Which methods cultivate anticipation in leaders?

• A. Solely relying on doctrine
• B. Avoiding rehearsal
• C. Wargaming, training, and intelligence
• D. Reactive planning after events

Answer: (C)

Anticipation in leadership comes from actively exploring potential futures and testing plans before events occur. Wargaming lets leaders walk through possible actions and reactions, probing assumptions, timings, and command decisions to reveal gaps and refine approaches. Training builds the skills, decision speed, and adaptability needed to respond to evolving situations. Intelligence provides timely, relevant information about the operating environment, adversaries, terrain, and other factors that shape what could happen and what is likely. Together, these elements keep leaders prepared, informed, and able to shape outcomes rather than react after the fact. Relying solely on doctrine offers static guidance, avoiding rehearsal leaves uncertainty and gaps, and planning after events is inherently reactive and misses opportunities to anticipate and influence the outcome.