Episode #82: Wargaming as a Means of Understanding Modern War: A Discussion with Dr. Gian Gentile of RAND

Friends- If you ever wanted to see wargaming work at the highest and most critical level, then you're going to enjoy this episode quite a bit. Gian Gentile is the associate director of RAND Arroyo Center, the United States Army's sole federally funded research and development center for studies and analysis. Gentile is also a senior historian at the RAND Corporation. His research focuses on U.S. Army total force policy, military doctrine and organization, history, innovation and transformation, and strategy. Gentile completed 32 years of active service in the U.S. Army where he served in a variety of command and staff assignments in the United States, Korea, and Europe. Prior to his time at RAND, he was Director of the Military History Program at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Gentile did two combat tours in Iraq: In 2003 he was a Brigade Combat Team Executive Officer in the 4th Infantry Division in Tikrit, and in 2006 he commanded a cavalry squadron in the 4th Infantry Division in west Baghdad. His book, Wrong Turn: America's Deadly Embrace of Counterinsurgency, was released by The New Press in June 2013. He has also published widely in professional and scholarly journals, and in major national and international media. He has been a visiting fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City. For his work at RAND on issues relating to the proper mix between the Active and Reserve Army Components, Gentile was awarded the Bronze and Silver Medals for excellence in research and writing.In this interview, we touch on Gian's upbringing, career in the military, and all of the wargaming he has been doing with his associates in an attempt to better form an understand of Russian foreign policy and strategy in the Baltic as well as Ukraine. This was one of my (and Kellys) favorite interviews. Please enjoy it!20 Sided Gamified Listeners- if you’re a fan of this show and want access to 12 exclusive episodes that drop on the 30th of each month- shows that are orchestrated and designed by you, join the game at patreon.com/20SidedGamifiedPodcastLLC  See you there, and don’t forget your dice!https://patreon.com/20SidedGamifiedPodcastLLCAnd, don't forget about our sponsor, BetterHelp! If you're interested in inquiring about what BetterHelp can offer you, please use the link below and get 10% off your first month!https://betterhelp.com/20sidedgamified Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.