Soon after the end of World War II the United States and the Soviet Union went from being allies to bitter rivals, and for the next 45 years the two faced off against each other in a “Cold War.” While the two sides’ armed forces never engaged in direct combat with one another, there was constant fear that some crisis might touch off World War III—a war that might well result in nuclear annihilation.

This Academy will examine the origins, course, and outcome of this epic conflict, and will feature role-playing games centered around two of the Cold War’s most important crises: the Cuban Missile Crisis and American involvement in Vietnam.