Mark Willacy's Rogue Forces examines allegations of unlawful killings by members of the Australian Special Air Service Regiment during operations in Afghanistan and explores the cultural and leadership failures that allowed those incidents to occur. While the subject matter is confronting, I found the book valuable because it forced me to think critically about the relationship between character, leadership, accountability, and the Army Profession.

Before reading the book, I largely viewed ethical failures as individual mistakes made by individuals who lacked integrity. While individual responsibility remains important, Rogue Forces challenged this view by demonstrating how organisational culture can influence behaviour over time. One of the key themes of the book is that serious failures often do not occur suddenly. Instead, they can develop gradually when small breaches of standards become accepted, accountability decreases, and individuals become reluctant to challenge inappropriate behaviour. This was one of the most significant lessons I took from the book.

As a Transport CPL, this lesson resonated with me because much of my role involves supervising and developing young soldiers and IETs. Unlike the operational environments described in the book, my workplace is focused on training, safety, and vehicle operations. However, the underlying principle remains the same. The standards we enforce during training shape the habits and professional behaviours that soldiers carry throughout their careers. When an IET cuts corners during a vehicle inspection, overlooks a safety procedure, or attempts to avoid responsibility for a mistake, it may seem minor in isolation. However, the book reinforced my belief that professional standards matter precisely because they establish a culture of accountability and discipline long before soldiers encounter challenging operational environments.

Another key lesson I took from the book was the importance of moral courage. Throughout Army training, physical courage is often discussed and demonstrated. Moral courage, however, can be more difficult to develop because it requires individuals to challenge inappropriate behaviour, speak up against misconduct, or make unpopular decisions. What stood out to me in Rogue Forces was not only the alleged misconduct itself, but also the courage shown by those who reported concerns despite the personal and professional consequences they faced. This reinforced my understanding that professionalism requires more than competence. It also requires the willingness to do what is right, even when it is uncomfortable.

The book also caused me to reflect on my responsibilities as a junior leader. As a CPL, I have significant influence over the culture experienced by the soldiers I supervise. Reading Rogue Forces reinforced that leadership is not only about achieving outcomes or meeting performance requirements. It is also about creating an environment where standards are understood, enforced, and consistently applied. Soldiers often learn more from what leaders tolerate than from what they say. If leaders ignore poor behaviour or apply standards inconsistently, they can unintentionally contribute to a culture where standards become negotiable. The book highlighted the consequences that can occur when this happens.

While I found the book thought provoking, I also believe it is important to maintain perspective. The actions described in the book relate to allegations involving a relatively small number of individuals and should not define the service of the many Australian soldiers who served honourably in Afghanistan. Many personnel operated under extremely challenging conditions while maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards. Recognising this distinction is important because it allows us to learn from failures without overlooking examples of professional excellence.

I believe Rogue Forces remains highly relevant to the contemporary operating environment. The Australian Army places significant responsibility on junior soldiers and leaders, and the decisions made at the lowest levels can have strategic consequences. Whether operating a vehicle, conducting a training activity, or deploying on operations, soldiers are expected to exercise sound judgement and uphold Army Values. The ethical challenges faced by future soldiers may differ from those described in the book, but the need for integrity, accountability, and moral courage will remain constant.

Overall, Rogue Forces reinforced my belief that the Army Profession is founded on trust. Technical competence is essential, but competence alone is not enough. The Army must also develop character. As a Transport CPL, the book reminded me that my responsibility is not simply to train soldiers to drive and operate vehicles. My responsibility is to develop professional soldiers who understand the importance of accountability, who have the courage to uphold standards, and who can be trusted to make the right decision when nobody is watching.