The ability to concentrate superior forces at the critical time and place has been a hallmark of successful commanders throughout history. Since warfare emerged from the inter-tribal squabbles when a few dozen men endeavoured to cut each other’s throats, to the stage when state and national armies were formed, man has been constantly striving to develop more powerful weapons and improved means of mobility. During the 15th Century B.C., Ethiopia fell to the empire-building Egyptians, not because of any lack …

Introduction No doubt this title will provoke some violent objections. The passing of the horse-drawn and horse-borne era did not occur in quiescent silence either. The demise of the tank does not imply any degradation in strength or status of armoured units; but rather a need to adapt to the products of technology. Just as the introduction of the tank to modern warfare had great impact on tactical philosophy, so will its passing. Perhaps it is more accurate to say that changes in tactics have led to the …

In this edition of Retrospect, we feature two articles published in the Army Journal of March 1970, which take opposing views of the relevance of the Main Battle Tank (MBT). The first article, by Major W Lennon of the Royal Australian Engineers, provocatively asserted ‘The Tank is Dead’. While conceding that, even at that time of writing, the Centurion Tank was still performing effectively on operations in South Vietnam, the author argued that the increased lethality of individual shoulder-fired weapons, …

Abstract The author argues that the hype surrounding the supposedly unique characteristics and workplace demands of ‘Generation Y’ deserves closer critical analysis. He questions those within the Army and the Australian Defence Force who use the simplifications of ‘generationalism’ as the basis for making long-term strategic workforce management decisions. He concludes by outlining five common workforce needs that might be expressed differently in each generation but which remain at the foundation of …

TO THE EDITORS Congratulations on publishing, in the Winter 2006 AAJ , the article by Captain Daimien Patterson entitled Army Force Structure - What has gone wrong? As a staff officer serving with HQ 1st Division, I am simultaneously impressed that Captain Patterson wants to sack me: ‘we don’t need a Division Headquarters’[1], while he also provides some excellent critical thinking on the future of our Army. This type of critical thinking should be encouraged at all levels within Army, especially if we are …

Abstract The New Zealand Army has not had experience in high-intensity urban warfighting for over sixty years. However, as Afghanistan and Iraq illustrate, stability and support operations (SASO) in a complex human environment can be just as daunting as the actual warfighting stage. It is within this enivornment that the New Zealand Army has been repeatedly successful. Analysis of the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team (NZPRT) in the province of Bamyan Central, Afghanistan, reveals the New Zealand …

Abstract This article briefly discusses Combat Service Support (CSS) operations in a complex warfighting environment, based on the author’s recent experiences while serving in Iraq. The article places an emphasis on urban operations, using operational observations, and shares his insights for developing CSS capability to meet the requirements of current and future land warfare. This article has been titled ‘Urban Combat Service Support (CSS) Operations in a Counterinsurgency Conflict’. It could be titled, …

Abstract The role of infantry in contemporary deployments is proving to be in tasks other than combat, such as the Stability and Support Operations underway in Iraq. The author argues that, in addition to close combat skills, infantry soldiers require a range of wider capabilities. These include security of assets and installations, close protection and escorting of diplomatic and civilian personnel, and the softer skills of tact and discretion that help minimise the ‘footprint’ of deployments. …

Abstract This article examines the complexity of the conflict in Iraq as the backdrop for a practical approach to effects-based operations. The author proposes an adaptive approach embracing complexity, the goal being to develop a philosophy for the Australian Army that maintains the edge in complex warfighting. Introduction The conflict in Iraq demonstrates the complexity of the modern battlespace. This article examines the complexity of that conflict as the backdrop for a practical approach to …

Abstract This article explores the implementation of ‘mission command’ in the complex operational environment of Al Muthanna Province, sourthern Iraq, by the commander of the Al Muthanna Task Group 1, using his experience as a case study. The author discusses the role of the leader in preparing, enabling and executing a mission command mind-set with a bias for action ‘amongst the people’ by implementing at all levels clear intent, trust and accountability. The essential thing is action. Action has three …