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Looking at future ADF
Volume 50, No. 10, June 14, 2007 |
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| MARITIME CONCEPT: DCN RADM Russ Crane at the seminar. |
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The future of the ADF was a focus of a seminar which brought together military leaders from Navy, Army and Air Force, Defence specialists, commentators and academics at the Australian Defence Force Academy from May 15-16.
Representing the Navy, DCN RADM Russ Crane outlined the Future Maritime Operating Concept.
“The Navy must continue to provide relevant maritime forces that contribute to the defence of Australia and the security of our immediate neighbourhood, and that supports Australia’s wider interests,” he said. “To maximise this capability we need to address information power, information control and knowledge dominance.
“Developments in doctrine, technology, ship design and personnel employment will also be critical to maximising the ability of the RAN to respond to future national security challenges”.
Others attending the seminar, entitled, The Future ADF – Learning from the Past, Planning for the Future, included future ADF leaders undertaking studies at the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies and the Australian Command and Staff College.
Delegates at the seminar, co-hosted by the Australian Defence College and the Royal United Services Institute of Australia, considered possible trends in international security over the next 20 years and the ADF’s capacity and capability to contribute to any national or multi-national response.
Distinguished military practitioners and commentators included General John Abizaid, former Commander US Central Command, Mr Max Boot, Senior Fellow in national security studies at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, and Mr Terry Pudas from the US Department of Defense.
Prior to the seminar, General Abizaid was recognised for his support of the ADF in Iraq and Afghanistan by the Governor-General, His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery, who appointed General Abizaid as an Honourary Officer in the Military Division of the Order of Australia.
General Abizaid emphasised that leaders – both on the battlefield and at the national level – must be able to inspire as well as inform their people by raising public awareness and stimulating debate. Mr Pudas, a pioneer of the concept of network-centric warfare, warned “to the extent we do not transform, we are at risk”.
Mr Boot’s analysis of trends in international security highlighted the thought-provoking question on the use of military power – “How do you establish dominance?”
The aim of the RUSI of Australia is to promote informed debate and to improve public awareness and understanding of defence and national security.
Service personnel of all ranks are most welcome to join.
For more information ring Wing Commander Bob Howe (Retd), National Secretary of the RUSI, (02) 6266 2167. |
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