Road to the Commandant's Cup Wargaming Tournament

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 \[wargaming@usmcu.edu]
(mailto:wargaming@usmcu.edu).
6. Release authorized by Brigadier General M. W. Tracy, Commanding 
General, Education Command.