Students

PICT212 – Modern Warfare

2015 – S2 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
John Hardy
Julian Droogan
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
12cp
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit has been developed to fill a gap in graduates' knowledge when it comes to the details of warfare. Modern warfare is plagued by myths and misunderstandings about how military force is applied, what it can achieve and what it simply cannot do. This unit begins with an overview of the political and strategic contexts of war. This grounds the unit in the literature and doctrine relevant to warfighting. It also introduces some limitations on militaries which are often overlooked in commentary, such as logistics and costs. It then covers different types of warfare to ensure that students are familiar with the differences and similarities between different kinds of warfare and how they are fought. The unit then covers technology and the impact of new weapons and systems, particularly precision-guided munitions and drones, and some of the political and ethical considerations related to their use in modern wars. The unit then examines the human costs of wars. It views war as one aspect of people's lives and looks at the trauma it causes. It also examines the argument that war is a social force which helps organise societies. Finally, it looks at the long-lasting impacts of war on civilians' lives and on human security and development in countries plagued by war

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • 1. Explain the enduring intersection of politics and warfare and the logic of strategy as it is presented in key literature.
  • 2.Explain the concept of limited war and how it applies to politics of victory and warfighting.
  • 3.Identify logistical considerations for major combat operations in conventional and urban warfighting
  • 4.Explain the core concepts of the Law of Armed Conflict.
  • 5.Discuss the influence of technology on warfare and warfighting in the twenty-first century.
  • 6. Examine the human impact of particular operations on both combatants and civilian populations.

General Assessment Information

Online lessons are available throughout the semester and must be completed by COB on Friday November 27th. All other assessments are due at 09:00am on the due date provided unless an extension has been approved.

Assessments submitted up to fourteen days late will be marked on a pass/fail basis only. Assessments will not be accepted more than fourteen days after the due date without an approved application for special consideration.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Due
Online Lessons 10% Weekly
Policy Advice 25% 28 September 2015 at 09:00am
Rules Of Engagement Wiki 25% 19 October 2015 at 09:00am
Operations Analysis 40% 23 November 2015 at 09:00am

Online Lessons

Due: Weekly
Weighting: 10%

The weekly online lessons are available on iLearn and allow you to engage with the unit content in a non-linear way. Each one is worth 1% and your ten best results will be counted towards your final grade for the activity. Each online lesson contains content for the week and has a small graded activity which may relate to the lecture, readings or case study.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • 1. Explain the enduring intersection of politics and warfare and the logic of strategy as it is presented in key literature.
  • 2.Explain the concept of limited war and how it applies to politics of victory and warfighting.
  • 3.Identify logistical considerations for major combat operations in conventional and urban warfighting
  • 4.Explain the core concepts of the Law of Armed Conflict.
  • 5.Discuss the influence of technology on warfare and warfighting in the twenty-first century.
  • 6. Examine the human impact of particular operations on both combatants and civilian populations.

Policy Advice

Due: 28 September 2015 at 09:00am
Weighting: 25%

The policy advice assignment is a ten minute video briefing and a 750 word summary on a set topic (selected from a list provided on iLearn). Each topic is a potential military action which you will need to brief a decision-maker on. the purpose of your briefing will be to provide expert advice to a minister who is considering, but not committed to, the use of force to support the Australian government’s policy interests in a proposed military operation.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • 2.Explain the concept of limited war and how it applies to politics of victory and warfighting.
  • 3.Identify logistical considerations for major combat operations in conventional and urban warfighting
  • 6. Examine the human impact of particular operations on both combatants and civilian populations.

