Recently how outsiders in Slim and Tuker came from the Indian Army caught my attention. Tuker understood the value of professionalism in the inter-war years. Also, Slim was a gifted and intelligent leader. But I wonder if how the people not overly tied to the establishment are the best performers is a historical norm and not an aberration.
For instance, Ulysses S. Grant wasn't cut from the same cloth as other generals during the U.S. Civil War but was a strategic thinker.
A very timely contribution - for Australia also. Having just published the Defence Strategic Review, a bet has been made about what type of conflict won’t happen in future - the type that arguably occurred against Britain - including Australia - in Malaya and to Britain in France. At relatively low cost, combined arms brigades could be maintained to insure against contingencies. Not doing so incurs strategic risk that is observable by an adversary.
So, what went wrong?
Recently how outsiders in Slim and Tuker came from the Indian Army caught my attention. Tuker understood the value of professionalism in the inter-war years. Also, Slim was a gifted and intelligent leader. But I wonder if how the people not overly tied to the establishment are the best performers is a historical norm and not an aberration.
For instance, Ulysses S. Grant wasn't cut from the same cloth as other generals during the U.S. Civil War but was a strategic thinker.
A very timely contribution - for Australia also. Having just published the Defence Strategic Review, a bet has been made about what type of conflict won’t happen in future - the type that arguably occurred against Britain - including Australia - in Malaya and to Britain in France. At relatively low cost, combined arms brigades could be maintained to insure against contingencies. Not doing so incurs strategic risk that is observable by an adversary.
A work which appears to have all the makings of an Opus Magnum. I eagerly await.