WELCOME TO ALLIED COMMAND TRANSFORMATION

NATO's Strategic Warfare Development Command

Gender Perspectives and Warfighting Advantage

November 27, 2024

Including women in wargaming promotes cognitive diversity, leading to more robust and innovative solutions for warfighters.

NORFOLK, Virginia. November 25.

To build warfighting advantage, NATO must utilize all available resources to compete in a changing international security environment. Gender is one area that has demonstrated operational advantage to NATO forces. Studies have shown that teams with diverse members generate a wider range of ideas and approaches. For example, according to Ms. Tess Butler, CEO of Ruddy Nice Ltd., the composition of wargaming teams can impact the tactics the team will use, with all female teams acting more often, but more covertly, as compared to all male teams.  This diversity of thought delivers a decisive military advantage against NATO’s adversary, Russia, and in the deterrence and defence against all potential threats. Integrating gender perspective into military planning helps create warfighting dilemmas for the enemy.

Butler highlighted the significant role women, particularly members of the Women’s Royal Naval Service in Britain, played in wargaming during World War II. These women contributed to the development of strategies to combat German U-boats through tactical wargames, playing a crucial role in the Battle of the Atlantic. However, women’s involvement in wargaming has declined significantly since then, with only about 2% of current wargamers being women. Butler emphasized the need to create a more inclusive environment to encourage greater female participation and diversify the field of wargaming, leading to more robust analysis and innovative solutions.

Integrating gender perspectives isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s an imperative for a more effective and resilient Alliance.

– Admiral Pierre Vandier, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation

Higher diversity of thought produces better outcomes for leadership and consequently better outcomes in operations.

– Tess Butler, Founder & CEO of Ruddy Nice Ltd

Conference Content

The 2024 Gender Advisor Annual Conference held at Headquarters, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, delivered critical insights for senior military leadership, subject-matter experts, industry and NATO’s Gender Advisors under a theme of “Gender Perspective within the Transformation of the Military Instrument of Power.” The goal of which was to deliver activities in support of NATO’s Women, Peace, and Security agenda.

Quick Facts

  • The Women, Peace, and Security agenda and gender equality reflect the Alliance’s core values and priorities.
  • Allied Command Transformation staff participated in a Gender Focal Point course, training experts across the Headquarters to support gender integration across their functional areas.
  • The conference hosted a strategic-level Gender Focal Point mobile training that was conducted by the Crisis Management and Disaster Response Centre of Excellence.

Future Activities

Implement NATO’s Women, Peace and Security policy into future operations, missions and activities and wargaming activities in 2025. For more information on NATO’s Gender Perspective work, visit the Allied Command Transformation’s Gender Advisor page.