Delivering Flexibility through People: Harnessing Human Capability [in the RAF]

Discussion Paper Title Delivering Flexibility through People: Harnessing Human Capability. Abstract This is the second of two papers arguing for greater organisational flexibility in the Royal Air Force (RAF). Necessarily broad in scope, they consider the consequences of a systematic move towards a strategy that prioritises flexibility against the components of Kenneth Galbraith’s Star Model. Whilst the… Read More

Royal Marines Training: ACL Injury, Rehabilitation & Completion of Commando Training

Research Paper Title ACL Injury in Royal Marine basic training: rehabilitation times and rates of completion of commando training. Outline Previous Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction is currently a contraindication for entry to the Royal Marines and Royal Navy. The British Army allows entry if potential entrants are asymptomatic 18 months post-ACL reconstruction. Current Royal Marines policy is to rehabilitate recruits… Read More

Developing Situational Awareness through Game-Based Instructional Packages

Research Paper Title Urbanism: A Game-Based Instructional Package for Conducting Counterinsurgency Operations. Abstract Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom have identified the need for instructional and training solutions that develop the skills of Battalion and Brigade Commanders in formulating situational understanding in order to successfully lead operations in a counterinsurgency environment. In this paper the researchers describe the UrbanSim Learning… Read More

Time To End Gurkha Recruitment in the British Army?

This is the headline for an article written by Roshan Kissoon on the Dissident Voice website. I came across this article whilst conducting some research on Gurhka recruitment and selection for a future webpage, and it makes interesting reading (I do understand what the writer is getting at, regardless of whether I agree or disagree… Read More

British Army Nationality & Return of Service Report (1996-2010)

In July 2010 the (now defunct) Defence Analytical and Statistics Agency (DASA) published ‘Army Nationality and Return of Service Report (An Analysis of Nationality on Length of Service)’. Introduction This report identifies the differences in behaviour between trained soldiers of Foreign and Commonwealth (F&C) and UK nationality in respect to achieved length of trained service. Summary of Analysis… Read More

Clinical Review: Achilles Tendon Disorders

Chad A Asplund (Director of Military Sports Medicine, Eisenhower Army Medical Centre) and Thomas M Best (Professor and Pomerene Chair, Division of Sports Medicine, Ohio State University) published a clinical review of Achilles tendon disorders in 2013 in the British Medical Journal. Opening Paragraph Disorders of the Achilles tendon are common in active people – competitive… Read More

Arming the British Home Guard, 1940-1944

Research Paper Title Arming the British Home Guard, 1940-1944. Abstract The Second World War saw British society mobilised to an unprecedented extent to meet the threat of Total War. ‘Total Defence’ was manifest in organisations such as the ARP and Home Guard. What sets the Home Guard apart was its combatant role. This (PhD) thesis (which runs… Read More