Leaders focus on ‘hardwiring’ adaptability in Army

More than 50 of Army’s senior warrant officers gathered at the 2026 Chief of Army Symposium senior enlisted leaders conference in Perth to discuss how Army can embed adaptation across the force and prepare soldiers to fight and win.

Led by RSM-A WO Brad Doyle, the attendees from across the ADF were also joined by personnel from 13 partner nations.

Building on the symposium theme ‘Hardwired for Adaptation’, the conference challenged attendees to answer a central question: how can Army hardwire adaptation into the way it fights and prepares for future conflict?

“The hardest environment within which to adapt could be the one you, the senior enlisted leaders, are in. Can you teach old dogs new tricks?” WO Doyle asked.

To focus the discussion, attendees were addressed by Head of Future Land Warfare Brig James Kidd and CO Army Battle Lab Col Matthew Hodda, who reinforced why adaptation was a priority for Army.

Senior Enlisted Adviser to CDF, WO Jae Robinson, said the Australian Army already had a strong foundation for innovation and change.

“The senior enlisted role is to be that common-sense filter for those good ideas and see how we can resource and get that good idea up to the next level,” WO Robinson said.

WO Doyle joined an international panel featuring the Sergeant Majors of the New Zealand Army, Singapore Army and Philippine Marine Corps, to share how different militaries are driving adaptation within their own forces.

The conference concluded with an address from WO Doyle on returning professionalism to the Army and reinforcing the role senior enlisted leaders had in shaping Army’s culture, standards and combat readiness.

“The senior enlisted leaders are fundamental to the pursuit of professional excellence,” WO Doyle said.

“We are the guardians of standards and responsible for ensuring innovation doesn’t drift from professionalism.”