Rules Of Engagement Wiki

Due: 19 October 2015 at 09:00am
Weighting: 25%

The Rules of Engagement (ROE) Wiki is a group assessment of 1,000 words per person. It requires each group to develop a wiki which addresses a hypothetical military deployment and provides recommendations on the ROE and Orders For Opening Fire (OFOF) which will be set by military commanders. The wiki will need to address the social and political contexts of the conflict, the role of the military mission which personnel will be deployed to complete, the ethical and legal considerations for the use of force in the theatre of operations and force protection requirements.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • 2.Explain the concept of limited war and how it applies to politics of victory and warfighting.
  • 4.Explain the core concepts of the Law of Armed Conflict.
  • 5.Discuss the influence of technology on warfare and warfighting in the twenty-first century.
  • 6. Examine the human impact of particular operations on both combatants and civilian populations.

Operations Analysis

Due: 23 November 2015 at 09:00am
Weighting: 40%

The operations analysis is an individual paper on a military operation. The topic is the 2008 Battle of Sadr City. It requires a scholarly consideration of the conflict, the military objectives, the outcomes of combat operations, interpretative narratives from belligerents and lessons learned for urban operations. The analysis needs to examine the implications of the operation for how observers understand war in the twenty first century.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • 5.Discuss the influence of technology on warfare and warfighting in the twenty-first century.
  • 6. Examine the human impact of particular operations on both combatants and civilian populations.

Delivery and Resources

UNIT REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS

  • You should spend an average of at least 12 hours per week on this unit. This includes listening to pre-recorded lectures prior to seminar discussions and reading weekly required readings detailed in iLearn.
  • Internal students are expected to attend all seminar sessions and external students are expected to contribute to on-line discussions.
  • Students are required to submit all major assessment tasks in order to pass the unit.

 

 

REQUIRED READINGS

  • The citations for all the required readings for this unit are available to enrolled students through the unit iLearn site, and at Macquarie University's Library EReserve site.  Electronic copies of required readings may be accessed at the EReserve site.

 

 

TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED

 

SUBMITTING ASSESSMENT TASKS

  • All assessment tasks are to be submitted, marked and returned electronically.  This will only happen through the unit iLearn site. 
  • Assessment tasks must be submitted either as a PDF or MS word document by the due date.
  • Most assessment tasks will be subject to a 'TurnitIn' review as an automatic part of the submission process.
  • The granting of extensions of up to one week are at the discretion of the unit convener.  Any requests for extensions must be made in writing before the due date for the submission of the assessment task.  Extensions beyond one week are subject to the university’s Disruptions Policy (http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html#purpose).

 

 

LATE SUBMISSION OF ASSESSMENT TASKS

  • If an assignment is submitted late, 5% of the available mark will be deducted for each day (including weekends) the paper is late.
  • For example, if a paper is worth 20 marks, 1 mark will be deducted from the grade given for each day that it is late (i.e. a student given 15/20 who submitted 4 days late will lose 4 marks = 11/20).
  • The same principle applies if an extension is granted and the assignment is submitted later than the amended date.

 

 

WORD LIMITS FOR ASSESSMENT TASKS

  • Stated word limits do not include references, bibliography, or title page.
  • Word limits can generally deviate by 10% either over or under the stated figure.
  • If the number of words exceeds the limit by more than 10%, then penalties will apply. These penalties are 5% of he awarded mark for every 100 words over the word limit. If a paper is 300 words over, for instance, it will lose 3 x 5% = 15% of the total mark awarded for the assignment. This percentage is taken off the total mark, i.e. if a paper was graded at a credit (65%) and was 300 words over, it would be reduced by 15 marks to a pass (50%).
  • The application of this penalty is at the discretion of the course convener.

 

REASSESSMENT OF ASSIGNMENTS DURING THE SEMESTER

  • Macquarie University operates a Grade Appeal Policy in cases where students feel their work was graded inappropriately (http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html). This process involves all assignments submitted for that unit being reassessed. However, in exceptional cases students may request that a single piece of work is reassessed.

