Editorial - Journal Number 1 - 1948

THE conversion of the Army Training Memorandum to the “Australian Army Journal” represents another step in the re-organization of Australia’s post war Army.

The aims of the Australian Army Journal are:—

1. To provide a medium through which to convey to the officers of the Army and the Cadet Corps the latest trends in military thought and developments at home and abroad.
2. To provide information designed to assist officers with their personal studies and training problems.
3. To stimulate thought and encourage the study of military art.
4. To provide the basis of an Australian military literature which it is hoped, in the fullness of time will equal in diversity and dignity the military literature of other countries.

These aims will not be fulfilled if all the articles are written by the editorial staff. The Journal, therefore, invites contributions from all ranks on the Active List of the Army and the Cadet Corps, and from Reserve Officers.

Since the Journal is not a forum for the airing of grievances, contributions of this nature should not be submitted. Criticism is by no means unwelcome, provided it is constructive and does not touch on Government policy. Thought provoking articles, or articles recounting experiences from which useful lessons are deduced, will assist the Journal to fulfil its function to the Australian Army, and to take its place beside the military journals of other countries.

Short, crisp articles of about 1,000/ 1,500 words are particularly desired, but articles of 3,000 words, or more if the subject is important and the treatment meritorious, will be considered for publication.

Contributions, which need not be sent through command channels, should be addressed to, “The Director of Military Training, Army Headquarters, Victoria Barracks, St. Kilda Road, Melbourne.” The covering letter, or the top page of the article, should be endorsed, “Contribution for Australian Army Journal.” The name, rank, and unit of the author must be shown on each article.

The Australian Army Journal is wholly set up and printed by the Army Headquarters Printing Press. The unit is not equipped on a lavish scale, and some of its machinery was not intended for this class of work. At present it is overwhelmed with orders for new training manuals, pamphlets, etc. However, it is overcoming these, and a host of other difficulties, by ingenuity, improvization, and sheer hard work. If the Journal is appreciated by the Army, much of the credit for its production must go to the men behind the printing machines.

NOTE: This article is reproduced from the 1948 first edition of the Australian Army Journal and the criteria for submitted content has changed. Current criteria can be found on the Submission Guidelines for AARC Publications page.