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Transforming the Ready Force is the Future Force

10/16/2024 By Robbin Laird I have returned from Australia and the latest Sir Richard Willians seminar. In that seminar, we dealt with the challenge of how to enhance the ready force while investing in the future force. The modernization of the ADF is a case study in the clash between force design for an envisaged future force and the need to… Read more »

A Typhoon Reminder: Send in the Ospreys

10/15/2024 By Robbin Laird The Marines assisted in relief efforts in the Philippines after a Typhoon hit that country. And as has been done in the past, the dynamic duo of the KC-130J and the Osprey provided the means to do so. As Capt Mark McDonough noted in a 14 October 2024 story: MANILA, Philippines -- U.S. Marines across multiple forward-deployed… Read more »

The Changing Littoral Operational Context: What Role for Maritime Unmanned and Remote Systems?

10/10/2024 By Robbin Laird I had a chance to follow up with Jennifer Parker on her excellent presentation at the 26 September 2024 Sir Richard Williams seminar which focused on the evolving threat environments in the littorals and insights to be gained from operations in the Black Sea, Red Sea and the Philippine’s Sea. She argued in that presentation that new… Read more »

Defence Industry in Australia: Building Strategic Depth and Resilience in Support of the Ready Force

10/07/2024 The September 26, 2024 Sir Richard Williams Foundation focused on accelerating the capabilities of the ready force. Defence industry in Australia is obviously a key player in the ability for the government to find ways to enhance the ready force. A panel of six industrial representatives discussed this challenge lead by Katherine Ziesing of the Sir Richard Williams Foundation as… Read more »

Enabling and Defending the National Information Society: The Space Dimension

10/07/2024 Some time ago – more than a decade – I worked with Alan Dupas, the noted French space expert, on a project for a European space company on the future of space in 2020. We focused on the key point that although a space company was most closely identified with launchers and satellites, the future was its engagement in the… Read more »

From the Ready to the Future Force: Key Warfighting Capabilities for the New Strategic Environment

10/05/2024 By Robbin Laird The strategic environment has clearly changed and the level of real world conflict has escalated, whether in terms of major hot wars – in the Middle East and in Europe – or in terms of active gray zone conflicts. The ready force needs to deal with this real world rather than than just preparing for a future… Read more »

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Enhancing and Accelerating the Integrated Force: An Operational Perspective

10/07/2024 On September 26, 2024, the most recent seminar of The Sir Richard Williams Foundation was held. It was entitled: “Enhancing and Accelerating the Integrated Force: An Operational Perspective.” This seminar focused on how the force in being or the ready force was focused on improving its capability, its survivability and lethality for the fight tonight.… Download PDF Now »

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How Does the Ready Force Deal with a Rapidly Changing Operational Environment?

10/04/2024 It is fine to have long-range force structure planning, but what happens when the operational environment is rapidly changing for your operational force? How to adapt the ready force effectively… Read more »

The Chief of the Australian Army Explains How They are Dealing with the Simultaneous Challenges of the Three R’s

10/03/2024 In the September 26, 2024 Sir Richard Williams seminar, we focused on how the force in being can evolve effectively in the near to mid-term as investments are being made… Read more »

Building Combat Mass: An Air Force Perspective

10/02/2024 By Robbin Laird The panel on combat mass was chaired by the former Air Commander Australia, AIRMSHL (Retd) Darren Goldie who provided an overview to the discussion. AIRMSHL (Retd) Darren… Read more »

The Force in Being to Protect the Nation: Its More than the ADF’s Role

10/01/2024 By Robbin Laird We focused in the September 26, 2024 Sir Richard Williams seminar on ways for the force in being to be augmented in the short to midterm. But… Read more »

Building Combat Mass: A Navy Perspective

09/30/2024 By Robbin Laird When you are a medium-sized force and not adding a lot of manned platforms in the next five years, how to you enhance combat mass? Or put… Read more »

The Challenge for Defence Readiness: The Impact of Politics

09/29/2024 By Robbin Laird If one is focused on how the force in being can be a more ready force, one will generally look in vain in the political class for… Read more »

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JAGM and the AH-1Z

10/16/2024 U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Charles Tuan, an AH-1Z attack helicopter pilot with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 (Rein.), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, explains the purpose of firing an AGM-179 joint… Read more »

1st LAR Battalion in Australia

10/14/2024 U.S. Marines with Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, Alpha Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, and Royal Australian Air Force members with 24th Squadron unload personnel… Read more »

2nd Marine Aircraft Wing 83rd Birthday

10/11/2024 On July 10, 2024, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) celebrated its 83rd birthday. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Bryan Giraldo) (Music licensed from DeWolfe Music) 07.10.2024 Video by… Read more »

Air Delivery from MV-22B Osprey

10/09/2024 U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268 (Reinforced), Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, drop cargo from an MV-22B Osprey at Mount Bundey Training Area, NT, Australia, July 9,… Read more »

MALS-12 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam

10/07/2024 U.S. Marines with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron (MALS) 12 build guided bombs for an F-35B Lightning II aircraft at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. 05.29.2024 Video by Travis Minyon F-35… Read more »

VMFA-121 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam

10/04/2024 F-35B Lightning II aircraft, assigned to the VMFA-121, conduct flight operations at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The F-35 Joint Program Office is the Department of Defense’s focal point for… Read more »

CLB-8 Works with Swedish Marines and Sailors

10/02/2024 U.S. Navy Sailors with Combat Logistics Battalion 8, Combat Logistics Regiment 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, and Swedish Marines perform casualty care for a casualty evacuation exercise event on Gålö… Read more »

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The Second Line of Defense team provides high quality publications with regard to key global strategic developments. You can purchase these on a number of booksellers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Kobo.

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Pacific Marines Aid the Republic of the Philippines After Typhoon Hits

10/15/2024 Pacific Marines work alongside members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to stage and transport relief supplies in the Northern Philippines, Oct. 6 to 8, 2024. The U.S. Department… Read more »

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