The Australian Army is a proud institution—shaped by generations of service, sacrifice and adaptation. The challenges of a rapidly evolving strategic environment demand that we reflect on our identity, our legitimacy and our relationship with the nation and society we exist to serve. This edition of the Australian Army Journal aligns with the theme of the 2025 Chief of Army’s Symposium, ‘The Army in Society’, and marks a milestone in our ongoing journey of professional renewal and national dialogue.
‘The Army in Society’ invites us to explore the reciprocal relationship between our Army and the Australian people. We are not apart from society but are rather an institution drawn from it, shaped by it and ultimately accountable to it.
Our legitimacy, strength and future are rooted in the health of this relationship. Therefore, it is our duty to foster a meaningful and enduring national conversation—one that reflects both the soldier’s contract of unlimited liability and the nation’s reciprocal obligation to care for those who serve and those who have served.
Considerations of the Army’s place in society also invites us to deliberate upon our profession. The idea of the Army as a profession—nested in a broader ‘profession of arms’—has been under-explored in our national context. While our history and operations are well documented, the deeper intellectual and ethical foundations of our profession deserve sustained attention. This edition of the Australian Army Journal is therefore dedicated to teasing out and analysing the various elements of the Army profession.
Over the past year, I have articulated a model for understanding our profession through three interdependent pillars: jurisdiction, expertise and self-regulation. These pillars are not abstract—they are the bedrock of our legitimacy, capability and ethical conduct.
The transformation of the Army since the publication of the Defence Strategic Review in April 2023 has been profound. Transformation is not only about internal change; it must be understood and supported by those we exist to serve. That is why this dialogue matters. It is not enough to modernise; we must also communicate, connect, listen and reflect.
This edition brings together a diverse and thoughtful collection of contributions—from across the services, academia and the public sector—that explore these pillars and the broader theme of the Army in society. From historical analyses of mission command to contemporary reflections on planning, innovation, expertise and ethics, these articles challenge us to think about our profession and its future.
The inclusion of the winning and runner-up articles from the 2025 Chief of Army Essay Competition further demonstrates the intellectual vitality within our ranks. These essays offer practical insights into how the Army profession can be optimised for littoral operations, mobilisation and integration within the ADF.
I commend this edition to all members of the Army, Defence and our broader community. May it inspire debate and action. Dialogue is a necessity, not a luxury, in times of challenge and change. Through the respectful contest of ideas, we strengthen our Army, our society and our shared commitment to the defence of our way of life.
Lieutenant General Simon Stuart AO, DSC
Chief of Army
Australian Army
