'War Games' Played Like a Contact Sport.

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 its objective, but not without heavy casualties.

Next on deck is the Navy on a Wolf Hunt. Three teams, Alpha, Bravo and Charlie, compete against each other and the clock to stop two hostile submarines from taking out a super carrier.

Members of the crew arc introduced, only this time as a ream, including facts about their personal lives. There is a touching moment when Aviation Operator Michael Riollano, part of Alpha, discusses the danger involved and the haunting prospect of losing a friend in a crash.

There are also humorous moments, as when Lt. Brent Gaut admits that he joined the Navy after seeing the movie "Top Gun," starring Tom Cruise.

The suspense of these naval operations is enhanced by the tense competition among the teams. Obviously, each group wants to win.

They experienced some equipment problems. Bravo loses its P-3 Orion aircraft, which costs them dearly. Without the P-3 surveillance systems available to coordinate movements, chaos gets the upper hand, and the submarines manage to sink the super carrier. The absence of two of Charlie's helicopters and their S-3 Viking aircraft manages to work to that team's advantage. Charlie was the only ream that managed to destroy both submarines and protect the carrier.

The Air Force portion of the show is an operation called Red Flag.

Rookie and less-experienced pilots and crews formed the Blue Team. They are sent into an air-to-air dogfight with the ultimate goal of bombing an enemy airfield. The Red Team, composed of seasoned pilots, does its best to stop them.

This kind of exercise began after Vietnam, when statistics proved that pilots with 10 or more missions under their belts had a better chance of success and survival.

Even after they are "destroyed," Red Team planes come back around to simulate a larger amount of enemy aircraft than are actually used in the exercise. The Blue Team has more enemies thrown at them than they would typically see in the real world. The action resembles a scene out of "Top Gun," down to the last-minute rescue of the bomber (which only has enough fuel for another half hour) from a MiG by another plane that had already turned for home.

The last mission of the program is also the biggest. It is a Combined Arms Exercise (CAX) by U.S. Marines. Things are raised to a new level, since the Marines use live ammunition. More than 2,000 troops are to attack and capture enemy territory, then defend it against counter assault. This happens in the middle of the desert. The Desert Storm-style aura of this mission is not lost. The stamina of the Marines is tested, given their lack of sleep and high level of frustration. They get pep talks from squad leaders. When the enemy is finally routed and the day won, there is a "real" feeling of victory.

TBS is considering expanding "War Games" into a regular series. For the military services, the series could become a valuable recruiting tool, if it catches-on among teenagers.