By Aaron Pegram Cambridge University Press, 2019, ISBN 9781108486194, 284pp Reviewed by Luke Holloway In November 1918 the guns in Western Europe fell silent signifying the end of four years of fighting. From 1916 to 1918 the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) had developed into an effective and efficient fighting force on the Franco-Belgian Front. The … Continue reading Book Review: Surviving the Great War: Australian Prisoners of War on the Western Front, 1916โ18
Blog Posts
#DefineStrategy: In Crayon
In this submission, the @ArmchairMajor has submitted a drawing (presumably in crayon). It's actually not half-bad. "Strategy is the unifying purpose to achieve the goal"Dan Ellis That's it. That's the entire post.
#DefineStrategy. Strategy would be easy if we got rid of the humans
"Strategy is hard". Jarrod Brook This insight seems trite, but itโs best to be grounded and show a little humility before unpacking what this means. Whilst there are a variety of reasons that make the formulation of strategy difficult, friction is always present due to the fundamentally human nature of strategy. Strategy can seem exceedingly … Continue reading #DefineStrategy. Strategy would be easy if we got rid of the humans
#DEFINESTRATEGY. On Grand Strategy
In this #DefineStrategy entry, Edouard Cousins offers his thoughts on grand strategy and the bridge between military strategy and policy. โGrand strategy is the light on the horizon that provides an aiming mark for the nation, guiding it towards its best interests through turbulent seas.โEd Cousins โA grand strategy is a purposeful and coherent set … Continue reading #DEFINESTRATEGY. On Grand Strategy
#DEFINESTRATEGY. The Big Idea
In this #DefineStrategy submission, Rex Harrison provides a simple answer speaks to some of the common frustrations about the use and over-use of the term. "Strategy is a big idea with a few general thoughts of how to achieve that idea"Rex Harrison To answer the exam question, I think of strategy as a โbig idea … Continue reading #DEFINESTRATEGY. The Big Idea
THE REGIMENTAL SERGEANT MAJOR IN PLANNING
By Warrant Officer Class One Brad Doyle, Regimental Sergeant Major Combat Training Centre. The RSM at Divisional, Brigade and Battle Group level has a number of functions and tasks. What is the function that best describes the RSM during planning? Is the role defined and do RSMs know of this role? The Manual of Army … Continue reading THE REGIMENTAL SERGEANT MAJOR IN PLANNING
#DEFINESTRATEGY. A narrative that guides
In this #DefineStrategy submission, Jarrod Brook offers his thoughts on how best to do strategy, as well as how best to articulate it. "Strategy is ultimately a narrative that guides our decision making and the execution of campaigns"Jarrod Brook Defining strategy is a very intimidating question, and I am not sure I am as steeped … Continue reading #DEFINESTRATEGY. A narrative that guides
#DefineStrategy. Coloring In the Gray Zones: On Colin S. Grayโs Definition of Strategy
In this #DefineStrategy entry, Philip Dolitsky provides his observations on Colin S. Gray's definition, contrasted with comments from Hew Strachan on Clausewitz. "Strategy is the employment of force and the threat of force in a dialectical battle with an adversary to compel the enemy to do our will for the ultimate purpose of securing a … Continue reading #DefineStrategy. Coloring In the Gray Zones: On Colin S. Grayโs Definition of Strategy
#DefineStrategy Series: Part 1
Nobody really knows what strategy is. The concept of the โbigger picture' seems to be broadly understood among practitioners in the profession of arms, yet a single definition for โstrategyโ still eludes us. Ask 100 people to define it and youโll likely receive 100 different answers. Each may be right, but none would be complete. … Continue reading #DefineStrategy Series: Part 1
Why Nuclear Weapons Are Going to Go
Phillip Dolitsky recently critiqued my four part series of articles titled โHow to Eliminate Nuclear Weaponsโ here on Chesterfield Strategy (see โWhy Nuclear Weapons are Here to Stay.โ) Dolitskyโs response is well researched, cogent, and clear. He is an able scholar, but we do have some points of disagreement. People often think that because I … Continue reading Why Nuclear Weapons Are Going to Go
