R 071430Z JUL 26 MARADMIN 308/26 MSGID/GENADMIN/CG EDCOM QUANTICO VA// SUBJ/ROAD TO THE COMMANDANT'S CUP WARGAMING TOURNAMENT// POC/MR. TIM BARRICK/WARGAMING DIRECTOR/KRULAK CENTER/MCU/ EMAIL: [email protected]/ GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. Situation. The 4th Annual Commandant's Cup  Wargaming Tournament is announced, with finals scheduled to take  place in Washington, D.C., during the Modern Day Marine Expo from  12–15 April 2027.This MARADMIN outlines the Road to the Commandant's  Cup which is defined by two events: Part 1 The Qualifier Rounds and  Part 2 he in-person Commandant's Cup Finals at Modern Day Marine. The Part 1 Qualifier Events determine eligibility for the Finals.  The Qualifier Events consist of 4 rounds of asynchronous, virtual  wargames played via the Marine Corps University's Wargaming Cloud  from September through February. Then Part 2 involves a unit  invitation based on the player standings emerging from the Qualifier  Events. The Qualifier rounds are conducted through Marine Corps  University's (MCU) FIGHT CLUB, an extracurricular activity that  provides participants an opportunity to practice tactical and  operational decision-making in a digital wargame environment aimed at  improving cognitive warfighting skills. The Commandant's Cup finals  are an annual in-person wargaming tournament held at Modern Day Marine,  where top wargamers from across the Marine Corps, Joint Force, and  allied militaries compete in a team-based, four-day, multi-wargame  competition. 2. Tournament Construct. The Road to the Commandant's Cup consists of  a series of qualifying events followed by the Commandant's Cup  Finals. The tournament combines individual and team competition. 2.A. Rounds and Matches.  There are four qualifying rounds. In each round, competitors play a  mirrored match against a human opponent. A mirrored match consists of  two simultaneous games against the same opponent, with each player  taking opposing sides in each game (for example, playing Blue in one  game and Red in the other). 2.B. Games.  Each qualifying round features a different wargame, taking players  through the evolution of warfare from the Napoleonic era, through  World War II, and into the modern era. Players face a variety of  combined-arms tactical dilemmas and game systems that test  decision-making across different historical and operational contexts. 2.C. Swiss Format. Round 1 pairings are randomly assigned. Beginning in Round 2, players  are paired using a Swiss-system format based on prior-round results.  After Round 4, the qualifier leaderboard determines individual  standings. 2.D. Team Format for the Finals at Modern Day Marine. Players register and compete in the Qualifier Rounds individually.  Then, at the conclusion of the Qualifier Events, teams are formed  consisting of the top performing players from common commands. For  purposes of this tournament, a common command is defined as sharing  an O-5 (LtCol), O-6  (Col), O-7 (BGen), O-8 (MajGen), or O-9 (LtGen) level command  relationship. Selection for the Commandant's Cup Finals is based on  identifying the highest-performing players within a common command,  not on the proximity of players' immediate commands. For example, if  one member of an O-5-level unit performs well while another does not,  and another player from the same higher-level O-9 command ranks among  the top performers, the invitation may be awarded based on the broader  command structure. In effect, players compete for the opportunity to  represent their common O-9-level command at the Commandant's Cup  Finals. Depending on overall qualifier results, multiple units within  an O-9 command (such as within a MEF)may receive invitations based on  merit. 2.E. MCU Wargaming Cloud. Qualifier events are conducted virtually through MCU's Wargaming  Cloud. Gameplay is asynchronous and turn-based, allowing participants  to complete turns independently. 2.F. Player Eligibility. Qualifier events are open to active and reserve members of the Marine  Corps, Joint Force, and allied organizations. Participation is capped  at 1,000 players. Units may enter multiple individuals; however,  O-5-level commands are limited to eight individuals. MCU may further  limit participation from individual units to ensure equitable  representation from across the force, based on total registration  numbers. Participants from professional military education (PME)  organizations receive priority for entry. 