As the global threats and vulnerabilities we face evolve and increase in an ever-contested world, Defence must adapt to ensure that our skills and technology continue to maintain our competitive edge against our adversaries.
Our esports and digital skills event showcased how gaming and immersive technologies are shaping the future of Defence. How these tools can help to develop crucial skills in strategic thinking, dexterity, data management, and coding – skills our modern Defence force needs.
At the event Lieutenant General Tom Copinger-Symes said
It’s been amazing to witness the energy and enthusiasm at this event. People are quickly grasping how esports can change our perspectives and enhance our skills, whilst having a lot of fun. Whether it’s strategic thinking, rapid decision-making, fine motor skills, coding and designing, or teamwork, there’s direct application to the military and how we achieve deliver our purpose.
But it’s more than skills – esports allows us to bring together people from across the Services, the civil service, other government departments and industry, to build a strong and engaged ‘One Defence’ team. And we can use it to engage our international allies and partners too. We know that we’re stronger together and esports can help.
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Taking a whole force approach, the event brought together military personnel and civil servants to experience activities that highlighted how esports and digital platforms can provide a critical form of training and skills development.
The event offered everyone a chance to get hands-on experiences with innovative technologies, including, virtual reality and augmented reality training platforms. From Royal Navy boat simulators testing maritime operational skills, to RAF fighter jet simulators challenging pilot decision-making, and strategy games tested planning and risk management. All showcasing how digital technologies and esports can develop critical thinking, rapid decision-making, and the ability to navigate complex scenarios – vital skills to all operations.
MOD Crown Copyright.
Speaking at the event, Minister for Veterans and People, Alastair Carns, further outlined the importance of digital in Defence, and how esports can help attract, develop, and retain top cyber and digital talent. Highlighting how our personnel must now be as adept with code and cybersecurity as they are with traditional combative skills. From drone operations to data analysis, the modern defence force needs agile minds that can navigate both physical and digital battlegrounds.
Technology partnerships are helping to drive this transformation forward. Industry leaders like Microsoft and Activision, both of whom were present at the event, are working with Defence to enhance our digital skills. By embracing esports and innovative learning technologies, we’re building a workforce that can think, adapt, and operate across both virtual and physical domains.
We are increasingly working in a digital and tech-enabled environment, and with the cyber frontline facing daily threats, digital skills are vital for everyone in Defence. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine exemplifies how a digitally enabled force can effectively resist a larger adversary, with their rapid mastery of drones illustrating how the speed of innovation is key to gaining the upper hand in a digital age. This is why we need to make sure our forces have the digital skills to succeed, and our event has gone a long way in helping cement this.
