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Occasional Paper 30: Finding Asymmetry During Mobilisation in the Australian Army

McLeod Wood shows how Army’s capacity to weather previous national mobilisation events has been supported by trained personnel delivering ‘just in time’ effects. As Army prepares for future scenarios, it must acknowledge the depth and latent skill held within its ranks and within society that will support mobilisation efforts.

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Australian Army Journal Volume 21 Number1

The Australian Army Journal latest edition is now available! It includes the continued theme of the littoral environment and AI, and provides new articles on climate change, admin sanctions, and small nations’ influence in strategic alliances. An excellent insightful read.

Go to the Journal page

2025 CA Reading List

The Australian Army Research Centre (AARC) has been directed to publish the 2025 CA Reading List in accordance with the Army PME Plan.
The AARC is rapidly preparing the List for approval and publication.
Communication around the release of the List will be promulgated by Army in due course.

Australian Army soldier Corporal Kelly Spence from the Army Personal Support Unit for South Australia at RAAF Edinburgh in Adelaide is undertaking further studies using the Defence Assisted Study Scheme.

The 2025 Chief of Army Essay Competition is now live!

The 2025 Chief of Army Essay Competition is now open. Army awards the winner of the Competition the Chauvel Prize, named in honour of General Sir Henry George (Harry) Chauvel, GCMG, KCB, and we publish the winning entry in the Australian Army Journal.

The Australian Army runs essay competitions to encourage writing on land warfare and joint operations. These competitions also develop and maintain the intellectual component of combat power.

How to enter

What does it take to adapt Army?

The ‘Adapting Army’ podcast invites visionary leaders from Army, Defence, industry and academia to share their stories and insights to explore how Army can adapt through people, partnerships, and innovation. Join us as we examine how Army can drive change, harness disruptive technology, and take advantage of the exciting possibilities that will shape our preparedness and capabilities to meet the challenges ahead.

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Occasional Papers

Cover of Occasional Paper 30 - Finding Asymmetry During Mobilisation in the Australian Army by McLeod Wood

Finding Asymmetry During Mobilisation in the Australian Army

McLeod Wood shows how Army’s capacity to weather previous national mobilisation events has been supported by trained personnel delivering ‘just in time’ effects. As Army prepares for future scenarios, it must acknowledge the depth and latent skill held within its ranks and within society that will support mobilisation efforts.

Drawing on Reserves

The Defence Strategic Review recognises the Reserves as key to ADF capability. In this Occasional Paper, Associate Professor Brad West and Dr Josh Healy examine the level of support civilian employers provide their employees in undertaking Reserve service and what workplace difficulties Reservists encounter in managing dual careers.

Spontaneous Volunteers

The role of the military in domestic operations is one of the most vexing issues in a democracy, made complex by a lack of historical work. This occasional paper offers the first definitive history of all instances of call outs in Australia since 1901, in order to provide a left and right of arc for contemporary policy and operational thresholds.

Journals

Volume 21 Number 1

This edition represents a milestone in Army’s long campaign to master the profession. For the first time in many years this journal predominantly features contributions by Army members, with further pieces from academia and experts within the Australian Public Service. It is encouraging, both for the Army profession and for the future, to see military members reading and writing for the journal, presenting their expertise and well-reasoned arguments on topics that matter to Army and the Australian Defence Force more broadly. The articles cover a wide range of topics, from how to transform the Australian Army’s full-time cavalry for the next major conflict to exploring the Indo-Pacific grey zones and examining the potential benefits of using artificial intelligence on military operations.

Volume 20 Number 3

Mobilisation requires a multi-disciplinary debate from civil and military security practitioners. The latest edition of the Australian Army Journal, with an introduction by Hannah Woodford-Smith, features perspectives drawn from Australia’s historical and contemporary operational experience.

Volume 20 Number 2

This edition of the Australian Army Journal signposts some of the new professional knowledge that may be required in respect of technological development, ways of fighting and geography. It covers a diverse range of interests, including; the relationship of the social identity approach to military leadership, the fourth industrial revolution and its likely impacts on indirect firepower and targeting, a historical case study of Army’s capacity for rapid adaptation with regard to amphibious operations, and an analysis of Army train, advise and assist missions.

Robotic and Autonomous Systems Implementation & Coordination Office (RICO)

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RICO explores, coordinates, and develops disruptive technology that equips Army to be Future Ready.

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