The Playing Fields: Sports and Warfighting Readiness

By Phil Bozzelli and Paul Giarra

The Duke of Wellington’s aphorism “The Battle of Waterloo was received on the enjoying fields of Eton,” has been broadly accepted as a validation of sports activities and their better relevance to warfighting and victory. We take that assertion at face worth however go additional.

Utilizing the renewed emphasis upon warfighting throughout the protection and naval institutions, we suggest that sports activities at our service academies, particularly the U.S. Naval Academy, do greater than present venues for train or competitors. Somewhat, these actions and their individuals must be an integral a part of the warfighting curriculum of these establishments simply as all the things else there must be.

This theme leverages the essential relationships between sports activities and warfighting. Within the former one must know and perceive himself, his teammates and his opponents. It’s no totally different in warfare, the place the stakes are increased and due to this fact the figuring out and understanding of 1’s self, allies and enemies is of even better significance for achievement. Warfare considering and motion are targeted upon the worldwide setting.

The worldwide inhabitants has embraced sports activities as a manner to enhance understanding and relations between nations. The Olympics are the obvious manifestation of this actuality. Now we have all witnessed how this venue has grow to be, over the many years, an indication of both nationwide pleasure, wealth, political ideology, or a mix of all in addition to different positives and negatives. These gatherings have, at least, permitted an up-close and prolonged engagement by and among the many particular person athletes themselves.

America does deliver overseas officers to the U.S. for coaching and schooling alternate applications. Some exchanges contain officers on the extra senior ranges whose considering has already been largely formed and is completed in a typically formal classroom setting. This education course of consists of little participation of America’s much less pleasant counterparts and for probably the most half it takes place on American soil.

USNA has 33 varsity sports activities on the nationwide competitors stage and 25 intramural and membership sports activities for these not competing on the varsity stage. America’s different service academies function related applications (e.g. West Level presents 25 varsity sports activities and 28 intramural and membership groups). All midshipmen (and cadets) are engaged in a number of sports activities or athletic actions, however primarily all on the home scene.

This sporting, intramural, and membership scene is dynamic not solely in content material however in venue and physicality. The digital age has launched E-Sports activities, gaming and wargaming as aggressive processes that fill stadiums and require very good hand-eye coordination analogous to that {of professional} basketball gamers however whereas seated at a pc display. The video games have transitioned from common video games to people who mimic stay sports activities as nicely they usually too have transitioned to worldwide ranges of competitors monitored by its model of the NCAA (World Esports Federation – GEF). Equally, the military-focused wargaming style has joined this digital aggressive setting.

The Nationwide Protection Academy of Japan (NDAJ) manages to area 37 sports activities at varied ranges (even together with conventional American sports activities like soccer, basketball, and so on.). USNA (and USMA) have about the identical variety of college students as on the NDAC with the key distinction being that the NDAJ presents a three-year schooling to future officers of all companies earlier than they go on to separate one-year faculties for his or her particular person militaries.

To various levels, militaries have officer-based sporting groups at totally different ranges of talent inside and with out the first service faculty. The Indian Navy has the biggest naval academy in Asia and presents a minimum of 9 sporting groups. The Royal Navy, along with sports activities groups at its Naval Faculty, fields an enormous number of groups all through its naval institution. China’s PLAN sporting focus, as might be decided from afar, seems to be extra of a utilitarian group constructing sort, though it does area a severely revered rugby group. Apparently, the PLA has not lagged in becoming a member of the digital age of competitors, with E-Sports activities and wargaming widespread amongst its navy and civilian faculties.

The assorted USNA groups ought to interact internationally with their pleasant and not-so-friendly worldwide navy equivalents. The numbers of USNA groups gives important engagement alternatives at various acceptable talent ranges dispersed over your entire calendar yr. An setting exists the place competitors might be truthful and acceptable in addition to helpful to assist produce the warfighting management of the long run. This proposed worldwide engagement through sports activities far exceeds that worldwide expertise obtainable to midshipmen from another present program. It’s on the worldwide fields and seas the place these officers will interact in warfare and peace.

We don’t want to interact right here in a debate relating to how sturdy the warfighting focus has been of the USNA lately. Nevertheless, it’s clear that “warfighting” is at present being emphasised. The newly put in Secretary of Protection has made clear his focus and emphasis is upon warfighting and warfare readiness. This echoes the earlier Chief of Naval Operations in her 2024 Navigation Plan for its “Warfighting Navy” headline and focus.

