Inside the Mind of the Enemy: How Military Red Teams Revolutionize Strategy

The military’s pioneering role in red teaming has shaped how modern organizations challenge assumptions and prepare for conflict. Originating from 19th-century Kriegsspiel war games, red teams evolved during the Cold War to simulate Soviet adversaries, providing commanders with crucial insights into enemy tactics.

Despite its value, red teaming in the military faces institutional hurdles. The hierarchical culture often suppresses dissent, and career pressures can discourage junior officers from speaking truth to power. The Millennium Challenge 2002 exercise starkly illustrated these tensions when a red team’s unexpected success was curtailed to preserve a scripted outcome.

To address these challenges, the military established Red Team University in 2004, a pioneering institution focused on developing critical thinking, cultural empathy, and metacognition among officers. Through innovative training methods—such as analyzing art to hone observation and using liberating structures to foster open dialogue—Red Team University equips leaders to overcome cognitive biases and groupthink.

Graduates of this program bring a culture of constructive skepticism back to their commands, enhancing strategic planning and decision-making. The military’s experience demonstrates that effective red teaming requires balancing independence with institutional integration and leadership support.

These lessons extend beyond the battlefield, offering valuable insights for businesses, intelligence agencies, and homeland security organizations seeking to build resilient and adaptive teams.

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