Deputy chief of army warns ADF has become ‘detached’ from violent nature of war

A senior Australian Army officer has delivered a scathing critique of the force, accusing it of being polluted by “managerial and advertising logic” and losing sight of the violent nature of war. Major General Chris Smith’s address, given at the Chief of Army’s History Conference in November, recently gained wider circulation after being uploaded to the army’s professional development platform.

Deputy chief pushes for more education on warfare

Major General Smith warned the army had embraced “nonsensical and theoretically implausible concepts” and become “detached” from the realities of warfare. He criticized what he described as a pervasive use of “gibberish” intended to obscure ignorance, citing examples such as describing the world not as a “dangerous place” but as a “complex and challenging strategic environment.”

He argued that the army’s language had become overly abstract, with officers “delivering effects” rather than engaging in the fundamental actions of war – “seek out, close with, kill, capture, seize, hold and repel attacks.”

Smith also took aim at the tendency to treat war as something other than its inherently violent nature, stating, “We convinced ourselves you can’t kill your way to victory in war. But of course you can. Just ask the Taliban.”

The deputy chief expressed concern that officers lacked a basic understanding of warfare and its history, leading to an “unquestioning acceptance” of managerial language and abstract thinking. He pointed to a reliance on concepts like “decision superiority” and “information dominance” as examples of this issue.

Smith also criticized the practice of providing allowances to troops based on “exposure to hazards,” suggesting it risked framing war as a “workplace hazard.” He further argued that historical ignorance contributed to a belief that technology could overcome the inherent “fog of war.”

He referenced a 2012 report detailing failings in conduct by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan, attributing them to failures in leadership, a “general failure of moral courage,” and a “loss of historical perspective.”

Major General Smith stated the army is now implementing measures to improve historical awareness, including a new Bachelor of War Studies degree, which will be completed by approximately 75 percent of army officer cadets. Experts have welcomed the initiative, suggesting it will foster a more intellectually rigorous approach to military strategy.

Professor Peter Dean of the Australian National University described the speech as a “frank assessment” and a positive step towards creating a more adaptive and innovative military organization.