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Abstract This article lays down the author’s experiences commanding RTF-3’s Security Task Group in Afghanistan during 2007 and 2008. From a significant study of the Mujahideen and Taliban prior to his deployment, the author was able to determine eleven tactical principles that guided the employment of his forces, and they are provided in this article for the benefit of future commanders. The author points out that his eleven principles, and his experience of employing them, clearly proved the enduring …

The wording might have changed a little since Chinese general Sun Tzu brushed ‘ The Art of War ’ in circa sixth century BC, but the meaning today is clear enough: Know thy enemy and know thyself, find naught in fear for 100 battles. Know thyself but not thy enemy, find level of loss and victory. Know thy enemy but not thyself, wallow in defeat every time. 1 If you argue that an enemy never harboured desires for your soil, one would think that, had you the opportunity, you would go to the sources of the …

Chief of Army’s address to US Army Land Power in the Pacific symposium, 10 April 2013 Lieutenant General David Morrison, AO It is indeed a great honour to address this conference which has drawn together representatives of the land forces from many nations across the Asia-Pacific — or perhaps, as it is coming to be more accurately described, the Indo-Asia- Pacific region. I am going to talk about strategy and, not surprisingly, Clausewitz will receive several passing mentions. I intend to offer a view as …

On the eve of the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, the Australian Army Journal completed a series of interviews with former senior leader- ship and senior soldiers to compare their observations on the Army post- Afghanistan with that of the post-Vietnam era. Former Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) of the Army, Warrant Officer Peter Rosemond, CSC, OAM (retd) describes the Army as he knew it in the Vietnam era and comments on what he regards as the challenges facing the current army post-Afghanistan. …

On the eve of the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, the Australian Army Journal completed a series of interviews with former senior leader- ship and senior soldiers to compare their observations on the withdrawal from Afghanistan with that of Vietnam. Former Deputy Chief of Army, Major General Ian Gordon, AO (retd), discusses what he regards as the challenges facing a modern army compared with those of over 30 years ago and begins with a descrip- tion of the Vietnam-era army. Major General Gordon: The …

In its deliberations earlier this year, the Editorial Advisory Board decided to split the Chauvel Prize and make an award for the best article published in each issue. We hope and intend that this will encourage more readers to consider writing for the Australian Army Journal. The winners for 2014 accordingly are: Captain Nathan Mark, ‘The Increasing Need for Cyber Forensic Awareness and Specialisation in RA Sigs’, (Winter) Lieutenant Colonel Martin White, ‘Operational Security in the Digital Age: Who is …

In peace, the function of tactical air support of land operations is apt to fade, but in war its urgency will increase. 1 - Field Marshal Viscount Slim Abstract Any history of the campaign in Burma highlights the vital importance of air power to the eventual victory over the Japanese by the 14th Army. The purpose of the paper is to explore how the Allies achieved air-land integration (ALI) during the Burma campaign during the Second World War. The key research question was to establish why ALI was so …

Abstract ‘Sua Tela Tonanti’ is the motto of the Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps (RAAOC), which is translated as ‘To the Warrior his Arms’. This task has increased in difficulty over time. The growing sophistication of Army platforms, the higher tempo of Army operations, and the high diversity of Army operational locations has greatly complicated the task of bringing the warrior their arms. Thus, Army logisticians currently face considerable difficulties in decision-making. These primarily stem from …

Abstract In 2006 the Government of the United States of America lodged a reservation against the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR (2005)) that effectively nullified certain provisions with respect to the operations of USA Armed Forces. The aim of the IHR (2005) is to detect, prevent and control public health events of international concern; it does not contain provisions that explicitly relate to the militaries of States Parties. While public health …

Abstract Extremism poses a danger to any society and can be detrimental if unchecked. In the post-web era, extremist groups have started using information networks to influence public perception, gain silent sympathisers, and radicalize youth. One such group–the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS)–deftly uses information networks to intimidate rival groups, terrorize populations, radicalize youth, and recruit foreign fighters from Western countries—thus posing a threat to the security of regions in …