In the intricate geopolitical landscape of the Indo-Pacific, Australia’s strategic location necessitates a robust capability in the land domain, particularly in diverse environments like the jungle.

Australia’s strategic position in the Indo-Pacific stands at a crossroads of challenges and opportunities. As the region undergoes transformational shifts, the Australian Army’s jungle warfare proficiency has become a non-negotiable asset. The Defence Strategic Review emphasises the need to enhance our capabilities. This leads to a forward-thinking proposal: intensify our jungle training by expanding our instructor base through the creation of an international instructor pool, all while coordinating our training efforts with the Five Eyes allies.

However, the complexity of our neighbourhood makes one wonder: shouldn’t we also tap into regional partners like Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, and Indonesia who all intimately understand our shared terrains?

While high-level discussions and agreements might suggest a robust international collaboration, the true measure of success is the quick and efficient sharing of these collaborative insights with the troops on the ground. It's one thing to forge partnerships and align strategically at the top; it's entirely another to ensure that the benefits of these alliances are felt by the personnel in training.

There's a discernible lag between policy formulation and its grassroots application. As the Indo-Pacific region doesn’t afford the luxury of time, it's imperative that the Australian Army bridge this implementation gap.

The Imperative of Jungle Proficiency

Our history offers lessons, from the rugged terrain of WWII New Guinea to the dense jungles in Vietnam, reminding us of the crucial role jungle warfare has played:

• Geographical Relevance: The expansive jungles of the Indo-Pacific necessitate robust operational preparation, reinforcing the significance of jungle readiness.
• Deterrence and Regional Stability: A proficient force ensures we are ready to respond to issues affecting regional stability, acting as an implicit deterrent against potential adversaries.
• Humanitarian Assistance: Our agility in responding within jungle terrains may become pivotal during humanitarian crises, where timing is paramount.
• Counter-terrorism: The hidden threats nestled within these jungles require a skilled army to pre-empt and neutralise, fortifying regional security. The thick jungles can be a haven for extremist entities. A trained army can effectively counter such menaces.
• Interoperability with Allies: Joint exercises in jungle conditions enhance our ability to operate seamlessly with allies and partners, and paves the way for cohesive defence strategies.

Historical Lessons and Modern Challenges

Drawing from our military past, particularly in dense jungles and remote terrains, Australian forces have often found themselves operating in technologically challenging environments. The unpredictability of the jungle and the environmental conditions such as hills and weather coupled with potential adversarial actions can reduce or even nullify the effectiveness of modern technological tools.

This historical pattern suggests that our soldiers should be trained not just with the latest technology but also in scenarios where they’re deprived of it. Moreover, being at the end of prioritised logistical supply lines means that they might have to sustain longer with limited supplies, making resourcefulness and adaptability key skills. Thus, while it’s vital to leverage modern tools and techniques, it’s equally critical to instil traditional soldiering skills, emphasising self-reliance and ensuring our forces can function effectively even when cut off from advanced technology and immediate resupply.

A United Front: Collaborative Jungle Training

Our alliances and partnerships are not just strategic but also dynamic in their capacity for adaptability and growth. These existing structures set the stage for an international pool of instructors. By integrating expertise from diverse environments and theatres of conflict, we can significantly enhance the quality and breadth of jungle warfare training. Programs like the UK’s Brunei-based training and Malaysia’s renowned jungle survival course are prime examples of what our allies bring to the table. Yet, there's an identified need to bridge the gap between our current operational capabilities and the complex demands of modern jungle warfare.

The introduction of an international instructor pool will serve as a force multiplier, enabling the continuous exchange of cutting-edge skills, innovative tactics, and lessons learned from varied geographical and situational contexts. This initiative will not only enhance the individual competencies of our servicemen and women but also foster a culture of continuous learning and adaptation, critical to modern warfare's ever evolving character. Identifying areas of improvement and facilitating slots for foreign instructors and students, we can cultivate a continuous exchange of skills and innovative tactics.

Benefits of a Collaborative Approach

• Diverse Insights: Drawing from varied national experiences, we can build a comprehensive training regime addressing the concern of degrading skillsets.
• Resource Optimisation: Consolidated efforts promote judicious resource usage, ensuring quality training without compromising efficiency. Sharing of resources facilitates efficient and economical training modules.
• Strengthening Bonds: Such collaborations foster trust and camaraderie among nations.
• Enriched Training Ambit: Beyond just tactical knowledge, soldiers get invaluable cultural exposure and familiarity with different jungle topographies.

Enhancing the Collaborative Model

• Standardise Training Modules: A balance between varied strategies and a core standardised curriculum is essential for a consistent skill set. A blend of diverse tactics, complemented by standardised modules, ensures consistent skill acquisition.
• Small Unit Exchange (SUE): Ingraining SUE within existing RCB rotations allows soldiers to gain expertise from partner forces, laying the groundwork for an integrative course structure.
• Regular Review and Feedback: Constant evaluations ensure the training remains relevant.
• Embrace Technology: Modern simulation systems can emulate real-world challenges, better preparing our soldiers.
• Joint Exercises: Synchronised operations across diverse jungles reinforce our collective regional readiness.

In discussing Australia’s enhanced focus on expanding its jungle training capability it is essential to underscore its alignment with the government’s strategic direction, as outlined in the ‘Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040’.

This comprehensive report, commissioned by the Australian Government, sets forth a clear vision for deepening economic ties with Southeast Asia, projecting the region to emerge as the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2040. Strengthening defence capabilities, especially in collaboration with the Five Eyes allies, not only ensures regional security but also paves the way for robust economic engagement.

As the two strategies dovetail, they highlight Australia’s holistic approach in maintaining a balance between ensuring regional security and harnessing economic opportunities, underscoring the nation’s commitment to a prosperous and stable Indo-Pacific region.

Emerging Threats and Rapid Evolution

Southeast Asia – with countries like the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia – witnesses evolving extremist threats that hide and operate within dense jungle terrains. The nature of these threats is not static; they adapt, employing new strategies and tactics that are deeply embedded in the landscape. Our training, as a result, cannot remain static either. It needs to evolve faster and be more structured to address these multifaceted challenges.

In Conclusion

Drawing from the Defence Strategic Review and recent conferences, the essence of our military readiness lies in its adaptability and continual enhancement. By revisiting our roots, where the Australian Army was at the forefront in jungle warfare, and blending it with modern collaborative approaches, we can assure not just training but mastery in jungle operations. As the Indo-Pacific undergoes rapid changes, our readiness – accentuated by platforms like The Cove and our alliances – ensures we remain steps ahead, prepared to address any challenge.