The Australian Army will facilitate a national conversation about its role in Australia’s future at the Chief of Army Symposium 2025 in Canberra. The theme of the two-day event is ‘Army in Society’ – exploring Army’s relationship with the nation – bringing together Defence, academics, think tanks, industry and media to discuss the future-focused and rapidly evolving service.
Australia is facing its most challenging strategic circumstances since the Second World War. To meet these challenges Army is rapidly adapting to be prepared to fight in littoral environments and deploy long-range strike capabilities as part of the joint force. Success in this evolution requires the support of the nation Army serves, so it has never been more important to examine Army’s place in Australia’s national identity, our society’s trust in Army, and national resilience in the face of crisis.
Panel discussions will explore the future relationship between the Army and the nation, considering factors such as Army’s place in Australia’s national identity, the importance of trust, and the imperative of national resilience. Panel members across the two days include General Sir Peter Cosgrove (ret), Lieutenant General Peter Leahy (ret), Professor Sir Hew Strachan, Professor Risa Brooks, Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman, Tony Jones and speakers from across Defence.
Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart said now was the time to assess Army’s role in society. “The Australian Army is an Army for the nation, and part of the community it serves,” Lieutenant General Stuart said. “Our nation once again lives in an era of great power competition, where our defence and security are a national effort. We must ensure the nation’s expectations and demands are met, and that the Army is fit for purpose to support the National Defence Strategy.”
The Chief of Army Symposium will be open to the public via livestream.
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The role of the Army in Australian society. I guess only what is permitted by our masters in Washington. Right now, given Washington’s Project Ukraine is in flames, Project Iran has backfired, nobody is buying US government debt anymore, they will ignite Project Taiwan. For us mugs in Australia, it means getting ready for conscription and mass casualties and hundreds of thousands of body bags.
I think they should discuss why serving in the ADF is a wholly unattractive option
We are losing the online information (or misinformation) war. This is a huge problem.
I believe that the ADF reflects the values from the society in which it extends, it does not tend to influence society much in peacetime. Australia is also corrupt, and broken at high levels, and the people in Australia are not ignorant of this fact. Until this is properly addressed, and fixed, and a just society exists once more, don’t expect people to fight for your corporations that effectively control the place…
The drums are beating, and whatever shape that conflict takes, it is likely coming in our lifetime. Countries that do not share our values and ideologies want control.
I concur with your last paragraph. The soldiers of today are nothing like the soldiers who were every type of Aussie genuine men, off the land who knew what duty, respect discipline honor facing the enemy to the death. These men were tough and mature in their minds. A lot of them at 12-13yo they were working their butts off, knew how to look after a farm,could be relied on etc. In a few years he would put his age up and go to war protecting Australia against the Japanese.
Now you ask for volunteer they look and sneer to hard to do sounds like work, no I want my freedom I’m important I don’t help others, etc etc these type of volunteers in the services will go AWOL the minute he gets thru Kapooka gates.
My family are all 3 services my immediate family dad mum, Uncles were Army my brother and I were NAVY, my sister and grandfather were Air Force.
I lost nephews and uncle at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, my dad was RAEME & SAS and. Did 6 trips Kokoda Track helping his mates down then from Moresby fought single handed caps all the way to Honshu, Japan. He next fought in Korea. Unlike USA who had certain points go home our guys served in WW1 & WW2 & Korea. Dad was the best mechanic to ever come out of the Army.
If their was a war today and you asked for volunteers all of us veterans who served then would stand up for the honor of our country. THIS ALONE is what made us have brave soldiers. What type of ARMY disgraces a brave soldier who did his tours and was awarded with the VICTORIA CROSS and instead of honouring this brave man, he is humiliated in a civilian court all because of 2 journalists who thought it would be funny to humiliate a VC veteran.
