As the new Director of the Australian Army Research Centre, I am pleased to bring to you the Autumn edition of the Australian Army Journal. This year marks the final stage in the establishment of the Australian Army Research Centre (AARC), which was proposed eighteen months ago by the Chief of Army to reinvigorate the way in which soldiers and officers expand their knowledge and pursue rigorous debate on the Profession of Arms. The role of the AARC is to conduct research and analysis, foster debate and advocate the value of the joint land force to the Australian Government, academia and the public. The AARC, which sits in the Future Land Warfare Branch of Army Headquarters, achieves this through a number of activities and publications, including the Army Research Scheme grant program, AARC Seminar Series, Occasional Paper Series and our blog - the Land Power Forum — which was re-launched to coincide with the Army’s Birthday on the first of March this year.
After a brief hiatus, we are pleased to re-commence the Australian Army Journal, which has been given a new direction by Chief of Army – to promote debate as a professional journal. All members of Army are encouraged to think, write and debate. See the calls for submissions at the back of this journal and send us an article.
This year, the Australian Army Journal is seventy years old, and remains the predominant forum for the Army community to debate issues concerning the Profession of Arms. The first edition, edited in 1948 by Lieutenant Colonel Eustace G Keogh, in whose honour we name an annual Visiting Chair, contained articles which were pertinent to a post war period of reconstitution. The foreword, written by the Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General VAH Sturdee, CB, CBE, DSO, welcomes the reorganisation of regular and citizen forces following the long period of operations, and states that “Under the conditions of war as they exist today, and are likely to exist in the foreseeable future, ground forces will be required.” The articles, chosen by Keogh covered topics such as the principals of war, biological warfare, strategic intelligence, leadership, emerging technology, and training and education. They remain the subjects ground forces debate today.
It is in this spirit that we present this collection of articles which stimulate discussion around current issues in Army, and challenge us to consider how best to achieve Defence’s mission in the future. The opening article is an address delivered by Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Angus Campbell, AO, DSC to the Royal United Services Institute in London last year, in which he discusses the challenges of operating in the ‘Indo-Pacific Century’. This strategic context is particularly relevant for understanding Army’s place in the Joint Force. Building from this speech, Major James Ellis-Smith responds to the Chief’s message to ‘ride the technological wave’ by proposing a Network operating model approach as a unique approach to force structure and doctrine.
Dr Albert Palazzo poses useful questions regarding Australia’s war in Afghanistan by examining the technique of securitisation employed by Australia and the United States. Continuing the Middle Eastern theme, Major Andrew Maher presents a thought provoking case study of Iran’s employment of Unconventional Warfare through its use of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The new Director of the Australian Army History Unit, Mr Tim Gellel, offers a timely and reflective article on Australia’s rapid development of amphibious operations during the Second World War, and the lessons we can use for building our modern capability. Sociologist Dr Brad West proposes research into the identity and experiences of reservists to inform the shape of Army’s workforce, including the balancing of military and civilian careers. Brigadier Chris Smith provides readers with an examination of military concept writing and how it can affect our creative problem solving. Finally, Mr David Pfotenhauer explains how lessons from the United States concept of Operational Contract Support can be leveraged to overcome future contractor challenges for Army. We also include in this edition a number of book reviews including The Centenary History of Australia and the Great War Series edited by the late Jeffrey Grey whose memorial begins the Book Review section.
The Journal and other AARC publications will move online over the next year, broadening the level of Army’s engagement with the community. This engagement will raise the level of professional debate on war and its challenges and enhance the professionalism, leadership and ethical awareness within Army. I look forward to this discourse and commend this edition of the Australian Army Journal to you.
Colonel Peter Connolly, DSC, CSC
Director Australian Army Research Centre
