Counterinsurgency   Written by: David Kilcullen,  Scribe, Melbourne, 2010, ISBN 9781921640346, 264pp   Reviewed by: Peter Leahy, University of Canberra David Kilcullen has already earned a well deserved reputation as a practitioner, advisor and author in the field of counterinsurgency. In his latest book he substantially adds to his reputation. The book is a must-read for those struggling with counterinsurgency today and for those with an eye on the future of insurgency and terrorism. Although initially …

The Broken Years: Australian Soldiers in the Great War,     Written by: Bill Gammage,  Melbourne University Publishing, 2010, ISBN 9780522854947, 336pp   Reviewed by: Peter Stanley, National Museum of Australia Almost exactly fifty years ago a teenaged schoolboy from Wagga Wagga visited Canberra with his family. At the Australian War Memorial his mother confidently disregarded old ornate wood-and-glass doors marked ‘Staff Only’ and they found themselves in the former library. There they met staff member …

Abstract Adaptive Campaigning – Army’s Future Land Operations Concept is a wake up call for the Army and ADF as a whole, as it seeks to generate effects in the modern complex operational environment. A core element of the concept is the requirement to recognise and utilise the global information environment to support operations. While the concept in various versions has been available for some time, Army has yet to fully embrace the capabilities already resident within its organisation to focus on winning …

Abstract This article argues that, while the nine core behaviours are an excellent base for our soldiers, it is perhaps time to consider enhancing their skills to ensure they are better prepared for the dual factors of an operationally busy Army and competitive enemies. This article proposes the Enterprising Soldier model, to provide the Australian Army and the Land Force with a capability edge over known and anticipated enemies, which takes the Australian soldier beyond Army’s nine core behaviours. This …

Abstract John Boyd is a military theorist who achieved significant influence on military thought with his renowned OODA Loop. His thoughts evolved during the Cold War, but he did consider guerrilla and irregular warfare. The majority of his work dealt with this security environment as his frame of reference. The author believes that Boyd’s work remains relevant to the contemporary security environment. Boyd’s approach to strategy is articulated and then discussed using the 9/11 Commission Report as a tool …

Abstract This article reviews the 2006 US Army/Marine Corps Counterinsurgency Field Manual along with two major historical works on counterinsurgency. The author does not seek to present a precis of each work. Instead selected threads from each work are drawn out to pose the question: Are these works milestones that further our understanding of counterinsurgency or millstones that place impossible burdens on us? While other books and operational experiences have contributed significantly to the corpus of …

Abstract In the second half of 2009, two Australian officers served at the Headquarters of the United States Marine Corps 2d Marine Expeditionary Brigade (2d MEB) in Southern Helmand Province, Afghanistan. During this period the 2d MEB conducted significant offensive and counterinsurgency operations. This article focuses on one of these operations—EASTERN RESOLVE II—to act as a snapshot of 2d MEB activities and to draw lessons from the USMC experience for Australian Army audiences. In August 2009 the 2d …

Congratulations to the Army Journal and Lieutenant Colonel Jason Thomas for publishing the article ‘Adaptive Campaigning – Is it Adaptive Enough?’. 1 I found the article both thought provoking and informative. I must declare some interests in writing this letter. First, as Director Future Land Warfare and Strategy (FLWS) in 2008–09 my Directorate authored Adaptive Campaigning – Future Land Operating Concept , which is the subject of criticism in Jason Thomas’ article. Any flaws in Adaptive Campaigning are …

Titles to Note Listed below is a selection from the review copies that have arrived at the Australian Army Journal . Reviews for many of these books can be found online in the relevant edition of the Australian Army Journal at: < http://www.defence.gov.au/army/lwsc/Australian_Army_Journal.asp > Honor and Fidelity: The 65th Infantry in Korea , 1950-1953, Gilberto N Villahermosa Brent, Scribe Publications, ISBN 9780160833243, 329 pp. Reporting the War: Freedom of the Press from the American Revolution to the …

Abstract ‘Wool Gathering in the CO’s Office’ is an article in two parts. Firstly it proposes a model for the Psychological Contract between Army and its personnel, and postulates that a fundamental role of commanders is to uphold this contract. Secondly, it provides a series of discrete observations about the practice of command at unit level. The author’s aim is to share his experiences in order to assist future COs and provide them with a head start on their own journey of command. I was privileged to …