University Press of Kansas , Lawrence, 2016, 267 pp Hardcover ISBN: 9780700622214 eBook ISBN: 9780700622221 Author : Stephen R. Taafe Reviewed By : Chris Roberts   MacArthur’s Korean War Generals is a study of command under adverse conditions. Set within a narrative of the United States (US) Eighth Army’s operations during the first year of the Korean War, Stephen R. Taaffe examines the character, command styles, and performance of the twenty-one men who led that army, its three corps and seven divisions …

The British Army's Preparations for War 1902-1914   Helion , Warwick, 2018, 235pp Hardback ISBN: 9781911512851 Paperback ISBN: 9781804515686  Author : Simon Batten Reviewed By : Chris Roberts   The subject of the British Army's reform and preparations prior to the Great War has received little serious study. Further, much of what has been written in general histories has been simplistic and derogatory based on shallow research, ill-founded assumptions or deliberate misinformation. Two notable exceptions …

Foreword We stand at another inflection point in our Army’s history. In April this year, our government delivered clear direction for our Army in response to the Defence Strategic Review. The review recognised a pressing need for our ADF to adapt more quickly to the changing character of war to ensure we are best positioned to fulfil our purpose of deterring conflict and protecting Australia’s national interests. While we must adapt to war’s changing character, we know that war remains an enduringly human …

2(AS) Division PME Program SPEAKER : Major General David Thomae, AM Reflections on Command Reflections on Command Major General David Thomae assumed command of the 2nd (Australian) Division on 17 July 2021 and as commander of the standing Joint Task Force (JTF) 629 on 10 December of the same year. In that role, he has had responsibilities that have shifted the purpose, meaning and narrative of 2(AS)DIV from fulfilling a predominantly domestic support role to becoming a platform for domestic security and …

2(AS) Division PME Program   Thoughts on ‘Generalship’ and how bold staffs can support their General to understand the nature of conflict. Generalship is an intellectual endeavour . It requires incumbents to understand the nature of war, as well as the character of the conflict in which they are taking part. However, developing and sustaining such an understanding is not straightforward. This is particularly evident when circumstances conspire to impose friction on the mundane and the routine of a …

Army is transitioning to a more mechanised, mobile and protected force structure. Amid billion-dollar materiel investment, the 2016 Ryan Review, [1] a subsequent professional military education (PME) strategy [2] and its accompanying CA Directive 22/17 [3] determined that the most pressing transformation that needs to occur in Australian land power is intellectual. Since then, a range of meaningful initiatives and contributions have made PME more accessible and prevalent in the Army training landscape. One …

Developing Our People for Integrated Campaigning The author acknowledges the efforts, analysis, and assistance of Commander Jorge McKee and Lieutenant Colonel Uliano Polatos. Both officers significantly contributed to, and directly provided, the ideas and analysis that supports this article. Nick Bosio offers  What it looks like Tactically, Operationally, and Strategically in Part 1 of Integrated Campaigning . … what people think cannot be separated from the question of how they think. Azar Gat, A History …

The decision by President Biden’s Administration to withdraw from Afghanistan received strong criticism and opposition from many military veterans, former decision makers and policy analysts from Capitol Hill . While the basis for criticism is diverse, one common feature that emerges from the commentary is a strong sense that the US was unable to achieve an integrated civil-military strategy to underpin decision making in Afghanistan , and that the same fault beleaguered operations in Iraq and Syria. The …

What it looks like Tactically, Operationally, and Strategically The author acknowledges the efforts, analysis, and assistance of Commander Jorge McKee and Lieutenant Colonel Uliano Polatos. Both officers significantly contributed to, and directly provided, the ideas and analysis that supports this article. History does not repeat itself, but it rhymes. Attributed to Mark Twain.   [Australia’s] strategic culture values engagement with culturally compatible, like-minded worldwide powers, coalitions or …

Australian Army Occasional Paper No. 10 Will the military modernisation measures that Army takes today prepare our ADF men and women for the leadership and ethical challenges of tomorrow?  In AARC Occasional Paper 10 , we stand in the shoes of soldier Smith facing the prospect of their first combat operation in 2024.  This Land Power Forum article is an abstract from that Paper. The Australian Defence Force (ADF) ethos is derived from that of our broader society. And in turn, Australians define something …