What is the Young Officer (Tactical ISTAR) Course?

Aim of the Course To train train selected ofﬁces to carry out the duties of a troop commander within Surveillance Target Acquisition (STA) or Mini Unmanned Air System (MUAS) Regiment. Facilitated by IDT(A). Entry Standards Second Lieutenant to Lieutenant (OF-1). IELTS Level 5.5. Duration Eight (8) weeks, with three (3) courses per year. Location Royal… Read More

07/01/202103/11/2025 by

UK HUMINT Badges Reduced

At the 360th meeting of the British Army Dress Committee, in February 2020, it was decided to reduce the number of badges from two (2) to one (1). The Committee decided to retain the yellow trident within the kite to indicate HUMINT Operator. The qualification badge is to be worn on the left forearm above… Read More

07/01/202103/11/2025 by

What was the Office of Strategic Services?

Introduction The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was a wartime intelligence agency of the United States during World War II, and a predecessor to the Department of State’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The OSS was formed as an agency of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) to… Read More

19/10/201823/10/2025 by

What is ISTAR?

ISTAR is a practice that links several battlefield functions together to assist a combat force in employing its sensors and managing the information they gather. ISTAR includes: Intelligence; Surveillance; Target Acquisition; and Reconnaissance.

04/10/201823/10/2025 by

Strategic & Tactical Awareness…

“Perceive that which cannot be seen with the eye.” Miyamoto Musashi (1584 to 1645) Miyamoto Musashi was a famous Japanese soldier-artist of the early Edo (Tokugawa) period (1603 to 1867). He was also known for being a philosopher, writer, and Ronin. His original name was Miyamoto Masana, but he was also known as Shinmen Takezō,… Read More

17/10/201616/10/2016 by Andrew Marshall

Defeated versus Surprised

“To be defeated is pardonable; to be surprised – never!” Napoleon Bonaparte (Maxims of War, 1831)

10/10/201608/10/2016 by Andrew Marshall

Readiness vs Vigilance…

“The price of readiness is eternal vigilance.” Unknown “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty” (Deis, 2015). Reference Deis, R. (2015) This Day in Quotes: Eternal Vigilance is the Price of Liberty. Available from World Wide Web: http://www.thisdayinquotes.com/2011/01/eternal-vigilance-is-price-of-liberty.html. [Accessed: 09 October, 2016].