A quest for collaboration

Unified Quest is a joint, multinational war game designed to evaluate the future capabilities of allied and potential enemy forces.

Here's how it works:

Red, or enemy, troops are pitted against blue, or allied, forces in a scenario that takes the game from military action to stability, peacekeeping and nation-building operations.

More than 500 participants from countries including the United States, Canada, Israel, England, Germany, Australia and Finland battle for five days to create the most realistic scenarios possible.

Red commanders have the authority to use any tactics they deem necessary.

Nongovernmental organizations — such as Doctors Without Borders, the International Committee of the Red Cross and other aid agencies — were invited to participate in the game for the first time to add another degree of complexity.

Lessons learned from the game will be presented this week to the most senior leaders in the Defense Department and could immediately have an impact on policy and technology in war zones around the world.