More change signalled

Spaghetti: Sig Matthew Pryke sorts through a maze of communications cabling in southern Iraq. Photo by Cpl Cameron Jamieson

IN EARLY 1998, there was a significant shift in the way Army produces doctrine. In essence, the shift was from the Manual of Land Warfare (MLW) series of doctrinal publications to the Land Warfare Doctrine (LWD) series. This Army Doctrine evolution was bought about because the MLW series was too corps orientated. A shift to the LWD series was initiated to establish a functional rather that a corps basis for doctrine.

How is Sigs doctrine affected?

AS A consequence of the change to the LWD series, there have been substantial changes to the RA Sigs doctrine hierarchy.

A new Signals capstone publication entitled Signals was released to the wider Defence community last November. This document aims to describe the nature and scope of Signals support to land operations at the philosophical level. The pamphlet also introduces new Signals terminology and concepts. The release of the new Signals document has meant that the MLW 2.1.1 Land Force Tactical Communications 1981 has now become obsolete.

A number of other Signals doctrine publications were released in 2004. These publications are LWP-G 6-4-1, Radio Wave Propagation and Antenna Theory and LWP-S 6-2-4, Provision of Cable Installation and Rigging. These documents are available either in hard copy or can be accessed on the Army Defence Electronic Library (ADEL) at http://adel.defence.gov.au.

Contacts and comments

INFORMATION on current Signals Army Doctrine can be obtained at the Doctrine Wing homepage at http://lwdc.sor.defence.gov.au/doctrine/ or by contacting WO2 Arthur Roe on (03) 5735 6865. Use the “Contact Us” link on ADEL online to tell us what you think about any aspect of Land Warfare Doctrine. All printed publications also have comments cards in the back that can be sent direct to Doctrine Wing, Land Warfare.

Future publications

MEMBERS of the Signals doctrine cell have not be resting on their laurels in 2005 and have further developed the hierarchy in an attempt to bring the corps doctrine in line with current and, as best as possible, future practices and procedures.

Recent publications

LWP-G 6-1-1 Unit Signals; and
LWP-G 6-2-1 Tactical Land Battlespace Communications (Developing Doctrine).

Signals doctrine publications proposed for release in the near future include:

LWD 6-1, Employment of Signals; and
LWP-S 6-2-2, Provision of Information Networks.