Different cultures conduct military training and education in very different ways. The Israeli Defence Force might be the gold standard for a mantra of ‘Train Hard, Fight Easy’: the US Navy during the interwar period experimented with carrier air power to such an extent that it had a mature operating model by the 1940s (one that was instrumental in the outcome of WWII). This culture is not only evident in live military exercises, it is also reinforced by the behaviours during them. In this conversation with Professor Pete Mansoor, the importance of flexibility and adaptability of successful military forces comes to the fore, often developed - to a large extent – during the freeplay periods of live exercises. Simulation certainly has a place, but there are few signs that it can replace high tempo combined arms training events with a decent adversary force.