The Forge Upgrade is Now Live

Dear Readers,

We're thrilled to announce that the much-anticipated Forge Upgrade is now available! While this is now available live, please consider this a shakedown cruise that allows you to gain the benefits of the upgrade, and provides us with opportunities to improve the site even further ahead of its official relaunch early next year.

As with any major update, there might be a few hiccups – such as display issues or new processes for our staff to master. We value your input, so if you notice anything out of place, please do not hesitate to reach out through our feedback form or email us at the.forge@defence.gov.au.

Despite the Forge's substantial transformation, our core mission remains unwavering: to support the Profession of Arms as a forum for discussion, to promote thought and enable a culture of critique and professional interest. . With these upgrades, we aim to foster even more robust discussion forums, promoting thought and nurturing a culture of critique and professional interest.

A Heartfelt Thanks to Our Incredible Team

This monumental achievement would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of many. A special thanks to AVM Steve Edgeley, former COMADC, for green-lighting this project, and to our current COMADC, RADM James Lybrand, for his unwavering support. We also owe a debt of gratitude to Mr Gary Chalker, the Forge's previous leader, for his vision and commitment to getting the upgrade proposal approved and recommending new features that we can all now enjoy.

Our gratitude extends to the JPME teams of the past and present, especially to MAJ Gregory ‘Red’ Barron for his pivotal role in developing the JPME Continuum 2.0 and aligning our old content with it. We also extend our appreciation to the Directors of JPME – WGCDR Jaqueline Carswell (2022) and COL David Beaumont (2023) – for their relentless advocacy during this transition.

What's New in the Forge?

The two most important features in this update are the realignment of the existing content to reflect the JPME Continuum 2.0, and the introduction of the interactive JPME Continuum triangular pyramid. All content on the site now aligns with the latest version of the continuum, and if you need to know more about any segment or level within the continuum you can select the triangle with the mouse to learn more about it. 
With so many other additions, we've opted to provide a concise list to highlight the rest of the major changes:

1. Consolidated Search Functionality: Effortlessly search almost everything, including featured student work.
2. Sign-In Features: Enables commenting, Alumni access, and author features.
3. Feedback Options: Quick thumbs up or down for leaving impressions without logging in.
4. Article Citation Made Easy: One button to collect collate and format a citation.
5. Enhanced Newsletters: Multiple ways to manage your subscription.
6. Improved Alumni Services: Exclusive articles for Alumni members.
7. Full Author Access: Easier exploration of an author's article history.
8. A Fresh Look: Revamped menu structure and design.
9. Social Media-Friendly: Integrated metadata for easy sharing. 

Looking Ahead to 2024: More to Come!

In 2024, we're planning to bring you an influx of exemplary student works, a JPME-focused selection of global articles, exciting competitions, expanded multimedia content, and an extended range of items in the Friends of the Forge.

Season's Greetings and a Bright Future

As we wind down for the holiday season, the Forge team wishes you joy, safety, and peace. We're excited to embark on this new chapter with you in 2024, and to evolve and enrich the Forge experience.

Warm regards,
The Forge Team