Manila: The Philippine Military Academy: has adopted 'gamified learning' to prepare cadets for modern warfare.
According to Philippines News Agency, PMA activated the CCAFP (Cadet Corps Armed Forces of the Philippines) E-Games Club and has formalized competitions among cadets in different companies starting in 2025, as stated by Lt. Commander Jesse Nestor Saludo, chief of the PMA office of public affairs. He noted that partner academies abroad also utilize e-games to simulate scenarios, mission planning, and strategy execution as part of cadets' training.
In selecting games, Saludo emphasized that cadets assess the gains from each game, focusing on realistic tactics and command-level decision-making, which are crucial for military training. This approach enhances cadets' skills in small unit tactics, combined arms operations, and their understanding of terrain and timing, key concepts in modern military leadership education.
He further explained that the games reflect real-world military principles, including mission planning, force deployment, and fire and maneuver tactics. The modern warships game, for instance, centers on contemporary naval warfare, featuring real-world vessels, advanced weapon systems, and modern combat scenarios. This game bolsters cadets' understanding of naval capabilities, encompassing missile systems, radar, stealth technologies, and multi-role operations, helping them develop quick decision-making and threat prioritization skills in fast-paced maritime environments.
In addition to tactical decision-making, the games nurture leadership, command, teamwork, and coordination. Saludo highlighted that PMA cadets participated in the United States Military Academy's (West Point) Sandhurst Military Skills Competition, a premier test of combat readiness and warrior grit. The event, held on May 1-2, featured 48 teams from around the world, challenging competitors on physical endurance, teamwork under stress, and lethal military skills.
Saludo detailed that the participants included five teams from the US's four Service Academies, 16 Army ROTC teams from US Army Cadet Command, 17 international teams, and 10 US Military Academy West Point Company Teams. The competitions encompassed various challenges such as tactical combat casualty care, grenade assault course, CBRN proficiency, communications, weapons assembly, functional fitness, and marksmanship.
He mentioned that the international exposure gained from events like Sandhurst has been beneficial for the academy. In response to evolving warfare demands, the academy has revised its curriculum to include Python programming, data analytics, unmanned systems, electronic warfare, and the fundamentals of artificial intelligence, ensuring cadets are equipped for modern and multi-domain warfare.