Unit Schedule

Unit Overview (Video)

  

Introduction

Week 01: Into the valley of death

Theme 1: War and politics

Week 02: War from the ground up

Week 03: The logic of strategy

Week 04: Limited warfighting

Theme 2: Military operations

Week 05: Conventional combat

Week 06: Operational art

Week 07: Lawfare

Theme 3: Modern wars

Week 08: Urban Combat

Week 09: Technologies of war

Week 10: Special Operations Forces

Theme 4: The fog of war

Week 11: Soldiers in war

Week 12: Civilians in war

Conclusions

Week 13: The future(s) of warfare

 

 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy  http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html

Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • 3.Identify logistical considerations for major combat operations in conventional and urban warfighting
  • 6. Examine the human impact of particular operations on both combatants and civilian populations.

Assessment tasks

  • Online Lessons
  • Policy Advice
  • Rules Of Engagement Wiki
  • Operations Analysis

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • 1. Explain the enduring intersection of politics and warfare and the logic of strategy as it is presented in key literature.

Assessment task

  • Online Lessons

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • 6. Examine the human impact of particular operations on both combatants and civilian populations.

Assessment tasks

  • Online Lessons
  • Policy Advice
  • Rules Of Engagement Wiki
  • Operations Analysis

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • 1. Explain the enduring intersection of politics and warfare and the logic of strategy as it is presented in key literature.
  • 2.Explain the concept of limited war and how it applies to politics of victory and warfighting.
  • 3.Identify logistical considerations for major combat operations in conventional and urban warfighting
  • 4.Explain the core concepts of the Law of Armed Conflict.
  • 5.Discuss the influence of technology on warfare and warfighting in the twenty-first century.
  • 6. Examine the human impact of particular operations on both combatants and civilian populations.

Assessment tasks

  • Online Lessons
  • Policy Advice
  • Rules Of Engagement Wiki
  • Operations Analysis

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • 1. Explain the enduring intersection of politics and warfare and the logic of strategy as it is presented in key literature.
  • 2.Explain the concept of limited war and how it applies to politics of victory and warfighting.
  • 3.Identify logistical considerations for major combat operations in conventional and urban warfighting
  • 5.Discuss the influence of technology on warfare and warfighting in the twenty-first century.
  • 6. Examine the human impact of particular operations on both combatants and civilian populations.

Assessment tasks

  • Online Lessons
  • Policy Advice
  • Rules Of Engagement Wiki
  • Operations Analysis

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • 3.Identify logistical considerations for major combat operations in conventional and urban warfighting
  • 6. Examine the human impact of particular operations on both combatants and civilian populations.

Assessment tasks

  • Online Lessons
  • Policy Advice
  • Rules Of Engagement Wiki
  • Operations Analysis

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • 1. Explain the enduring intersection of politics and warfare and the logic of strategy as it is presented in key literature.
  • 2.Explain the concept of limited war and how it applies to politics of victory and warfighting.
  • 3.Identify logistical considerations for major combat operations in conventional and urban warfighting
  • 4.Explain the core concepts of the Law of Armed Conflict.
  • 5.Discuss the influence of technology on warfare and warfighting in the twenty-first century.
  • 6. Examine the human impact of particular operations on both combatants and civilian populations.

Assessment tasks

  • Online Lessons
  • Policy Advice
  • Rules Of Engagement Wiki
  • Operations Analysis

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • 6. Examine the human impact of particular operations on both combatants and civilian populations.

Assessment tasks

  • Online Lessons
  • Policy Advice
  • Rules Of Engagement Wiki
  • Operations Analysis

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • 2.Explain the concept of limited war and how it applies to politics of victory and warfighting.
  • 5.Discuss the influence of technology on warfare and warfighting in the twenty-first century.
  • 6. Examine the human impact of particular operations on both combatants and civilian populations.

Assessment tasks

  • Online Lessons
  • Policy Advice
  • Rules Of Engagement Wiki
  • Operations Analysis

Changes since First Published

Date Description
08/07/2015 Delivery and Resources Updated