Junior Officer’s Tactical Awareness Course (JOTAC)​

The challenge our client faced.

The Army’s Land Warfare Centre requested a low-complexity wargame designed as an educational and training tool for planning and execution. JOTAC had a heavy focus on planning but lacked a simple and easy training tool for students to practice the execute part of their plans. The wargame tool had to be simple enough that students could play without requiring prior learning of the system.​

How Vedette responded.​

Developed for LWC, the Battle Group Wargaming System (BGWS), enables participants to engage in realistic scenarios involving the planning, command, and execution of military operations at the battlegroup level. This system is ideal for organisations aiming to enhance decision-making, tactical proficiency, and critical thinking within a controlled, simulation-based environment. JOTAC represented an excellent use-case, and Vedette developed a training package to enable JOTAC instructors to facilitate BGWS. To further make the game relevant to the course, we adapted their planning scenario into BWGS format to enable continuity between the planning and execute products; students can ‘fight’ their plans. We ran a series of pilot courses with JOTAC, using the results to further refine the product and build up instructor facilitator skills. In February 2025, JOTAC ran their first roll-out of BGWS with students, entirely led and run by JOTAC.​

The results.

The wargame was very well-received, with participants finding it useful, enjoyable, and a good use of the time available. It allowed for an in-depth exploration without requiring an extensive read-in. In the post-game survey 81% of the students reported being satisfied with BGWS in the delivery of conceptual learning, with 72% indicating that they were very satisfied. Students remarked that it helped explain the mechanics of BG movements and engagements, and the visual display reinforced the interaction and application of tactics. Students also found the game “incredibly fun and engaging” and the opportunity for free thinking and practice of mission command. ​

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