Preparing for the Future: Key Organisational Lessons from the Afghanistan Campaign

Summary

This article provides an introduction to The Vanguard Occasional Paper Series – Preparing for the Future (defence.gov.au). It is worth noting the following quote from General Angus J Campbell, Chief of the Defence Force September 2021:

'While the ADF's strengths and weaknesses, successes and failures, contributions and lapses were on occasion magnified or exacerbated by the conflict environment in Afghanistan, none of them were created there. As for generations of military forces going back to antiquity, we fought essentially as we trained. Reflecting thoughtfully on our Afghanistan experience provides a lens through which to strengthen our training and preparation for the challenges of the future.'

References

•  NPR, 'A Watchdog Group Had Been Sounding the Warning About Afghanistan's Meltdown for Years' [interview transcript of Mary Louise Kelly [interviewer] with John Sopko, Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction], NPR Transcripts created by Verb8tm, NPR, last updated 16 August 2021, https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1027951992.
• 3 North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), 'ISAF's Mission in Afghanistan (2001-2014) (Archived)', NATO, last updated 19 August 2021, https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_69366.htm.
• Preparing for the Future: Key Organisational Lessons from the Afghanistan Campaign | The Cove (army.gov.au)