Learning the lessons of war

Trench lines stretch across the training area as drones buzz overhead – a constant reminder that modern warfare demands more than tactics alone.

On Operation Kudu, Australian instructors are preparing Ukrainian soldiers to fight and command in a complex and constantly evolving battlespace.

“The Australian contingent here is delivering leadership training from section commander through to platoon and company level,” Australian training team commander Maj Jarrad Dekuyer said.

The training pushes commanders to think beyond the immediate fight and control the broader battle.

At the section level, instructors said one of the biggest challenges was getting leaders to step back from instinctively leading from the front.

“When you’re at the front, you get tunnel vision. We’re trying to help them see the bigger picture and control everything happening around them,” an Australian lance corporal said.

In modern combat, how a leader positions themselves can determine not just success but survival.

As training progresses, that picture expands.

At platoon and company sergeants’ level, scenarios are used to develop command and decision-making under pressure.

“This isn’t a purely tactical course,” said an Australian corporal instructing on the platoon and company sergeants battle course.

“We’re using the scenarios to teach command and leadership … that’s the real focus.”

Trainees move through a range of environments, from open terrain and trench warfare into urban operations, culminating in a company-sized assault requiring coordination, control and clear communication.

A defining feature of the training is how closely it reflects the war in Ukraine.

Many Ukrainian soldiers arrive with recent combat experience, and those lessons directly shape how instruction is delivered.

“A lot of the trainees have been in conflict for several years,” the corporal said.

“They question techniques based on what’s worked for them, but once they understand the reasoning, they’re very receptive.”

That experience has led to a common perception that there is little left to teach.

“There’s a perception that we have nothing to teach an army that’s been at war for four years, but that’s not the case,” Maj Dekuyer said.

“The Australian Army has developed a very strong junior and senior non-commissioned officer corps. Those leadership lessons are what we’re able to share with the Ukrainian Army.”

The exchange goes both ways.

“One of the biggest lessons we’ve learnt from the Ukrainian soldiers is resilience,” Maj Dekuyer said. 

Modern threats, particularly the constant presence of drones, have driven significant changes in how commanders operate.

“Drones are heavily saturated in their battlespace,” the corporal said.

“That’s forced us to adapt and focus on how leaders operate under constant observation.”

Medical planning has also shifted. With evacuation often delayed, commanders must plan for prolonged casualty care.

“The golden hour doesn’t really exist in the same way,” the corporal said.

“Leaders need to be prepared to sustain casualties for longer while continuing the mission.”

Operation Kudu’s multinational environment adds further depth, with Australian instructors working alongside European partners as part of the UK-led Operation Interflex.