Page 43 - The Cormorant Issue 24 Crest Publications

us reflect on how the land environment and special operations contribute to contemporary conflict. The theme
of technology was continued at the Battle of Britain bunker, where students reflected on issues ranging from procurement to leadership. Sixty feet under suburban Middlesex, this site was a chance to see how grand strategy and national strategy manifest themselves in wars of national survival.
Bletchley Park was perhaps the
most remarkable location of all, due
not only to its contribution to Allied victory in World War II, but also the
way in which such a diverse workforce integrated so successfully under
such testing conditions. The whole
team was impressed by stories of hair-raising cryptographic triumphs
– and failures – and the incredibly far-reaching implications of ULTRA and its successors. Even sitting on the lawn outside the house in the warm sunshine, once could imagine all too well the strains and stresses of total war, and appreciate the immutably human nature of conflict.
Whilst we wouldn’t wish it on next year’s course, Exercise CORMORANT FINALE was a great way to draw together the threads of the previous ten months, and to prepare for the final teaching week back at JSCSC. Our sincere thanks to Jacob for putting it all together.