The May 2018 AARC Staff Ride considered the 1941 invasion of the Malay Peninsula leading to the 1942 fall of Singapore. Although the campaign primarily consisted of allied defensive battles, withdrawal, retreat and capitulation; much can be gained from a detailed consideration of the course of events. The campaign offers case studies and warnings in the application of the principles of war, defensive operations and the maintenance of unit cohesion in retreat. It also highlights issues of allied …

The AARC May 19 Staff Ride to Papua New Guinea was an ambitious undertaking. Consisting of a group of hand-selected mid-level officers from a variety of corps, units and training establishments, it commenced by flying into Nadzab. In September 1943 this large airfield near Lae was secured by the US 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment, reinforced by elements of the Australian 7th Division. This high-risk air assault supported a bid by the Australian 7th and 9th Divisions to surround and isolated the Japanese …

The AARC can provide limited assistance to organisations such as the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA). In this case, it was able to provide reconnaissance, planning and staff support to conduct a Battlefield Study Tour (BFST) to Okinawa, Japan, in April 2019. The location of the last great battle of the Pacific War, the island of Okinawa is still home to extensive United States military assets, and the study tour was fortunate indeed to be able to gain outstanding support from our US allies. In …