This year's topic is: What is one way that you would see Army adapt in order to contribute to littoral warfare?

The Defence Strategic Review (DSR) of 2023 directs that ‘Army must be optimised for littoral operations in our northern land and maritime spaces and provide a long-range strike capability.’ The Australian Army Research Centre (AARC) has partnered with The Cove to design the topic question. The AARC fosters thought leadership to enhance Australian land power to help meet these challenges. They work to raise the level of professional debate on war, military force, future land capability development, and its challenges within Army, the nation, and internationally. The AARC is the Chief of Army’s lead agency for coordinating and publishing Army’s land power research.

Submissions

This is a big challenge, encompassing a multitude of problems that must be assessed and overcome. You may seek to focus on one issue or aspect of how Army might optimise for littoral operations in order to remain within the strict word limit of 1000-1500 words. This can be on any topic, including but not limited to: logistics, training, unit organisation, engineering, manoeuvre, long range fires, air defence, watercraft, un-crewed systems (land, air, and sea), intelligence, or allied force partnering. 

Guidelines

  • All submissions must directly address the topic: What is one way that you would see Army adapt in order to contribute to littoral warfare?
  • Your essay must remain relevant, practical, and in line with current open-source Government strategic policy such as the Defence Strategic Review (DSR), and not contain any sensitive information.
  • Your response must be between 1000 and 1500 words and comply with all other requirements set out by our Cove Submission Guidelines.
  • Your essay must be your own, original work.
  • Submit to the.cove@defence.gov.au.
  • Be submitted by midnight on Friday10 May 2024 to be considered for judging.

Prizes

The Cove is fortunate to have partnered with a number of Defence Industry and Army PME organisations to bring you some incredible prizes far beyond what has been offered in previous years:

1st Place: A guided Tour of the Rheinmetall Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) at Redbank in SE QLD. This prize includes Defence funded travel for the winner from their posted location to Brisbane (return) with overnight accommodation. The MILVEHCOE is used for local manufacture of military vehicles, platforms and turrets for the ADF. More information can be found here Rheinmetall Defence Australia Pty Ltd | Rheinmetall. 

This prize aims to foster professional industry links and develop a broader understanding of industry input into ADF outcomes.

2nd Place: AARC sponsored tour of the AARC and attendance at an AARC seminar or conference. This prize includes Defence funded travel for the winner from their posted location to Canberra or relevant location (return) with overnight accommodation.

This prize aims to foster professional links with the AARC and develop an understanding of what the AARC does to contribute to Army's understanding of the future character of war and the advancement of land power.

3rd Place: Cove Merchandise Pack (incl. Cove Coin).

Cove SO1s Choice: Cove Coin. 

People's Choice: Cove Coin. 

Judging

All suitable submissions will be published on The Cove and winning entries, as judged by the AARC, will also be published on the AARC Land Power Forum.