There’s a renewed consciousness and focus upon warfighting potential and readiness as the first, if not singular, mechanism for sustaining peace. As one of many nation’s commissioning sources of naval officers the burden is upon USNA not solely to assist however to guide on this warfighting mission through its lecture rooms, dormitories and enjoying fields.

We aren’t ranging from floor zero. The USNA offshore crusing group not too long ago competed and received on the Ecole Navale Worldwide Crusing Week Competitors, and in Could 2024 the USNA had a part of its women and men rugby groups take part in a State Division sponsored Rugby 7 tour of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. We’re proposing an organized growth of those efforts not only for the game however for the inherent profit it brings to America’s nationwide safety through the schooling of its future Naval leaders in assembly the USNA mission that the naval officer “have to be an awesome deal extra.”

Our curiosity on this topic happened after we turned concerned on the periphery of an invite from the NDAJ’s four-star stage civilian head to the USNA rugby group, through its coach, for the group to hitch in a rugby match on the NDAJ that would come with groups from the NDAJ, the UK (Royal Naval Faculty) and France (Ecole Navale). USNA’s Rugby group’s schedule and different components (e.g., financing, occasion timing, NCAA guidelines and so on.) precluded USNA participation.

We should first name consideration to and spotlight the importance of this NDAJ rugby initiative given the historic political and societal components working in that nation. We see sports activities associated considering as a “huge deal.” The NDAJ rugby initiative not solely reinforces the transnational utility of sports activities however presents a targeted interpersonal engagement automobile for navy forces – pleasant and never – which the U.S. and U.S. Navy ought to leap upon and broaden. The extra vital facet is the engagement with non-friendly nations.

The NDAJ and USNA catalog of sports activities is extra typical than not of what exists on the world’s varied service academies. Additional, and extra importantly, is the worldwide shift in navy attitudes exemplified by the Japanese authorities’s extra seen overseas coverage on the world’s stage to incorporate this invitation to each the USN and its main seagoing allies through their officer producing faculties.

Our competition is that it’s all about warfighting to incorporate having the mandatory warfighting expertise to attain success with out warfare. Within the phrases of Wellington, “Not all naval battles are fought at sea!” As soon as one accepts this dictum, the tradeoffs required by way of time and funding between these occasions and extra conventional actions of Midshipmen (e.g. summer time cruises) might be extra equitably evaluated.

The “whys” for doing this are most likely restricted extra by expertise than creativeness, so we checklist however a number of of the extra apparent. Whether or not one is a “globalist” or not, the fact is that America’s navy has been concerned globally since its founding and that is very true of its sea companies – the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard – whose officers are anticipated to operate as diplomats of their worldwide engagements, even at junior ranges. Doing this nicely requires extra worldwide engagement sooner and over an extended interval of service time.

The historical past of the world and positively that of America from its starting has made clear the necessity for supporters, associates, allies, companions no matter whether or not the target is navy, political, financial or diplomatic. Whether or not that non-American reveals up as a ship in our formation, a soldier in an adjoining fox gap, an article in some overseas media, a vote in some organizational chamber, some piece of wanted overseas actual property or overflight, a buying and selling companion or lender or just an unpretentious “flag” amongst many – everyone knows and settle for this want and the utility of somebody to fulfill it. Maybe, much more importantly, we admire that we should nurture these relationships if they’re to be maintained or improved upon. For the navy officer, this isn’t about “good will” or “friendships” it’s about what’s required by way of data about each allies and potential enemies.

For the naval officer this relationship between data and warfighting is lifelong and constant. It begins at USNA with its motto Ex Scientia Tridens (From Data Sea Energy), engraved on each USNA graduate’s class ring. It continues and is bolstered with the U.S. Naval Struggle Faculty motto of Viribus Mari Victoria (Victory via Sea Energy); and these educational guidons grow to be seagoing actuality within the U.S. Seventh Fleet’s Prepared energy for peace.

The authors’ experiences have been that there was and stays a substantial amount of ignorance and misunderstanding of what transpires within the minds and cultures of others. This deficiency happens in any respect institutional ranges, private and non-private. Due to this fact, with the ability to make essential judgments relating to what others current turns into ever extra vital because the tempo and sourcing of knowledge is rising exponentially. Whereas essential considering potential is crucial for the home setting as nicely, our focus is warfighting whereby each the opponents and allies shall be overseas.

