Earlier this fall, 23 Iowa State University political science students participated in a unique, real-world learning experience during a simulated military mission sponsored by the United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM ) at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Nebraska. USSTRATCOM’s mission is to “deter strategic attacks with a safe, secure, effective, and credible global warfighting capability and, when called upon, to be prepared to prevail in conflict.”
The students, most of whom were enrolled in POLS 3570, International Security Policy, were invited to participate in a theoretical exercise involving the Indo-Pacific region. The exercise was based on a theoretical scenario that allowed participants to realistically explore the complexity of deterrence challenges. Prior to this event, only one other institution in the USSTRATCOM Academic Alliance was invited to participate in this exercise.
Getting to work
Political science professor Ellen Pirro, assistant professor, and Scott Feinstein, assistant professor, accompanied the students to Omaha. The day-long experience began with security checks, a brief orientation to the exercise and details of their mission.
The students were divided into two teams, given final instructions and completed the seven phases of the exercise. Approximately 10 USSTRATCOM personnel oversaw the event. After each step, they asked students about their actions and responses to the developing scenario. Among other things, USSTRATCOM advisors asked students what outcome they hoped for, why they rejected other paths, and what impacts their choices had on the evolving situation.
“The STRATCOM staff thought our students were very good. So sharp and knowledgeable,” Feinstein said.
Feinstein added that the Strategic Command staff was impressed with the knowledge and performance of the Iowa State students. They appreciated the new approaches and ideas they brought to the scenarios.
Students said they were excited to see real-world applications of the topics and questions they studied in class.
“It was a real-life experience of what we were studying,” said Seth Wiederin (political science ’25). “It was so rewarding.”
“Everything we did touched on what we learned in our classes,” said Andrew Corns (political science ’25). “The experience lived up to our expectations.”
The USSTRATCOM exercise is just the latest example of LAS students engaging in real-world experiences outside of the classroom. In 2020, students participated in the Academic Alliance on Deterrence and Assurance Conference and Workshop, a national conference hosted by Iowa State for the STRATCOM Academic Alliance. In 2019, ISU Naval ROTC conducted a war game provide its aspirants with advanced training.