Shape of the Australian Army in the Near Future Given the Australian Defence Force White Paper 2000

Australian military intervention within the Asia Pacific region in recent years has highlighted the changing strategic environment within the region and the importance of the Australian military, particularly the army, in resolving these matters. The 2000 Defence White Paper attempted to define this strategic environment and define the role of the ADF. It did not specifically address the roles and organization of the army to support this defense plan. Therefore central to this research is determining what organization the Australian Army needs to support the Defence White Paper. The paper addressed the issue through three steps. The first was the evaluation of Australia's strategic environment, which specifically reviewed the strategic outlook in the Asia Pacific region. Then it determined the likely roles the Australian Army would be assigned to support national objectives including what forces are needed. Finally the paper addressed the affordability of this organization in broad terms over the next ten years. The research recommended the Australian Army force grow to a full regular division with supporting troops and a more flexible army reserve force, develop a larger training force that can handle internal and external tasks, and maintenance of the existing sustaining force.