General Slams Jargon, Urges War Studies for Officers

0:00In Adelaide today, February 27, Major General Chris Smith, the Deputy Chief of Army in the Australian Defense Force, slammed the spread of managerial jargon during a speech at the Chief of Army's History Conference last November. He argued this empty talk has tainted the military profession and comes from a deep ignorance of war's true nature. Smith highlighted how Army documents described the world as a complex strategic environment instead of just a dangerous place. He said this, double speak reveals a rotten core, with officers detached from violence and buying into vague ideas like information dominance, that ignore battlefield realities. The speech video recently appeared on the Army's Professional Development YouTube channel, earning quick praise from veterans who see it as a much-needed wake-up call. Smith stressed that real Army work means seeking out enemies, closing in, killing, capturing, or holding ground, not delivering effects like some, package service. He tied these issues to decades-old problems, including poor discipline, and a lack of more courage, exposed in a 2012 Afghanistan report.

1:08Smith warned that forgetting war's frictions leads to over-centralized decisions, treating combat like a workplace risk with hazard pay. Now the Army is fighting back by mandating warfare studies for officers, including a new Bachelor of War studies degree that 75% of, cadets will finish. Experts say this builds critical thinking and sets Australian forces apart on the global stage. Special thanks to our sponsor for supporting this episode. Press play. Put your head down. The sound is already there. S-O-L-I-SoliPillow.com