MCU Fight Club Humans vs Machine Wargaming Tournament

1. Situation. Marine Corps University (MCU) announces the FIGHT CLUB 
Humans vs. Machine "Mindgame Tournament."
This MARADMIN provides tournament eligibility requirements,
application procedures, execution details, scoring methodology, and 
awards.
The Mindgame Tournament is conducted through MCU's FIGHT CLUB, an
extracurricular wargaming initiative that provides participants
opportunities to practice tactical and operational decision-making 
while developing cognitive warfighting skills through competitive 
wargaming. This tournament is a pathway event towards integrating 
Super Intelligence into wargaming by leveraging an autonomous agent 
to act as a highly trained adversary in digital wargames versus
humans. 
2.Tournament Construct. The Mindgame Tournament pits individual
players against an AI-controlled opponent in two modern warfighting
scenarios using Command Professional Edition (CPE) digital wargaming
software: a carrier strike group (CSG) versus CSG scenario and a
drone swarm scenario. The AI you'll face is not a scripted computer 
opponent. Developed by Strategy Robot and integrated into Command 
Professional Edition, it uses advanced strategic-reasoning and 
computational game-theory techniques to generate, evaluate, and adapt 
courses of action against a thinking adversary. Rather than following 
a predetermined playbook, the AI continuously assesses the 
battlespace, anticipates opponent actions, and adjusts its strategy 
as the game unfolds. In this tournament, players will not simply be 
competing against the simulation—they will be competing against an 
AI designed to think strategically, adapt under uncertainty, and 
actively try to outmaneuver them.
Players may compete against the AI as many times as desired during 
the tournament, subject to license availability. To qualify for final
standings, players must complete a minimum of five games in each
scenario. Players compete to achieve the highest combined tournament
score. See paragraph 3.B.2.C for final scoring methodology.
2.A. MCU Wargaming Cloud. The tournament will be conducted online
through MCU's Wargaming Cloud. The Wargaming Cloud provides remote
access to CPE and other digital wargaming capabilities used by MCU 
for education, experimentation, and professional development.
2.B. Player Eligibility. The Mindgame Tournament is open to 
active and reserve members of the Marine Corps, Joint Force, 
government civilians and contractors associated with the
Department of War and allied military organizations. 
Applicants must provide a valid government or military email 
address.
3.  Execution.
3.A. Commander's Intent. The purpose of the Mindgame Tournament is 
to showcase competitive wargaming as a means to develop and assess 
tactical and operational decision-making in contemporary warfighting 
scenarios. By challenging participants against an AI-controlled 
opponent and providing access to an AI-enabled after action review 
(AAR) capability, the tournament will also explore the potential of 
AI to enhance wargaming, player development, and performance 
analysis.
3.B. Concept of Operations.
3.B.1. Application and Selection. Due to limited the complexity of 
the tournament scenarios, participants will have to submit 
applications to play in the tournament.  Previous experience with 
Command: Modern Operations (CMO) or CPE is preferred; however, 
applicants willing to learn CPE may also apply. Applicants should 
describe their relevant wargaming experience, interest in the 
tournament, and how participation will contribute to their 
professional development. MCU will select participants based on the 
information provided in their applications.
3.B.2. Tournament Execution. Selected players may compete against the 
AI as many times as desired during the tournament period, subject to 
CPE license availability. Because of limitations with CPE licenses 
available for tournament play in MCU's floating license manager not 
all players can play  simultaneously. This will result in some 
players having to wait to play until a license is checked in. More 
details will be provided regarding the cloud before the tournament 
kicks off.
3.B.2.A. AI-Enabled AAR. Throughout the tournament, participants will
have access to an AI-enabled, large language model (LLM)-based AAR
capability. The tool will allow players to analyze data from 
completed games, examine their decisions and performance, and 
interact conversationally with game data to identify patterns, 
strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement.
3.B.2.B. Tournament Scoreboard. An arcade-style scoreboard will 
provide participants visibility of tournament standings and 
comparative performance throughout the competition.
3.B.2.C. Final Scoring. Final tournament scores will be calculated 
using each player's five highest scores from each of the two 
scenarios. For each scenario, the player's five highest scores will 
be averaged to produce a scenario score. The two scenario scores 
will then be added together to determine the player's final 
tournament score:
Final Tournament Score = Average of Top Five CSG vs. CSG Scores +
Average of Top Five Drone Swarm Scores.
Only players who complete at least five games in each scenario will 
be eligible for final tournament standings and awards.
3.B.3. Awards. Prizes will be awarded to the top three players
achieving the highest final tournament scores and to the top three 
Marine players:
3.B.3.A. First Place: Highest Score overall and Highest Marine Score  
3.B.3.B. Second Place:  Second highest score overall and second 
highest Marine score 
3.B.3.C. Third Place: Third highest score overall and highest Marine 
score 
4.  Administration and Logistics.
4.A. Tournament Application. Applications for the Mindgame Tournament
must be submitted no later than 14 Nov 2026 at 2359 Eastern Time. 
Late applications will not be accepted.  The tournament will kick off 
1 Dec 2026 and end 1 Apr 2027.  There will be tutorial sessions 
offered and the opportunity for practice in Command PE in the weeks 
leading up to the tournament.
Applicants must submit the tournament application available through 
the MCU Wargaming webpage at:
https://www.usmcu.edu/Academic-Programs/Wargaming/.
Selected applicants will receive additional instructions regarding
Wargaming Cloud access, tournament schedules, scenario procedures, 
and CPE orientation.  The Wargaming Cloud works best from a laptop
or desktop computer as interface on a tablet through the Microsoft 
Windows app is not optimized for a tablet with Command PE.
5.  Command and Signal.
5.A. MCU Wargaming Cloud Access. Selected participants will be 
granted access to MCU's Wargaming Cloud for the duration of the 
tournament. Participants will access the Wargaming Cloud from 
outside the Marine Corps Enterprise Network (MCEN) using a personal 
computer and internet connection.
5.B. Points of Contact. MCU Wargaming Deputy Director Ms. Calleen 
Bottenberg Email: wargaming@usmcu.edu.
6.  Release authorized by Brigadier General M. W. Tracy, Commanding
General, Education Command.