The Edge

War-Fighting and the Production of Non-Sense

The 2020 Defence Strategic Update provides a strategic demand signal for Defence to think equally and iteratively across shape, deter and respond. In this context, the notion of warfighting warrants a reconsideration in terms of the dominant position it occupies within the ADF. If this term no longer simply speaks to the activity of fighting a war, what does it actually do, and how does this affect Australia’s current approach to military strategy?

The Race to Manus: 16 REGT RAA’S Foray Into Competition And Conflict 2028

The recollections of Lieutenant David Grieves and Gunner Michael Baker

Grieves was fresh out of Duntroon and ‘Bakes’ was still dreaming of the Dutch girl he met in Townsville when they both found themselves in a heavy combat zone. Their training and high-tech hardware were all put to the test without notice.

Intellectual Edge: The Pursuit of Lifetimes

Attaining an intellectual edge requires more than just ticking progressive boxes of formal education, it calls for a lifelong curiosity to critically observe and absorb experience.

Intellectual Curiosity: Our ticket to the moon

Stimulating and nourishing intellectual curiosity across all ADF ranks must become the norm if we are to encourage original ideas and attain the Intellectual Edge over potential adversaries in the 21st century.

The Intellectual Edge

This piece challenges common stereotypes and assumptions about intellectualism and puts a price on the pursuit of knowledge for Defence.

The Civ-Mil sweet spot – PME writing by Reservists

The Australian Defence Force needs to draw the full intellectual potential from its limited pool of people, including the ADF Reserves. Yet ADF Reserves tend to be under-represented in the professional debate. I contend that this deprives the ADF of some important diversity of thought, professional example and intellectual leadership that should be more readily available. My suggestion is that ADF Reservists seek to write and publish of topics from the sweet spot of the intersection of their civilian careers and the military profession.

The Intellectual Edge: A Collective Effect

The article suggests and explores possible components of the Intellectual Edge (being curiosity, understanding, and education), with respect to individual and organisational perspective. It suggests that the IE is attainable through the collective effect of individual intellectual pursuits within an organisation.

The role of culture in developing the intellectual edge

What is the intellectual edge?

The Professions of Arms Needs a CPD Program

In December 2018, the Commander of the Australian Defence College, Major General Mick Ryan, released the Australian Joint Professional Military Education Continuum.

Intellectual Edges: Relating to the Radical

This article explores the unfolding conversation on ‘intellectual edges’ to advance a radical proposition to unpick and gently challenge the thinking established on the topic. The ‘intellectual edge’ is explored in an alternative way, with the aim to open-up new possibilities that have otherwise been missed in the rush to give a type of functionality to the idea.

Do we have permission for an Intellectual Edge?

This article explores how hierarchical interpersonal permissions generally inhibit tangible innovation within the ADF. This argument is explored through the forced changes due to the COVID-19 situation, and contends that risk-averse leaders usually withhold permission for reform due to a fear of failure. The article concludes that a JPME continuum that seeks to provide an individual Intellectual Edge must also deliver an institutional learning culture that develops risk tolerance and the acceptance of error so that an organisational intellectual edge is pursued in parallel.

Six Golden Rules for Media Interviews

Media content is being consumed and produced in greater quantities than we’ve ever seen. That means your chances of being asked to step in front of the microphones and cameras are growing. This article provides six golden rules to assist those in Defence if they find themselves fronting the media.