PARTICIPANT 101
Simulations are fun - that's how we design them. Every simulation, we place our Participants in roles across the U.S. government - from Secretary of State to a CIA Intelligence Analyst, from an Assistant Secretary of Defense to an Ambassador. Our Participants then embody these roles throughout the simulation, to manage and (hopefully!) mitigate an evolving crisis scenario.
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No prior knowledge, experience, or research is required to participate in our simulations! In fact, simulations are a great way to learn. We pride ourselves on how much our Participants learn at our events - 97% of survey respondents over 8 simulations say they have learned "a moderate amount" to "a lot" by participating in our events.
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It is also worth noting that we take anonymity and non-attribution very seriously. Simulations are an opportunity for you to represent an individual whose ideas and beliefs may not match your own or that of your company - and that's okay. All of our simulations are run under Chatham House Rules, that is, what is said in a simulation, stays in a simulation. We work hard to create an environment where everyone can contribute equally, and without having to worry about something they say coming back to bite them later. Plus, it's good practice for your careers in government - many upper-level meetings and exercises abide by the same principles.
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The Director of the Central Intelligence Agency burst into the National Security Council without knocking. “Mr. President,” he gasped, attempting to catch his breath after jogging to the room. “Mr. President, it looks like China has begun the invasion of North Korea.”
The room was silent, and then everyone began to talk at once. The Secretary of Defense was offering military contingency plans, snapping orders at the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs’; the Secretary of State was speaking to an aide rapidly, ordering her to set up bilateral meetings with China, South Korea, Japan, and the United Kingdom; the National Security Advisor was grilling the Director of the CIA, asking how we know, what types of intelligence we had, and how confident we were.
The President considered for a moment, steepling his fingers under his chin, before turning to the Council. “I want PACOM placed on highest readiness; meetings with the belligerents; and constant satellite monitoring over the region. Get me eyes and signals intercepts so we can plan our next move.”
Aides hurried out of the room, and there was a timid knock. The room fell silent again, a tense excitement and fear filling the air. The Director of the CIA opened the door, and one of his staff entered.
“Mr. Director, Mr. President, Sir,” the aide began nervously. “We have confirmation on the contents of the shipping vessel we were tracking and a suspected destination.”
Everyone looked at her expectantly, so she took a deep breath. “Satellite images taken 68 hours ago confirm suspected nuclear material being loaded onto the vessel at port. Based on their current heading and the weather, we suspect their intended destination is Chabahar, in the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
The President rubbed his eyes. “Okay, folks. Get Legal Counsel in here. It looks like we’re going to war.”
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Shattered Resolve: A Simulation of Conflict and Cooperation on the Korean Peninsula | Fall 2013