In a broad sense, this new course will address the application of military force to achieve strategic ends. It will explore the conduct of operations in all three operational environments – land, sea and air – and their combination in more recent history to constitute joint war fighting doctrines. Through a series of case studies spanning warfare in the 20th century, the course will explore issues affecting the conduct of operations and their relationship with the strategic and tactical realms. Among the issues explored will be the scope of command and the concept of command systems; logistics and sustainment; the impact of technology; combined, joint and coalition warfare; operational design; and the political-military relationship. The course will also chart the emergence of the operational level of war as a distinct domain of military thought and highlight theories of an operational art developed by the German, Russian and United States military establishments.

On satisfying the requirements of this course, students should be able to:

1.       Identify the major trends in the conduct of military operations from 1800 to the present day and articulate the fundamentals of the major operational theories developed during this period;

2.       Articulate the relationship between strategy, operations and tactics;

3.       Analyse the conduct of military operations and identify the role which command practice, command systems, logistics, technology, geography, the political-military interface, and inter-service and coalition relationships play in determining their outcome;

4.       Conduct historical research and critically evaluate historical evidence;

5.       Express themselves clearly and eloquently in a variety of formats – verbal, written, digital; and

6.       Function effectively as part of a small group conducting the activities.

This course will be assessed through a variety of means including written assignments, online discussions, classroom activities, and a scenario-based exercise:

• Student Participation (10%) Students are assessed on their contribution to classroom presentations and discussions and the operational planning exercise. This assessment contributes to learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
• Online Exercise (10%) Prior to the residential period of the course students are required to monitor an ongoing military operation utilising online sources and compile a blog of their observations on the course Wattle site.  This assessment will contribute to learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
• Short Assignment (20%) Students will conduct a 1,500 word literature review of excerpts from classical military theorists. This assessment will contribute to learning outcomes 1, 2, 4, and 5.
• Research Paper (30%) Students will complete a 3,500 word research paper examining the conduct of operations utilising an historical case study. This assessment will contribute to learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
• Examination (30%) Students will sit a three hour examination testing their knowledge of the operational concepts examined during the course (short answer section) as well as relevant case studies (two essay questions). This assessment will

Students undertaking this course could expect a workload of 10 hours per week.  This is inclusive of actual contact hours for lectures and also out of class preparation time.

Students can only enrol in this course if they are enrolled in one of the following programs:

6817XGCSS

6816XGDSTS

7817XMSTS

7816XMASTS

7882XMDIPL

7887XMASTS

None

Core reading materials will be available as an e-brick.