The simulation is designed to verify space capabilities, tactics and techniques used by the 21st century joint warfighter.

The five-day wargame began March 25. It brings together officials from Headquarters Air Force Space Command, various Department of Defense agencies and non-DoD agencies to examine organizational constructs and advance the development of space policy and rules of engagement.

"Schriever IV is more than a wargame," said Col. Larry Chodzko, Space Innovation and Development Center commander and Schriever Wargame Series executive director.

"It allows us to examine wartime capabilities to meet the needs of combatant commanders and helps shape space strategy and planning through 2025," he said.

More specifically, the game investigates the means to defend, augment and replace space systems, potential seams in command-and-control relationships to support regional commanders, and the integration of air and space in the year 2025. The wargame also investigates the means to improve and understand the role of military space in securing the homeland, according to Jason Altcheck, Schriever IV Wargame director.

"The bottom line theme for these objectives also have space polices and ROEs examined throughout," said Mr. Altcheck.

The most important documents used as the starting point in the game is the AFSPC master plan, the current Quadrennial Defense Report from February 2006 and other documents to write a scenario to make the game usable, he said.

The Schriever IV Wargame is the fourth in the series that has been established by AFSPC commanders to examine space operations in depth and provide valuable information for future military requirements.

"The results of these games are extremely beneficial," said Colonel Chodzko.

"Wargaming impacts the development of real world policies, actions and warfighter requirements," he said. "In fact, the U.S. Strategic Command used the insights gained from the Schriever III Wargame to evolve its Joint Functional Component Command structure to better server the warfighter."

"The Schriever series is additionally important in educating combatant command staffs and developing national space policy," said retired Gen. Ronald R. Fogleman, Schriever IV Wargame senior mentor. "I think there has been a very high pay off from this game series."

Schriever IV concludes March 30. Results of the game will be available in approximately six months.

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