3. Execution 3.A. Commander's Intent. The Commandant's Cup Wargaming Tournament is designed to demonstrate  the value of wargaming as a tool for sharpening cognitive  decision-making in tactical and operational warfighting scenarios.  Through competition, the tournament seeks to identify and recognize  participants who exhibit exceptional creativity, critical thinking,  problem-solving, and decision-making skills. This year's Road to the  Cup theme, The Evolution of Warfare, takes players from the origins  of maneuver warfare in the Napoleonic age to near-future conflicts  shaped by the complexity of modern capabilities. From ball and  bayonet to missiles and drones, the qualifier events highlight both  the enduring nature of war and its evolving character. 3.B. Concept of Operations. 3.B.1. Qualifier Event 1: Napoleon at War. Napoleon at War is a  battle simulation of warfare during the Napoleonic era. It is a  classic hex-and-counter, turn-based wargame. Qualifier Event 1 begins  14 September and concludes 19 October. 3.B.2. Qualifier Event 2: Company Commander WWII. Company Commander  WWII is a tactical-level wargame modeling World War II ground combat  at the company level, featuring individual vehicles and squads.  Qualifier Event 2 begins 26 October and concludes 30 November. 3.B.3. Qualifier Event 3: Company Commander Modern. This scenario, to  be announced, features a Marine Expeditionary Unit operating in the  Western Pacific. Units include individual squads, vehicles, and drones.  Qualifier Event 3 begins 7 January and concludes 4 February. 3.B.4. Qualifier Event 4: Littoral Commander. Littoral Commander is  the digitized version of the commercial tabletop wargame. It explores  future tactical concepts, emerging technologies, and all-domain  warfare. Qualifier Event 4 begins 8 February and concludes 8 March. 3.C. Expected Time Commitment and Tempo of Play. Completing a paired  match in a qualifier event typically requires approximately 3–4 hours  of total gameplay, distributed across 10–20 iterative turns. Players  have five weeks to complete each paired match. Participants who fail  to complete turns in a timely manner risk automatic forfeiture. The  ideal pace is to complete turns within 24 hours of receiving  notification; however, field exercises and other operational or  personal obligations may occasionally cause delays. In general,  players are expected to maintain a tempo of one turn every 24–48  hours. Participants who consistently fail to meet this expectation  may be removed from the tournament. 3.D. CDET Extra Credit. Students enrolling in AY-27 College of  Distance Education and Training (CDET) seminars who participate in  Qualifier Rounds will be awarded additional percentage points toward  their overall course grade for completing qualifying round events and  advancing in the competition. Grading policy will be managed by the  individual CDET college: Enlisted College Distance Education Program,  EWS Distance Education Program, and CSC Distance Education Program.  Students are responsible for notifying their adjunct faculty of their  participation so that their participation and performance can be  validated.   4. Administration and Logistics 4.A. Tournament Registration. Registration for the Road to the Cup closes on 21 August 2026 at 2359  Eastern Time. Registering for the Road to the Cup enrolls an individual  in the qualifier tournament. Late registrations will not be accepted. Players must register individually at  [https://www.usmcu.edu/Academic-Programs/Wargaming/] (https://www.usmcu.edu/Academic-Programs/Wargaming/)  4.B. Travel Funding. Subject to available funding, MCU will fund travel to Modern Day  Marine for USMC teams that receive an invitation to the Commandant's  Cup Finals. Invited teams will receive additional coordinating  instructions at that time. Non-USMC teams are responsible for  self-funding travel to the finals event. Reserve units must be able  to place participating players on ADOS orders during Modern Day  Marine in order for MCU to fund travel. 5. Command and Signal 5.A. MCU Wargaming Cloud. All participants will be granted access to MCU's Wargaming Cloud for  the duration of the qualifier events in which they compete.  Participants will access the system from outside the Marine Corps  Enterprise Network (MCEN) using personal computers and an internet  connection. 5.B. Points of Contact. MCU's Wargaming Director, Mr. Tim Barrick, and M&S Officer,  Capt Nathan Tidwell, may be reached at <[[email protected]>] (mailto:[email protected]). 6. Release authorized by Brigadier General M. W. Tracy, Commanding  General, Education Command.//