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Feature Story
Contesting ideas:

the importance

of encouraging

critical discussion

Wing Commander Travis Hallen,
Royal Australian Air Force

Air power is not a static concept; rather it must be studied, reflected upon, debated, and challenged. As
air-minded members of the profession of arms, Air Force personnel have a responsibility to participate
in this contest of ideas. It is far, far better that we should respectfully engage in that contest than to hide
our thoughts, only to find them wanting when it matters most.
Air Marshal Leo Davies, Chief of Air Force,
August 2017 1

The effectiveness of Australian air albeit a transitory one, over future operation.
power depends on the intellect of the adversaries. However, a high level of technical
airmen that employ it. Such a statement In the US, the development of the proficiency in the operation of systems
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may seem trite at first but the reality is Obama-era ‘Third Offset Strategy’ was will be a necessary though not sufficient
that airmen spend precious little time an explicit response to this emerging condition for future success. Achieving
developing their faculties for reasoning challenge. In outlining the strategy, then- and maintaining an advantage over our
and critical thinking. Deputy Secretary of Defense Bob Work future adversaries will require innovative
There are many reasons why critical placed critical and innovative thinking approaches to the way air power is
thinking skills attract such little attention about new operational concepts and developed, organised and employed.
but, in my experience, one of the main organisational structures on par with the Innovative applications of air power
factors is the heavy focus placed on development of new technologies in the require airmen who can understand
technical mastery. There is a culturally pursuit of continued strategic advantage context, anticipate change, and adapt
engrained belief that knowledge of for the US military. The situation is no the development and application of
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and proficiency in tactics, systems and different in Australia. air power in response to complex
processes are the key to effective air The Royal Australian Air operational challenges as they emerge.
power. This belief has been enabled The RAAF understands this; ongoing
by the favourable technology gap that Force (RAAF) is in the improvements to the professional
Western militaries have enjoyed since process of becoming one military education and training system
the end of World War 2. of the most technologically since 2009, and the creation of Plan
Although technology will continue sophisticated air forces in the JERICHO in 2015, reflect a commitment
to play an important role in providing a world. to developing professional mastery
qualitative edge over some adversaries, and innovative thinking at both the
global military modernisation is reducing However, the introduction into service individual and organisational level. But
the West’s accustomed technological of the F-35A Lightning II, P-8A Poseidon there are limits to the current system.
advantage, making it increasingly and EA-18G Growler alone will not Air Force professional military education
difficult and costly to maintain a provide the RAAF with a capability and training remains skewed towards
qualitative edge through technology edge over adversaries in the future providing knowledge, not developing
alone. Success in the future battlespace battlespace. There is no question that critical thinking or argumentation skills.
will therefore rest on the development the RAAF will rapidly adapt to the As a result, the RAAF lacks
of innovative and creative approaches, introduction of these and other new effective mechanisms and processes
and organisation of military force that systems—and will no doubt achieve a to foster critical discussion within the
will provide a capability advantage, high degree of technical mastery in the organisation. Without these mechanisms

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