This post is the second to discuss the recently-released Occasional Paper 39 on Total Defence. Collectively, this series aims to support the AARC’s ‘Defence of Australia’ 2025-26 Research Priority and the wider National Defence agenda.

As reviewer Mark Mankowski observes, the CA Study Guide emphasises the importance of moral character as a foundation of leadership. Conrad’s novella provides a stark illustration of what happens when character is neglected.

As detailed through Occasional Paper 39 serving as a literature review on TD, some systems emphasise denial through robust continuity; others emphasise endurance through resistance; and most blend deterrence, societal cohesion, and continuity of government.

Reviewer Lachlan Trott observes that this book offers a unique history of close air support. While there are fewer contemporary case studies than expected, it nevertheless offers lessons to operational level commanders and staff.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a new form of warfare emerged: the IT Army of Ukraine. Built from global volunteers, it shows how cyber operations can be crowdsourced at scale. Occasional Paper 35 examines lessons from Ukraine’s IT Army and explores how Defence, society, and industry can partner to strengthen cyber resilience.

Drones aren’t just a battlefield threat—they’re here at home. New Australian laws give Defence authority to counter domestic UAS threats, but success will depend on prioritisation, intelligence and risk management, not blanket coverage.

This book explores the themes of leadership, responsibility and accountability. These issues remain urgently relevant to militaries worldwide. As reviewer David Mason observes, Hamm's contribution is a valuable reminder that accountability begins at the top.

Written by retired USMC officer Ian T. Brown, this history of the John Boyd and the US Marine Corps is accessible to all Defence members. It is particularly useful for senior officers seeking a case study concerning littoral operations and the strategy of deterrence by denial.

In Lessons in Littoral Warfare, Carl Rhodes shows how the Houthis used commercial tech, external intelligence and mobile ISR to disrupt Red Sea shipping and survive U.S. strikes—highlighting how adaptive sea‑denial tactics can challenge major navies.

Jim Storr writes convincingly that many army operational headquarters are no longer fit for purpose. While concerned largely with British and American experiences, reviewer Chris Roberts concludes that the solutions Storr advocates are worthy of serious consideration by Army.

Challenging Western stereotypes, Uyar's book delves deeply into the history, capabilities, experiences and context of the Ottoman Army in the First World War. Review Jordan Beavis commends the book as the authoritative text on the topic.

Beau Hodge explores the concept of military jurisdiction and the inherent challenges entailed in preparing for war while contributing to government's broader demands shaped by societal expectations.

Part 2 of our drone warfare series busts six more myths from Ukraine: manoeuvre isn’t dead, fibre‑optic drones won’t replace radio‑controlled systems, and ‘cheap’ doesn’t mean simple. Drones aren’t a silver bullet—human skill, integration and adaptation still decide outcomes.

Ukraine’s war shows drone myths don’t match reality. Drones don’t replace soldiers, aren’t simple gadgets, and can’t be stopped by EW alone. Effective drone warfare relies on people, training, integration, adaptation, and rapid innovation.

Dayton McCarthy considers the concept of jurisdiction as one of three pillars of the Army profession, showing how it relates to domestic security and response operations.

This post provides an Indian perspective on how Australia could improve technology collaboration in the interests of Indo-Pacific security.

Richard Overy's latest book explores the range of tactical, operational and strategic issues involved in ending the Pacific Campaign. Beyond the atomic bombing, Overy considers the defeat of Japan through other lenses.

Cate Carter considers the concept of Army's 'cultural jurisdiction', a term which relates to military authority and which raises issue around the relative role of civilian and military personnel in the delivery of Defence capability.

Nonstate Warfare encourages readers to think differently about how state, non-state and proto-state actors behave. As a lecturer in irregular warfare, reviewer Andrew Maher finds Biddle's insights remarkable.

Mark Mankowski's fourth post on Army capability focusses on the relevance of money, people and time on the management of capability within the Australian Army. A helpful primer for anyone new to Land Capability Division and Army Headquarters more broadly.