The Deputy Chief of Army, Major General Chris Smith, has criticized the Australian Defence Force for becoming detached from the brutal realities of war due to the prevalence of managerial language.
In a recent discussion that has gained attention, Deputy Chief of Army Major General Chris Smith expressed strong concerns regarding the language and conceptual approach being adopted within the Australian Defence Force (ADF). He indicated that the 'creep of managerial speak' has led to a detachment from the true, violent nature of warfare, impacting how military professionals perceive and communicate about their roles. This remark points to a broader critique of how military organizations may be losing their core understanding of combat amidst a shift towards management-style rhetoric.
Smith's comments, made at the Chief of Army's History Conference in November 2022, highlighted that the increased use of terms associated with organizational management and advertising has introduced a level of abstraction that detracts from the brutal realities associated with military operations. He characterized this growing trend as indicative of 'something rotten' within the profession, emphasizing that the failure to confront the harsh truths of warfare directly could compromise the effectiveness and readiness of the ADF.
The circulation of a video recording from this address has raised significant discourse regarding the implications for military preparedness and the cultural mindset within the ADF. By calling attention to what he terms 'nonsensical and theoretically implausible concepts,' Smith is urging for a return to a grounded understanding of the military's role in warfare, suggesting that addressing these concerns could foster a more effective and realistic approach in military training and operations.
