Narrator: Wargaming provides a mental picture of an operation against the enemy and battlespace and permits the commander and staff to anticipate the action, reaction, and counteraction dynamics of the battle. Short of actually executing the course of action, wargaming provides the most reliable basis for understanding and improving each course of action. Wargaming assists in identifying strengths, weaknesses, and risks along with asset, capability and planning shortfalls for each COA. Ultimately, a successful war game fosters a better understanding of the situation which will lead to modified COAs that better reflect the problem planners are attempting to solve.