Not in our proud history since the ANZACS origin have our defence department bend down to its lowest ebb tov2 civilian untrained, undisciplined, nonmilitary people, and let them put their spin on a situation that they wouldn’t understand. At time of war conditions, rules, and killing are an unfortunate consequence of war.
If it was up to me these civilians should join the Army at Kapooka and be given the old fashioned training of WW1-2 and not this public service basic training their is today.
If you stood the entire Army and said We are at war, now we are calling for volunteers their would run and this lot reckon they are ready.
Get real Generals and others with no disrespect sirs, our nation has not kept up the personnel in all 3 services, we don’t have the equipment we need to fight another nation similar to USA, Japan etc, and we are called toy soldiers, our ships are toy ships compared to giant air craft carriers USA carry how are we going to be able to cope against that…the Japs nearly beat us in Darwin and Sydney. If it wasn’t for my dad and Uncles and nephews who pushed the bustards all the way back to Japan…and it took the Bomb to stop them.
The other side we had Hitler and his Nazis and Luftwaffe. If it hadn’t been for the skilled pilots in the RAF, the brave relatives my uncle was RAF maintence getting th planes fit to fly next day. Plus the Spitfire,
Hurricane and the Bombers ie Lancaster
and the fight of the British People with the words of Sir Winston Churchill and brave King George VI.
I taught history primary and secondary high schools and they don’t teach about WW1, WW2, Korea etc. They would learn of ancient Cities but Ww2 no. They see the 50s – 70s as being boring, no mobile phones. Etc. A RSM came up to a RCT and gave an order the recruit would ask who are you to give me an order? Or I have to check with my civilian diary to see if we can get you in etc. In my day a RSM or any ranking officer you would salute a Lt above or come to attention and listen to what he said and march off and the march back wait until he has finish speaking then deliver the situation report and proceed with the next order. It could be past midnight but you don’t dwell on war, because all the exercises in the would can not hold up to the Candle of wartime
Good Luck sirs, I believe you should hear from military & ex personnel, of their import. Relax the ruled for voluntary entrants into conscription. you should. accept these guys off the land who could make Rats of Tobruk proud. These guys are stron, ride shoot. can fight etc, a young kid from uni or school thinking would be
fun to play with these guns then points it at everyone. Get real.
Good luck hut we won’t have enough Aussies this time which is a disgrace.
Really.
..
That’s because you spoilt boomer brats never worked a hard day in your life but still got a massive payout. You don’t realise the younger generations are busting everything they have for a pittance. No one young wants to serve the country because the country does nothing for them.
“No one young wants to serve the country because the country does nothing for them” ….. And there it is. The statement that says it all about this generation. We didn’t join the Australian Army for ourselves, rather, we joined to do something for our country.
I found the original post interesting for exactly the same reason. Why should I help someone hit by a car or put out a fire next door unless there’s something in it for me?
Will save you some money, read my article. Defend Australia from external threats. Stay out of woke nonsense. Develop actual leaders. Simple!
Wow..I’m amazed at how many contributors to this article eat Chinese food….
You might wish to spell out what you mean with that comment.
Kim, I thought it obvious,Firstly let me say that this publication prides itself on a fair an equitable printing of different view points, this is what makes APDR worth reading, I found the article of interest as I believe the Army needs to be in touch with the People it is Defending but The majority of articles are from contributors I don’t recognise and they all seem to be canning the Military and suggesting the Pointlessness Of offending China. That was just my take on some of the comments.
Hmmmm. I’m not aware of many referring the pointlessness of offending China – though that happens to be my own perspective. I just landed in Urumqi, by the way. I think it’s a relationship that has to be carefully managed. It’s true that I spend a lot of my time bagging the way the military run acquisitions – and their obsessive anti-media secrecy – but that’s not a reflection on the individuals (with a few rare exceptions) but rather the system they are stuck in, coupled with Ministers who seem to have no idea how to lead. I hope Army does succeed in re-engaging with the community. They have a very long way to go.