Abstract The many pressures and competing requirements of the modern sub-unit commander can easily see the commander’s attention only fleetingly focused on what should be the primary role of his unit: combat. It is easy for a modern commander in today’s corporate governance-driven training environment to comply with the administrative reporting, resource management, risk mitigation and non-linear command structure necessities, and in so doing losing that essential mindset that will enable those he commands …

Abstract This article analyses the current ADF psychological operations (PSYOPS) capability and whether it should be managed by the Australian Intelligence Corps or whether it requires a new capability manager. The essence of war is a violent clash between two hostile, independent and irreconcilable wills, each trying to impose itself on the other. 1 Introduction While political and technological developments change the character of warfare, its nature, as a violent clash of wills, remains unchanged. …

Abstract Since 1999, reinvigorated understanding and investment has seen an increase in the effective use of intelligence and its associated intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance collection capabilities during recent operations in the Middle East and South Asia. During this period Army’s intelligence capability has demonstrated agility in tailoring its organisation to meet evolving expeditionary force requirements—this has been no more evident than during deployments to Afghanistan. This article …

Abstract The provision of national security is one of the essential responsibilities of government. As the Japanese advance neared Australia in early 1942 it became clear that Australia’s interwar political leadership had failed to provide adequately for the nation’s security. This article explains how in 1942 Australia found itself virtually bereft of military power as well as the steps to remedy the crisis. In doing so, the article questions whether the recent budgetary decisions by today’s political …

Captain Scott Klima enlisted into the Army in January 2004. Graduating from the Royal Military College – Duntroon in 2005 he was posted to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment and deployed to Iraq with Security Detachment 10 as a Troop Leader and Afghanistan with the Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force 1 as the Combat Team Second in Command, returning to Afghanistan as the Chief of Operations for Combined Team Uruzgan 1. He is currently posted as the Senior Instructor Gunnery Wing, School of Armour and is studying …

Warrant Officer Class Two Dallas Sharp is an Australian Intelligence Corps soldier and is currently posted to Headquarters 1st Division. He has been involved in the PSYOPS capability for the past five years, attending the Psychological Operations Officer Course at the John F Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School in 2006, prior to commencing exchange within the then 4th Psychological Operations Group, both at Fort Bragg, NC. He deployed to Iraq as the PSYOPS Detachment 2IC, supporting OBG(W)-2 and …

Lieutenant Colonel Scott Gills trained at ADFA and RMC Duntroon between 1991 and 1994. His operational experience includes deployments to Bougainville, East Timor, Afghanistan and Iraq. He is currently posted to the J2 Branch of the Joint Staff in the Pentagon. … Scott …

In the years since improvised explosive devices (IEDs) became symbols of asymmetric warfare and modern military conflict, very little has changed in the realm of counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED) strategy. The military is always searching for better vehicles and equipment to defeat what is, at its core, a homemade device made for a fraction of the cost of our technological countermeasures. As a result, C-IED strategy has primarily focused on developing new ways to mitigate the effects of an IED …

Benjamin Kohlmann’s essay, “The Military Needs More Disruptive Thinkers,” 1 struck a chord like no other essay published recently in the Small Wars Journal. In brutal honesty, I have to say that the many sniping comments struck exposed flesh. While an ardent fan of Kohlmann’s essay, I have to agree that his argument was more akin to birdshot at maximum range than a mailed fist to the throat of the problem. Perhaps a better analogy is that his was a marking round lobbed in the general vicinity of the …

Brigadier David Luhrs is the Commandant of the Royal Military College of Australia. His career has spanned 32 years, commencing as an Army Apprentice Carpenter and Joiner and including multiple training, combat and construction engineer appointments. He has served on the staff in Defence and Army Headquarters, commanded at each troop, squadron, unit and formation level, and seen operational service in Namibia, Iraq and Afghanistan. He is a graduate of the Southern Cross University, the Australian Army …