Army sure of its future

By Cpl Cameron Jamieson

ARMY is on path to meet its future as a light armoured force, contrary to recent debate in the media.

In a recent letter to the editor of the Sydney Morning Herald the CA rejected claims that Army was turning its back on the lessons of East Timor in order to focus on the lessons of Iraq.

“The Army seeks a development path to a light armoured force that will ensure that as many of our soldiers as possible are provided with armoured protected mobility,” the CA wrote.

“The Army also needs to be able to logistically support and sustain troop numbers.”

“It must be able to cope with a broad range of complex situations rather than a single environment with only one ally.”

The CA went on to counter a Defence commentator’s suggestions that Army should concentrate on light infantry forces, with the CA arguing that such a focus would leave Australian soldiers extremely vulnerable to even moderately well equipped regular forces.

“[Soldiers] would also be vulnerable to insurgents, militias, and even criminal elements who have shown that they can acquire very lethal weapons,” the CA wrote.

“In preparing the Australian Defence Force and the Army for future defence and security challenges, the leadership of the ADF and the Army seek to provide a force that is flexible, adaptable and agile.

“In our complex and globalised security environment we must be able to provide a force capable of rapid deployment to situations, which will be unpredictable, highly diverse and increasingly lethal.

“Our developing plan to harden and network the Army is designed to ensure that new equipment such as the ARH, artillery, infantry weapons and long-range communications are incorporated into the best structures, have appropriate doctrine and we have the best trained people to operate them.

“In preparing the Army for the future we are conscious of the past but we view it in a broad context, not just one event such as East Timor.

“We also have an extensive program of experimentation, simulation, war-gaming and analysis, which looks at the future environment.

“While conscious of the past, Army is on a path to the future.”