Page 7 - Cormorant Year of 2013 course photo

general 5

rise of China, hegemony, Kim Jong Un,

and nuclear deterrence have formed a
purple rope throughout the Course. It
“Equipment costs increasing at a

has also been interesting to note how rate above inlation appears to be a

quickly some themes rise and fall in the law of such immutability that Newton
media. The ‘decline’ of America has
would recognise it immediately. ”
been a repeat theme, however, a nation
whose gross naval tonnage equals that of

the next 13 navies combined, and whose immutability that Newton would recognise

exploitation of fracking has made them it immediately. The equal and opposite
resource-independent from the Middle East, law is that anything not committed in an

probably deserves the expression ‘decline’ equipment program is now vulnerable, as

to be applied with care. Similarly the rise
proposed cuts to Army numbers shows.
of China has featured a great deal, with How these priorities are balanced against

discussion in the College greatly enriched capstone requirements documents such as
by having Chinese students on Course. the 2010 National Security Strategy formed

This is just one example of an enduring a major part of Term two and left us all in

Course strength – the input, both formally no doubt that with the Comprehensive
and socially, of the International Students Spending Review this year and the

to debates that would otherwise rely on (potential) Strategic, Defence and Spending
weighty written word.
Review of 2015 still to come, armed forces

austerity is far from over. After this phase,

At the operational level, Afghanistan has a fascinating but all-too-brief canter around
furnished our Course with a great deal of hotspots of the world made us realize,

frontline experience and continues to shape if there was any doubt, how important

much of our thinking and lexicon. The continued military investment is.
solution to Syria evades the international

community as wholly as it did us during
By the inal Term we were all ready for some
a seven hour exam on the issue. A senior ‘action’ and this was provided in spades

lecturer stated that “writing the military by the ever troubling Arcadian Crisis – a

history of a ight in Syria is the thing I collection of made-up countries who are
would least like to do” bought into stark incapable of getting along, even in the

relief what might happen if this situation face of some serious SO1 irepower and
isn’t peacefully resolved.
meetings. By the Theatre War Game we had

learned to decipher a sea of acronyms that

The Procurement module of the Course would probably make Charles Haddon Cave
bought home the dificulties inherent in re-issue his recommendations! Process

aligning a 30+ year equipment horizon and product jostled for top slot whilst the

with a ive year political cycle. Failures in Directing Staff did their best to prevent us
equipment programs are well publicised reenacting the Stanford Prison Experiment.

but overlook the fact that 80% come in on It’s an impressive beast.
time and to budget. They are also common

across all countries with a similar defence Of course it’s not all work, and for many

industrial infrastructure. Nevertheless, the sport, entertainments and music are as
requirement to do better sits irmly at the much a part of the year as the library and

top of DE&S’s agenda and there are some the lecture theater. The Course does feel a
radical proposals afoot to ‘make it so’. little like being back at University; however,

Conversely, there were plenty of compelling we are not 21 anymore, as the number

lecturers suggesting that ‘progress’ of this of crutches seen over the year will testify.
nature is often as much about making a Despite this, sport and itness abound and

statement and, in fact, results in nothing of are covered later in the magazine. Similarly,

the sort.
Entertainment forms a crucial element
of the Joint and Combined bonding and

Equipment costs increasing at a rate networking is a key component. It also
above inlation appears to be a law of such
provides an opportunity to dress into