The Edge

US Defense Implications of Expanding China

This U.S. DoD report assesses China’s global expansion efforts and the implications for the U.S. in terms of military access, logistics, force posture and training. The report has generated discussion and various assessments can be found online across the national security community.

Cultural Intelligence (CQ) and Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) - What's the Story?

Dr. Heather Skousgaard gives an excellent, easily accessible taster to the importance of cultural intelligence (CQ) and why it is nested within the Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) continuum. Stay engaged for further discussion on this topic by Dr. Skousgaard on the Forge!

We are ‘Better Together’: A contemporary case study #2

The much-anticipated key lessons by Ben McLennan, as applied to the contemporary case study - we are 'better together'.

We are 'Better Together': A Contemporary Case Study #1

In his third installment for The Forge, Ben McLennan discusses the enduring cooperative endeavour between the Australian Defence Force and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Ben presents us with a contemporary case study in cross-cultural leadership, collaboration, and cooperation. Stay tuned at the end of the week for the lessons-learned for this case study of working 'better together'...

A Letter to Our New Academy Graduates

This week, new Australian military officers will graduate from the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra. The Commander of the Australian Defence College offers some final advice as they march off the parade ground for the final time.

Star Wars and its Lessons for Strategy and Intelligence

A recent presentation that I gave in Canberra that looks at the Star Wars universe, and its lessons for strategists and the intelligence community.

Reforming Culture: Preparing Defence for AI

Every day, artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more accessible, scalable and affordable. Disruption is not only possible, it is an inevitable - and leaders must start preparing for it now. However, the Australian Defence Forces’ (ADF) organisational culture is poorly equipped for - if not entirely opposed to - the fast and complete adoption of AI-enabled warfare. This paper explores the changes that Defence will need to make in order to prepare for artificial intelligence.

Is it the 11 secret herbs and spices, or the way it's cooked?

LTCOL Ben McLennan's second delecatable piece unfries the recipe for success for military capability! You will easily digest McLennan's thoughts on what it takes to be expert in your chosen field - whether it be culinary or military!

The Value Proposition for Developing a Future Intellectual Edge

Mick Ryan offers a new ‘value proposition’ for the intellectual development of military personnel for conflict in the 4th industrial revolution.

ACSC(J): An A-Z Guide from a Student Perspective.

Will you be attending the Australian Command and Staff College (Joint) (ACSC) course in 2019? Or have you just been selected for 2020? If the answer is yes, then you’ll want to read this unofficial guide to the ACSC posted on The Cove. It offers an excellent tool for prospective students. As the author states, the guide is written from a student’s perspective and covers a range of topics in a handy A-Z format.

Thoughts from The Edge

Mick Ryan is the Commander of the Australian Defence College. This column from Ryan and his contributors focusses on intellectually preparing members of the profession of arms for strategic competition and future conflict.

How to Think (and How Not To)

In this piece, Ben McLennan discusses the pressing need to educate the Army’s workforce on how to think (and how not to). In his discussion, McLennan cogently addresses systems thinking, inherent biases and the need for open-mindedness as part of understanding the recipe to transform Army’s thinking. While specific to McLennan’s Army experience, his observations are equally applicable to other Services and anyone who aspires to think in a way that harnesses a competitive advantage.