IMO "The War Effort" would just be a ranked season... a ranked ladder similar to League of Legends or StarCraft 2 for exemple.
But hell if I know im not Relic!
Oh YES YES YES, please....
This would be so much more encouraging than the current system with outgame ladders.
If there were let's say 5 tiers (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platin and Iron) with maybe 3 subtiers each (Silver I, Silver II, Silver III, etc.) it would be more fun to play because you could feel your current skill.
Nowadays it's just 'nah I am under 1.000 again whatever'.