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Lieutenant Colonel Sean L’Estrange is an Infantry officer who recently served as a Directing Staff member at the Australian Command and Staff College – Canberra (2009–10). He is a graduate of the Joint Australian Command and Staff College (2006) and is a former Commanding Officer of 16RWAR (2007–08). His overseas service includes a Commonwealth Attachment to the British Army (1992) and Active Service as the JTF633-A Operations Analyst deployed to Tarin Kot, Afghanistan, in direct support of MRTF-2 and …

Abstract This article identifies the opportunity, if not the necessity, for the Australian Defence College to offer a larger pool of mid-ranking Army officers a mission-focused part-time ACSC program. To do this the article will assesses one of the current part-time ACSC options, the Army Reserve ACSC course (ACSC(R)), against its ability to build and develop the skills required of a mid-ranking ‘mission-focused’ officer. This analysis is Army focused; however, the concepts are applicable to a tri-service …

Major Michael Reade is an Associate Professor of anaesthetics and intensive care medicine at the Austin Hospital and the University of Melbourne. He joined Sydney University Regiment in 1989, completed the First Appointment Course and was commissioned as a general service officer. After medical qualification, he served as RMO of UNSWR and SUR, on exchange with 144 Parachute Medical Squadron in London and the 2nd Armoured Division in Texas and California, and as a specialist medical officer with 1HSB and …

Abstract The Australian Defence Force has a need for procedural medical specialists in garrison healthcare, on major exercises and on operations. Employing such specialists in the full-time component of the ADF has proved largely impossible, leading to reliance on civilian contractors. However, the ADF Reserves include many procedural medical specialists who could potentially perform this work. Underemployment of the Reserves is a costly lost opportunity. This article proposes a method of better matching …

Signalman Russell Larner joined the GRES in January 2004 and, after postings as a clerk with the 4th Combat Engineer Regiment and 4th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (Commando), he joined the ARA in January 2006 as an Operator Specialist Communications. After completing initial employment training at the Defence Force School of Signals, he was posted to the 1st Combat Signals Regiment (1 CSR). As a member of 1 CSR he deployed with the Force Communications Element in September 2008 in support of …

Abstract The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team, an element of 20 EOD SQN, is among the Australian Defence Force’s most effective weapons in the fight against the improvised explosive device (IED), the tool of the modern insurgent. The crucial communications element of the EOD team is currently managed by a Regimental Signaller, a non-specialist operator with all-corps training. Replacing the Regimental Signaller with a specialist Communications Systems Operator (COMSYSOP), however, would significantly …

In 2010, Captain Clark was employed as the Officer Commanding the Amphibious Beach Team. During this time he conducted exercises with the New Zealand, United States, French and United Kingdom amphibious forces. He was also attached to 3rd Royal Marine Commando Brigade for Exercise AURIGA, which was conducted in the United States. Captain Clark is now employed as the Officer Commanding 30 Terminal Squadron. … Dean …

Abstract This article discusses the effect of the acquisition of the Amphibious Deployment and Sustainment (ADAS) System, acquired under JP 2048. It is argued that the project is largely ignoring the need to control river systems and shallow water areas that dominate our region’s geography. The article also discusses the training implications associated with the raising and sustaining of a world class amphibious force. A small but highly trained [amphibious] force striking ‘out of the blue’ at a vital spot …

Chris Forbes-Ewan has twenty-five years’ experience in Defence nutrition, including extensive research into food acceptability, food intake, energy expenditure and physical performance enhancement. For ten years he was the Australian National Leader of an international defence technical panel under The Technical Cooperation Program. This panel conducted collaborative and cooperative research into performance enhancement for special and conventional operations. From 2006 to 2009 Chris was the Australian …

Abstract Chris Forbes-Ewan has twenty-five years’ experience as a Defence nutritionist with the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO). He is based at DSTO-Scottsdale (aka Defence Nutrition and Food Technology). In this response to an article in the Winter 2010 issue of the Australian Army Journal , Chris argues that, although it is far from perfect, the Combat Ration One Man does make adequate nutrition available for ADF members. A man’s ration is part of his pay. As we do not pay him in …