This study examines the relationship between the 1915 Gallipoli campaign and the military revolution of World War I. The paper seeks to focus on what can be learnt from the military expedition rather than concentrating on its legendary aspects. The study evaluates the strategic concept behind Gallipoli, provides a sketch of the events of the campaign, and then analyses the context and enduring significance of the Allied attempt to seize the Dardanelles. It suggests that Gallipoli remains a cautionary tale …

This paper examines the place of the Army in the making of Australian strategy in the 20th century. It argues that, over the past one hundred years, Australian peacetime strategic planning has been characterised by a schism between the requirements of local territorial defence and the needs of security defined on the basis of upholding vital international and overseas interests. The major consequence of this schism in Australian defence philosophy was that, for long periods during the past century, the …

This paper examines the way in which Australia has responded to the post–Cold War concept of a Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA). It argues that, between 1994 and the present, Australian thinking about an information-age military revolution has gone through two distinct phases: a period of informal debate and a period of institutional theorising. The informal phase of Australian RMA thinking lasted from 1994 until 1997 and represented a period of intellectual speculation under the rubric of Defence of …

This working paper analyses the continuing importance of combined arms warfare in modern armed conflict. The paper consists of three edited essays: a conceptual introduction to the theory of combined arms combat; a case study of combined arms warfare based on the Australian Army's experience in Vietnam; and a concluding essay with historical and contemporary insights on the continuing relevance of all-arms combat. The first essay by Michael Evans provides a conceptual context for understanding the …

A primer for ADF commanders to assist them to own the challenge of military suicide in the ranks as a command and leadership issue. This paper seeks to provide a primer for Australian Defence Force commanders to assist them to own the challenge of military suicide in the ranks as first and foremost a command and leadership issue. It argues that it is impossible to understand a suicidal soldier unless the subject of suicide is itself broadly understood by the profession of arms. In order to frame the …

Lieutenant Colonel Melanie Lenaghan has been at the forefront of operational roles in information operations and advising on the impact of war on women and children to ADF and coalition senior leaders during recent conflicts. This thought-provoking presentation on the impact of war on women and children, in particular in Iraq, provides valuable insight into how military operations impact on non-combatants and combatants alike in ways that are often not obvious to planners. … A Woman's Place is in the …

Lieutenant Colonel Melanie Lenaghan has been at the forefront of operational roles in information operations and advising on the impact of war on women and children to ADF and coalition senior leaders during recent conflicts. … Melanie Lenaghan …

WAR! – What is it Good For? Professor Ian Morris’s book, “War! What is it good for?” looks at the long term history of how the rise of stronger governments with more force at their disposal have driven down rates of violent death, with some discussion of why people use violence in the first place. This oration contributes to Army’s contest of ideas and will provide attendees with an opportunity to learn about the history of conflict, and gain a unique perspective on the evolution of violence and some …

Ian Morris is Professor of Classics and a senior fellow of the Archaeology Centre at Stanford University. He has published thirteen books, including Why the West Rules—For Now (2010), War! What is it Good For? (2014), and most recently Foragers, Farmers, and Fossil Fuels: How Human Values Evolve (2015). He has directed archaeological digs in Greece and Italy, has held visiting professorships in anthropology, archaeology, business, international studies, and psychology, and is a contributing editor at …

A logistician by background, he recently Commander the Army School of Logistics Operations and has seen operational Service in Joint and Army logistics roles. He is a graduate of the University of New South Wales (Master of Business) and the Australian National University (Master of Arts (Research)) through the Australian Command and Staff Course. He is undertaking a Doctor of Philosophy through the Australian National University; in this research he is examining the effectiveness of the ADF’s approach to …