Australian Army Journal

OPINION
On the Culture of the Australian Army
When the Army or the Australian Defence Force is mentioned in the news,
people expect the word ‘scandal’ to follow. 3 This is perhaps more apparent to an
interested outside observer than to those of us still serving. 4 And don’t forget the
political pressure that comes with it: the present Minister seems to attach a high
priority to changing military culture, placing this on at least an equal footing with
current operations or major acquisitions. 5
Maybe our military culture is bad, and maybe not. That is an argument for another
time and place. Here I intend to describe what I believe to exist without passing
judgement on it. Hopefully my description will be useful to those who must so judge.
It is important, however, for the reader to understand that I have written this article
based on my own experiences and those of others.
I have deliberately omitted two elements from my scope. First, the Canberra staff
officer. These individuals, though nominally still soldiers, live a totally different lives
and have completely different imperatives to their field (and training establishment)
comrades. I had hoped to contrast these with the true Army culture described
below, however space precludes this.
Second, I am no expert on the Reserve. So far as Army culture applies to part-time
soldiers and units, they are represented below. But I am fully aware that there are
unique complications for Reserve soldiers. It must be the very devil reconciling two
different lives in two different worlds and I must respectfully leave that discussion to
those who know it better.
What are we not?
First a word on what Army’s culture is not. Nationalistic blather notwithstanding, the
Australian Army is hardly unique. In my experience our army is really very similar to the
other Anglo-Western armies of our time: New Zealand, of course, but also the British,
American and Canadian armies. And I also include the United States Marines. 6
Each of those forces has some unique aspects. The New Zealand Army
has harnessed the warrior spirit of New Zealand’s first people in ways we in
Australia should envy. 7 The British have their long history, their still-strong class
consciousness and all that goes with it (I fondly remember a friend from an ancient
regiment deriding the Royal Tanks as the ‘People’s Cavalry’. His mess dress was
the most gorgeous confection of cloth and bauble I ever saw 8 ). The Canadians,
alone among us, draw on a French heritage as well as a British one. They have the
warm hospitality and the watchful weather eye of the northern peoples. And the
Australian Army Journal
Culture edition 2013, Volume X, Number 3 Page 227