Hir’aeth: The Australian Army, Training, and the Nostalgia of the Past
Reading Time: 5 minutes Editor’s Note: This is Grounded Curiosity’s 2nd most read article of all time. One of the most useful phrases to emerge from […]
Tom McDermott
Fighting the Hydra: Flexibility, Mission Command and the Australian Amphibious Force
Reading Time: 5 minutes For the last two years I have written ‘Letters from HAMEL’ for Grounded Curiosity. The idea was always to take my own […]
Letters from Talisman Sabre: The Four Currencies of War
Reading Time: 8 minutes Introduction: Ex TALISMAN SABRE and the Beast The Australian military is about to conduct its largest multi-national amphibious operation since the landing […]
47 Pieces of a Puzzle: Reflections on DEF Aus 2016 and the Written Word
Reading Time: 7 minutes The written word was the key weapon of the DEF Aus Forum 2016. Over the course of seven months the DEF Australia […]
Letters from HAMEL Part 3: The Operational Level of War. What is it Good For?
Reading Time: 4 minutes The Op HAMEL intervention is ending. With the Kamarian Armed Forces in retreat and the International Boundary restored, peace is steadily returning to East Cultania.  Grateful Cultanians line the streets, thanking […]
Letters from HAMEL Part 2: Just War and Tactical Ethics in a Brutal WorldÂ
Reading Time: 4 minutes Many of you who read this will be tacticians. Congratulations, and good luck. You’ve volunteered for one of the hardest, most illogical and […]
Letters from Hamel Part 1: The Duel, the Enemy and Psychological MasteryÂ
Reading Time: 5 minutes I’ve just watched a Rehearsal of Concept (ROC) Drill on Ex HAMEL, and I’m struck by a thought. I had the same thought […]
How do you see the #FutureFight?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteThe next conflicts will be won by intelligent people with the courage to challenge our current thinking and outlooks. This foundation of innovative people […]
Introducing DEF Australia
Reading Time: < 1 minuteAbout Tom Tom McDermott is the Director of Activities for DEF Australia. An Australian Army officer who also served for 15 years […]