Alex Buck 🇨🇦
@RCRBuck
Working Dad | DS @ CACSC | Professional fun haver | Enjoy discussing tactics & leadership | Interested in wargaming, cyber & IR | Personal acct
Badged into The RCR 10 years ago today. How it started: How it's going (a few months ago):
It’s not about wings. It’s about how you train & think. The airborne mindset means: – Focus on the details – Trusting your NCOs – Relying on your kit – Speed of action when it counts You don’t need jump wings to live it. This mindset belongs across the Army. #StaticLineSaturday
After weeks of training, Ukrainian soldiers leave our training location to return home and defend their country. Canadian troops with #OpUNIFIER salute them as they depart. The determination of Ukrainian soldiers commands deep respect.
Sent out a few prototype decks for playtesting by Army units today. Can’t wait to hear what they think. Always exciting to see ideas leave the desk and hit the field.
You can now listen to an exclusive interview about Dr Aggie Hirst’s latest book ‘Politics at Play: Wargaming with the U.S. Military’. URL: newbooksnetwork.com/politics-of-pl…
Two and a half weeks in Australia made me reflect a lot about Canadian defence culture and how we tend to shame ourselves into action. My jet lag fueled writing in my latest Stackie: open.substack.com/pub/dndcaf101/…
Another day, another round of Major’s Gambit. Finding what works and what might need a house rule. Getting paid to do this? Love it. I come to CACSC every day fired up to talk Army, plan ops, and think through tough problems with great people. Wouldn’t want to do anything else.
Spent another afternoon exploring Major’s Gambit. Really fun and I think we might be able to use it for some teaching in the future. Looking forward to tomorrow’s round!
Does this image look familiar? No, this isn’t a Ukrainian FPV team striking a Russian Decoy for practice. It’s an American Special Operations unit training FPVs into their live fire progression. According to SecDef, the whole U.S. Army needs to be prioritizing Purpose-Built…
Rangers continue to lead the way in transformation by integrating drone tech into their combat training. Watch these elite warfighters carryout a live-fire exercise, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. 🎥 The 75th Ranger Regiment, @USASOCNews
Spent another afternoon exploring Major’s Gambit. Really fun and I think we might be able to use it for some teaching in the future. Looking forward to tomorrow’s round!
Electives @USACGSC - #wargaming for Leader Professional Development is the class. Playing @SebastianBae student designed Major’s Gambit today so the students can teach it later when they leave.
Awesome to see Canada’s Army CWOs getting after it, crushing some PD, and working on themselves to make our Army even better than it already is. Love it!! 🇨🇦💪
Canadian Army CWOs working together to find solutions so we can be better Sergeants Major. This was a key part of our recent professional development seminar; the #OneArmyTeam concept in action. Thank you all for a productive discussion.
Not my main focus this week, but carving out some time to dig into Major’s Gambit as a potential training tool here at CACSC. A fun little side project, always good to keep the brain active. Wargaming is a great way to do that!
Worth mentioning the article also plugs the BGWS being used at Junior Command and Staff Course Land. As we went direct to the designers we can share that one with you here youtu.be/1nn9Jgl82JM?si…
Has anyone out there played the “Divisonal Commander” wargame that the British Army is using at ICSC, according to the below article? I’m interested in checking it out. chacr.org.uk/wp-content/upl… @Fight_Club_Intl @GUWargaming @kclwargaming @Stu_Lyle
A leader tossed me a bomb-shaped die today, their team’s building analog wargames to support what they teach. Love seeing wargaming take off across more teams & contexts. Doesn’t need to be fancy, just needs to make us think. The more, the better.
ICYMI: Alex Buck (@RCRBuck) discussed the educational tactical #wargaming he is leading at the Canadian Army Operations Course! This is an excellent case study in integrating wargames! Link: youtu.be/DDCBSJbjcFA?si…
This is happening now because we - Australia, America, Europe and others, politicians and citizens - do not want to do what needs to be done to stop it. We are unwilling risk our lives or too much treasure to help #Ukraine resist Putin now. Consequently Ukrainians die, and we…
Some of the Russian drones currently above Kyiv.
Always bring an FMP and map markers to the meeting. The basics never get old. Even if you’re a 4 Star bombing Iran.
Western militaries overlook the potential of automatic grenade launchers as true indirect fire assets. Fills the "1000m explosive gap", allows layering effects with mortars & high angle makes it effective for urban ops. Lower damage than mortars, but rapid mass.
Russian MoD video of Russian soldiers using a suppressor on AGS-17 automatic grenade launchers. 4/ t.me/mod_russia/542…
Reminder 👇
On Canada Day, I’m reminded what a privilege it is to wear the flag, and the responsibility it brings. Being Canadian means showing up, doing the work, and treating people with respect, wherever we go. I’m grateful Canada is such a great country, and that I get to call it home.
Canadian Army says it’s investigating ‘abhorrent’ racist, homophobiic Facebook group posts. From my colleague the intrepid @cattunneycbc #cdnpoli cbc.ca/news/politics/…
"Serious or professional wargaming should not be perceived as a ‘nerdy’ or childish endeavour which oversimplifies the complexities of war; their utility as potential training tools should be acknowledged by all warfighting professionals."