Australian Defence Force Journal, issue no. 193

The lead article in this edition of the ADF Journal, by Brigadier Dan Fortune on 'Self-reliance: an outdated and unaffordable concept for the ADF', was judged the 'best article' in this issue. Also, in this issue, Major Kathryn Ames addresses the contemporary influence of social media on Defence, particularly 'citizen journalism'.

Dr Rhys Crawley examines the logistical challenges of sustaining amphibious operations in the Asia-Pacific region, using historical examples including the Australian-led deployment to East Timor. Major Mark Smith then argues for a restructuring of the Army Reserve, contending that despite numerous attempts at reform, its structure has remained largely unchanged.

This is followed by an insightful contribution from Major Balamurugan Subbu of the Indian Army on the geostrategic importance of India's island territories, based on an award-winning essay submitted to the United Service Institute Journal, one of our counterpart publications. Captain Andrew Maher then examines the application of 'complex adaptive systems concepts' to contemporary special operations, highlighting the work being undertaken at the Special Forces Training Centre.

Dr Elena Mazourenko and Mark Jobst advance a theory-based framework for critical thinking in Defence planning and assessment, and Peter Fleming and Dr Adam McKinnon address the capability benefits of integrating work health and safety legislation.

The final contribution is an opinion piece by Dr Evan Resnick of Nanyang Technological University in Singapore on the potential for issues in East Asia to flare uncontrollably in the absence of a set of explicit or tacit 'rules of the game'.

This issue of the ADFJ was the last to be published in printed format until 2017. Issues 194 to 201 were only available online. Issues 202 to 204, the final issue of the ADFJ, were printed in both hardcopy and online formats.

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