A significant, if not the best, obstacle to worldwide success and a contributor to contentions has been ignorance or misunderstanding of the historical past, tradition, motivations, beliefs, psychology of others. A deficiency compounded on this trendy period the place English is the brand new world lingua franca. As a result of American “tradition” (e.g. Apple, pop music, leisure) is dispersed to the furthest corners of the globe and all are joined collectively through the Web and social media, we due to this fact assume, incorrectly, that others assume and are motivated as we’re.

Regardless of various bloody, navy conflicts since World Struggle II’s VJ day, the overwhelming majority of America’s navy effort, and particularly that of its Navy, has been on peaceable non-kinetic engagement with neutrals, associates, allies, opponents, opponents all over the world. All of those actions are both straight or not directly pointed to enhancing that warfighting prowess to be there when wanted and be seen and accepted in order to not be wanted.

Though the NDAJ and rugby had been the impetus for this text, the alternatives are extra intensive and the demand urgent sufficient that the U.S. and particularly the U.S. Navy ought to take a management position in making this occur utilizing the hype created by the Olympics, worldwide athletic competitors, and the ever-present forces necessitating “grey zone” engagement. As demonstrated repeatedly, sports activities permit engagements the place in any other case precluded by politics.

This places the NDAJ invitation in a distinct gentle, not simply as a pleasant school-to-school athletic problem, however as a possibility for worldwide publicity, country-to-country understanding, and bonding with associates and allies. And to emphasise the sooner factors, this isn’t nearly Japan or Rugby however the broader alternatives throughout all sports activities and all nations for a deliberate navy to navy engagement program in a distinct type of classroom and “battlefield.”

Clearly, there are necessities that must be met, reminiscent of funding, carving out time in already packed educational and sports activities schedules, and assembly NCAA restrictions. Held towards the worldwide alternatives for constructing private {and professional} relationships and bettering understanding amongst all events, these should not obstacles, however merely the price of doing enterprise. It’s most likely not an exaggeration to state that each one that takes place within the lives of Midshipmen is geared to turning them into competent naval officers, residents, and leaders. Consequently, the time allotted to those varied endeavors is justified and legitimate as is the funding, no matter its supply (e.g. authorities budgets, donations, alumni funding, sports activities income and so on.)

These are all prices that should be sourced. Nevertheless heavy the financing thumb is on the dimensions, it must be balanced by potential features, monetary and in any other case. Relying upon the place and the way these contests are performed there may be the chance for income reminiscent of from promoting, broadcasting and excursions. Neither USNA nor the U.S. authorities itself are novices on this class. On that very same counterweight facet of the dimensions are the intangible advantages of picture, recruiting throughout the board, good will, cultural understanding and messaging all performed through the extra acceptable and fewer intrusive automobile of sport.

Though this proposal is directed on the junior ranges of the navy, our expertise has been {that a} shared background of navy service gives a level of primary rapport that always doesn’t exist between the navy and civilian of even the identical nation. That is very true for the ocean companies the place the impartiality of the seas, winds and skies permits one ship’s captain to readily baseline himself with one other no matter nationality. Equally, aggressive athletes in any respect ages have this shared understanding amongst their worldwide colleagues. A boxer or wrestler or oarsman or no matter is aware of, appreciates and has a typical basis along with his fellow competitor no matter nationality as a result of the widespread vigor of the shared sport transcends borders. Thus, there is a crucial beginning framework from which to go ahead – shared naval education background mixed with widespread sporting expertise.

Mainly, attending to “Sure” will embrace understanding by U.S. leaders that that is each an inside and exterior political – navy subject of nice significance. We advocate the next:

1. Start with “In fact we’ll take part” and discover a manner.

2. Begin early, rapidly and small – focus upon a profitable starting.

3. As with the launching of ships, it is very important “grease the skids” in any respect stakeholder ranges, from coaches to nationwide governments to funders to assist guarantee success

4. Following on to the NDAJ receptivity and initiative relating to Rugby, Rugby would be the logical starting; nevertheless, pursuing this as step one could violate the above concept of “early, rapidly and small.”

5. The U.S., U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Naval Academy have so many choices by way of sports activities, timing, venues (home and worldwide), and opponents that it’s tough to see an impediment to an early success as soon as the choice is made to take part.

6. There are a number of method to fund this program: Academy supporters, athletic and group supporters, patrons, firms, U.S. DOD and non-DOD funds.

7. Planning round educational yr class schedules is tough, however not not possible. Summer season cruises might be designed round group participation as is completed now for main sports activities; venue choice can facilitate the time required for the occasion. Due to this fact, we see this as a year-round exercise.

