Engaging in Debate
This is the first edition of the Australian Army Journal (AAJ) under a new managerial team, and it is only appropriate that the efforts of Lieutenant Colonel Mal McGregor and his team are given due recognition. Without his efforts (and those of his editorial team) it is questionable whether the journal would have survived, and the fact that it continues today is testimony to his hard work, perseverance and guidance. The new team has been given the responsibility to ensure that the AAJ continues to remain relevant and read by as wide an audience as possible, and it will endeavour to remain true to these ideals.
In a more straitened fiscal environment, and where the Army ponders its future direction as the end of Australia’s combat commitment to Afghanistan comes into view, it is increasingly important from both a resourcing and operational perspective for military officers to contribute to the intellectual debate regarding the utility of land forces. The AAJ represents a significant forum in which such writing can occur, and everyone should feel free to contribute to the debate through this publication. The importance of the debate regarding the size, structure and role of the Army post-Afghanistan has been highlighted by the inclusion of an edited version of the Chief of Army’s speech to the Sea Power Conference earlier this year in which he raised this issue as one of fundamental importance to the future of the Army. As the Chief of Army observed in his speech, the key element of his vision for the post-Afghanistan Army is Plan BEERSHEBA. While multi-role combat brigades will solve the Army’s force generation and rotation dilemma, how to employ these forces within our primary operating environment will require the development of an expeditionary mindset, a requirement which offers fertile ground for debate by the organisation’s forward thinkers.
But while the Chief of Army has set an example with his willingness to engage in this debate publicly, and to give an intellectual edge to that debate, there is much that can be done by the rest of the Army to engage in discourse that seeks to advance the interests of Army as a whole, or component parts of it. There is, after all, no shortage of issues to write about and it is often just encouragement that is needed to turn concepts or ideas into articles that may influence decision-makers in the future. A good example of this willingness to debate can be found in the selection of essays penned by junior officers from 1st Armoured Regiment that have been included in the journal. Since 1997 officers from the unit have written on a range of topics as a way of getting regimental officers to articulate arguments and hence hone their skills in preparation for appointments in the wider Defence community. This edition includes some of those essays as a way of promoting the long-standing initiative and to encourage other junior officers to follow suit.
There are already a significant number of contributors, and this edition shows the variety of subjects that can be covered in the Army’s professional journal. These include articles on the practical challenges of implementing adaptive campaigning by Daniel Bilusich et al; Lieutenant Colonel Charles Faint’s analysis of whether exploita- tion intelligence should be considered an entirely separate discipline; a refreshingly original way of looking at the voluntary sector for lessons on how to maximise the effectiveness of reserve service byLieutenant Alex Douglas; three proposed ways of increasing the yield of precious training time by Major Grant Chambers; an historical examination by Jean Bou of the Army’s nascent force development in the early years of the twentieth century; and finally, Lieutenant Zach Lambert’s look at the short-lived existence of the Australian 1st Armoured Division during the Second World War.
Land Warfare Studies Centre is committed to encouraging research into, and debate about issues of relevance to Army and the wider Defence and security community. Ways of encouraging people to contribute to that debate through writing are being developed, including by increasing the number of people within Army who seek to contribute to the journal. Any suggestions on ways of improving the journal, or of attracting contributors are always welcome. I look forward to working with our new team to produce a journal that builds on the work of previous editorial teams, to develop a publication that is relevant to its readers and contributes to the debate both within and outside the profession of arms.
In closing, the AAJ wishes to recognise the passing of a fine soldier, role model and elder statesman. On 19 April the inaugural Regimental Sergeant Major—Army Warrant Officer Class 1 Wally Thompson, OAM, died. His legacy though will live on in the memory of those with whom he served.
