) a window into what life is like in the armed forces and to give Cadets a considerable leg up should they decide to pursue a military career or attend a 4-year college after high school. The Naval War College does war gaming as part of its professional training and the participating Naval Sea Cadets are experiencing a sophisticated simulation that highlights many of the realities of war – losing ships in battle, poor communications and the benefit of good planning.
The Game Facilitator, Peter Pellegrino of the Naval War College’s War Gaming Department said “While most of the US Naval War College's war games involve active duty senior officers, it is equally if not more important to expose these Naval Sea Cadets, Naval Academy Midshipmen, and Junior Officers of the U.S. Navy to war gaming, as they truly represent the 'future Navy.'”
Sixteen Cadets, eight on each side, one team representing the U.S. Navy (USN) and the other the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), follow explicit rules to maneuver their roughly equal forces across a game play map based on grid coordinates. The game rules drive outcomes based on the strategic choices made by the players. There are a few challenges thrown in to reflect surprises that do occur in real life and which make the game outcome even less certain.
“By the 3rd day I felt like I was in the middle of a great war novel, waiting anxiously to see what would happen in the next move” said Lieutenant Gary Schindele, NSCC.
A war game is fun and engaging but highlights the value of preparation and the essence of warfare – uncertainty.
“I have learned more about the logic and strategy that goes into developing a plan of attack and the logistics that are required to be successful in war. I feel that this training helped to develop my problem-solving skills and logical thinking” said Petty Officer First Class Jonathan Christie, NSCC.
The Battle of Midway war game lasted nine days with each fleet operating over the Pacific Ocean. At the end of the game each team mulled over what they did right or wrong. The war game especially allowed Cadets to experience uncertainty and the responsibility associated with making a move into a space fraught with danger, but also opportunity.
Cadet reflections about the past week offer inspiration that this was an experience that mattered.
“The best thing about the simulation was that it felt almost real. While that might seem like a leap, it felt real because of the involvement, and curiosity from the other participants and shipmates. Certain aspects of the simulation were added and or changed at random times, and did its job and executed flawlessly at confusing us, but also making it more interesting at the end of everyday” said Petty Officer Third Class Aidan Dlugacz, NSCC.
“I think the game places a value on situational awareness, which helps me reinforce that skill in myself. Being aware of the movements of friendly and enemy forces is crucial” said Chief Petty Officer Lyndon Gruner, NSCC.
“This training was professional, insightful, and most of all, fun! I learned that the art of war is chaos and making sense of the chaos was the most exciting part” said Ensign Brittany DiPippo, NSCC
“I learned a lot about making decisions, looking at the big picture and working with others. You really rely on your team and it was incredibly fun. Not to mention the strategy and planning and learning history what it was like to be a Commander in 1942 was awesome” said Chief Petty Officer Joshua Desmond, NSCC.
“The game was very life-like. It felt like an intensified game of "Battleship" but with many more moving parts, more players, and higher stakes” said Chief Petty Officer Joy Teixeira, NSCC.
By learning their lessons well, they have grown as individuals and as citizens appreciative of what those who participated in the real Battle of Midway faced a lifetime ago.
Oh, who won? Statistically, in this war game the USN lost. The IJN sunk more ships and shot down more aircraft.
“The best part about the game was that it put my leadership skills to the test. As a Fleet Admiral for this war game, I oversaw the other IJN team members and I had to make decision that could ultimately affect the outcome of the game. My communication skills were put to the test, in a way that was much different than any other experience in the Naval Sea Cadet Corps I had ever participated in. The game was mostly through email, and one typo could mean a missed opportunity to destroy an enemy force” said Chief Petty Officer Joy Teixeira, NSCC.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps is a national youth leadership development organization that promotes interest and skill in naval disciplines while instilling strong moral character and life skills through leadership and technical programs modeled after the U.S. Navy's professional development system. The mission of the youth program is to create leaders with character. We are sponsored by the Navy League of the United States and official supported by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard.
Naval Sea Cadets are taught about leadership, the sea-going military services, community service, citizenship, and teamwork. Cadet units operate like a military reserve unit and learn hands-on skills from experts in their fields following a "learn-do-learn" learning model.
Naval Sea Cadets are authorized to wear the U.S. Navy uniform and do so with pride! After completing Recruit Training, Cadets can attend Advanced Training in the fields of U.S. Navy Sailing Operations, U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Operations, SCUBA Certification, SEAL Training, Marksmanship, Medicine, Aviation, and much more!
If you are interested in becoming a Naval Sea Cadet in Rhode Island, please contact your local Public Affairs Officer and Recruiter at 401-808-5390 or bdipippo@seacadets.org. For more information on the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps, please visit www.seacadets.org.
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