8. Deal with this program the identical as Olympic group participation. There are clear precedents for scheduling and funding for navy personnel.

9. Advice 1, above, to take part, is just not sufficient: Lead!

Discovering a manner requires the collaboration of many events. Nevertheless, the management initiative rests with the Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy who has authority for the human assets required for this program and whose employees consists of an Worldwide Engagement Workplace, which can want growth in each depth and breadth to develop and execute a profitable program.

There shall be varied arguments as to why the above is both too tough or pointless. We deal with three:

1: NCAA guidelines: vital sufficient to USNA’s Division 1 standing and all that goes with it to have a compliance officer on the USNA Athletic Affiliation employees to make sure the coaches adhere to the principles. Nevertheless, as any vacationer to Annapolis will see on show in both a memento store or on the again of a midshipman tee shirt the brand “USNA, not school”. Inside and with out the USNA, there must be a reminder that the service academies have a function that goes past and generally conflicts with that of simply being a serious academic establishment. Additional, there are NCAA guidelines, such because the switch portal entry, that the USNA is just not capable of make use of. If the USNA turns into critical about executing this proposal, working the NCAA guidelines course of to fulfill all necessities might be achievable.

2: USNA’s to-do checklist: that USNA’s superintendent has a lot to do and including one thing else reminiscent of this to that work checklist is counterproductive. The US authorities and the US Navy furnishes the Superintendent with a big sized employees to incorporate an already current Worldwide Engagement Officer. We acknowledge that there isn’t a scarcity of initiatives being thrust upon the USNA management; nevertheless, we expect all these endeavors, whether or not new or conventional, first should be evaluated and prioritized accordingly by the management, writ massive, earlier than being rejected. As addressed above, we see the USNA’s main mission as being that of training and coaching entry stage naval officers in a fashion in step with the missions of the working fleet and its different academic establishments. Below this logic each alternative to teach midshipmen throughout the framework of warfighting is sensible as a component of the USNA mission.

3: Automobiles, reminiscent of CISM (Worldwide Army Sports activities Council) exist already to do such: due to this fact, use that mechanism slightly than one thing new or totally different. For causes greatest recognized to USNA, the establishment has had no noticeable participation through CISM. These causes would definitely have included obstacles such because the NCAA guidelines, monetary assist, schedules and so on.

Whereas helpful partially inside that construction, the NDAJ rugby invitation and its acceptance by others sends the message that different autos exist, are used and are most likely most well-liked. The current USNA crusing competitors in France and the USNA Rugby 7 tour of among the South Pacific islands are however two examples. Maybe most significantly are the target and who leads.

The target is to boost warfighting prowess of America’s Naval Forces. Aims of such establishments as CISM (“The last word purpose is to contribute to world peace by uniting armed forces via sports activities. The motto beneath which we function is “Friendship via Sport“) and even that motivating the USNA Rugby 7 tour of the South Pacific (“to enhancing our partnership with the Pacific Islands and the respective governments to attain our shared imaginative and prescient for a resilient Pacific Islands area of peace, concord, safety, social inclusion, and prosperity”) are all nicely and good however mustn’t and can’t be the goals of navy forces. We are saying this with full appreciation {that a} competent warfighting navy power can actually assist produce the setting for these different outcomes, as mirrored within the US Seventh Fleet’s maxim “prepared seapower for peace,” however the operative motion is energy – seapower and warfighting potential.

The flexibility of America’s navy to carry out its main operate – protection of the USA and its goals – will, as at all times, rely upon the abilities and willingness of its navy leaders to guide – to guide internally and externally. With out denigrating the utility, worth, significance of associates, allies and worldwide cooperation, the fact – welcomed or not – is that the exterior world for the foreseeable future is seeking to and anticipating U.S. management. Due to this fact, we anticipate America and its naval management to guide right here as nicely.

We shut with this reminder – “Not all naval battles are fought at sea!”

Captain Phil Bozzelli, USN (Ret.) is a retired Floor Warfare Officer who served as Protection Attache in Rome.

Commander Paul Giarra, USN (Ret.) served as a Navy pilot, attended the Nationwide Struggle Faculty-equivalent Nationwide Institute for Defence Research in Tokyo, and was a varsity light-weight oarsman at Harvard.

Photograph: Members of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard Males’s 7s Rugby groups contest for possession of the ball throughout a scrum, Aug. 22, 2025. (Photograph by Petty Officer 2nd Class Theodore Lee)