News
GEN McChrystal's Report on the War in Afghanistan
Members will be aware that General Stanley A McChrystal, US Army, has submitted his latest assessment of the situation in Afghanistan to Secretary Gates. It is the professional responsibility of all members to maintain their situational awareness of the prevailing conditions in that threater. No other single document publicly available contains such a comprehensive and lucid assessment of conditions in Afghanistan today. The Land Warfare Studies Centre therefore commends it to all Army personnel.
Professor Ian Beckett to Deliver the Next of the LWSC/ADFA Changing Character of War Seminars
The LWSC and ADFA are pleased to welcome Professor Ian Beckett to present the second seminar in the LWSC's Changing Character of War Seminar Series at 1500 on 7 October 2009 at Badcoe Hall, RMC.
Professor Beckett is Honorary Professor of Military History at the University of Kent, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and Chairman of the Council of the Army Records Society. He has previously held chairs at the universities of Luton and Northampton, as well as having been Major General Matthew C Horner Professor of Military Theory at the US Marine Corps University and Visiting Professor of Strategy at the US Naval War College.
His many publications include The Great War, 1914-1918 (2nd ed. 2007), The First World War: The Essential Guide to Sources in the UK National Archives (2002) and Modern Insurgencies and Counter-insurgencies (2001).
If you are interested in attending the seminar, please contact the Land Warfare Studies Centre.
Hard-won lessons from the Second Fusiliers
Published by the Second Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, Musa Qal'eh Mail highlights the operational lessons of this heavily-engaged Coalition unit, providing a valuable resource for Australian soldiers. The August edition examines:
- Operation MAR-LEWE 2
- Operation MAR-ZINA
- Afghanistan Elections
Commended to the Army by the DCA, it is featured on the Land Warfare Studies Centre's website for your convenience. You can read the August Edition of the Musa Qal'eh Mail here. (PDF)
Gordon Brown: British AfPak Strategy Reiterated
In delivering a staunch defence of the long-term international Afghanistan mission, British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown has reiterated the need to partner-up British forces with their Afghan counterparts. In this speech given to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) on 4 September 2009, Gordon Brown stated:
'It is clear that to achieve this rapid increase in numbers - and to increase the quality and effectiveness of the new Afghan forces - would require a new approach, shifting from mentoring - where small numbers of mentors work with afghan units - to one of partnering, Where the bulk of our combat forces would be dedicated to working side by side with the afghan army at all levels - where British troops would eat, sleep, live train, plan, and fight together with their Afghan partners, to bring security to the population. This is the best route to success, the most effective way to transfer skills and responsibility to the Afghan security forces, and the best way to gain the trust of the population - and therefore the most effective way to complete our tasks.'
Read the rest at the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom's website.
Professor Hew Strachan Launches the LWSC/ADFA Changing Character of War Seminar Series
On 12 August 2009, the LWSC and ADFA were pleased to welcome Professor Hew Strachan to present the inaugural seminar of the LWSC's Changing Character of War Seminar Series.
Professor Strachan is one of the most esteemed military historians in the world. He is currently the Chichele Professor of the History of Warfare at Oxford University and is also a leading scholar in strategic studies, having published numerous books and articles on matters ranging from a history of the Great War, a significant work on the impact of Clausewitz as well as a range of works on strategy and warfare. He is a highly regarded military educator who has delivered programs at Sandhurst, Shrivenham and various NATO Staff Colleges.
ADF personnel in attendance were benefited by Professor Strachan's unique and engaging commentary on the changing character of war. Drawing on his experience as Director of the Oxford Leverhulme Programme on the Changing Character of War, he was able to offer important insights drawn from many of the leading minds of his program.
Audio of Professor Strachan's seminar is available here.
MAJGEN Caligari appointed Head Modernisation and Strategic Planning - Army
On 3 August 2009, a new Army Headquarters (AHQ) structure stood up, with Chief of Army LTGEN Gillespie appointing MAJGEN John Caligari as head of the new Modernisation and Strategic Planning Division. It is lead, on behalf of the Chief of Army, for Army's continuous modernisation and is empowered to ensure Army remains capable of adapting appropriately to the demands of Government and the changing security environment.
HMSP-A, MAJGEN Caligari, has stated that his priorities are to:
- Implement Army development outcomes from White Paper 2009 through an updated Army Plan (Part One.)
- Define the Army Objective Force (AOF) and refine the Army After Next (AAN).
- Implement the Army Learning Environment (ALE) to enhance the Adaptive Army initiative.
- Refine Army's modernisation processes to support the Adaptive Army initiative.
- Deliver specified support to Army's preparations for operational committments.
The Land Warfare Studies Centre, as a part of the Land Warfare Development Centre, now falls under HMSP-A's authority.
2009 Chief of Army Master Question List Released
The 2009 Chief of Army Master Question List has been designed to stimulate research on key issues relevant to Army's current operations and future organisational requirements. It was written as a direct result of the deliberations of Army's senior officers at the 2008 Chief of Army's Exercise.
This year, focus has been placed upon investigating:
- Future Force Modernisation
- Multi-Agency Operations
- The Human Dimension to 21st Century Conflict; and
- Enhancing Fleet Management
Contribution towards research in these areas by any and all Army personnel is most welcome. Requests for this publication are to be made to the Directorate of Future Land Warfare and Strategy.