We Need To Talk About Defence, reviewed

It was a pleasure to review the non-fiction book; "We Need To Talk About Defence", by Andrew R. Curtis OBE. Overall, it is a detailed, and well-crafted read that will do two things. It effectively informs those not familiar with UK specific military terms, jargon and culture, while defining the problem of UK defence management. This segue leads to the author's primary goal, which is to propose a reformation of UK defence management in order to address the modern threat landscape.
We Need To Talk About Defence, reviewed
UK Defence For the 21st Century
The book starts out with a comprehensive glossary of terms. For those not familiar with security and military slang, I would recommend perusing its contents. After setting the context of why you should read this book in a Forward by Sir Richard Barrons, the book moves into chapter one, 'Introduction'.
Here, the author sets out to define the UK's peacetime oversights on defence, which have led to structural issues such as too much or too little authority. Chapter one has a detailed, yet coherent account of the UK defence apparatus. It will equip the reader for the following chapters. The author also summarizes historic UK defence management to the current day.
Of note is the business of UK defence versus military implementation of defence objectives. The delineation of the two is part of the problem the author wishes to address. As you leave chapter one, it is the author's submission that holistic change should focus on how defence management conducts its day-to-day affairs.
Moving Through The Chapters
Chapter two, 'Why We Need To Talk About Defence', explores inter-group and inter-personal relations, which allow political creep into areas that can ill afford them. Ukraine, as an example of the deteriorating international threat landscape affecting the UK, demonstrates why the past cannot determine the future of UK defence.
Chapter three, 'Acknowledging The Past' walks at a deeper level to chapter one regarding major changes to UK defence. The focus on 'Multi Domain Integration', aka. MDI, and the 'Levene Reforms' are key explorations of UK defence. They also offer clues how misunderstanding context in a fast-evolving threat landscape can lead to strategic oversights.
The author introduces the United States Marine Corps, aka. USMC, as a template for military land, sea, and air integration. I agree with the author's opinion that the USMC, as a template, would not automatically work for UK defence. Culture and mission mandate are materially different.
Chapter four, 'Learning From The Past', examines current UK defence management in particular. Here, the illustrations move to key figures, such as the non-discretionary GBP14 billion, of GBP52.8 billion in the 2022-23 UK defence budget. While the Official Secrets Act prohibits certain disclosures, top down political oversight, and resulting disjoint to implementation, is a well-made point.
Chapter five, 'Looking To The Future', digs into some key points. Ukraine's learned lessons, adversary study of western war-fighting strategies, and more, expose UK defence at a below-the-threshold of war level. A traditionally slim defence mandate has solidified over peacetime to present a threat to UK national security. An acceptance of holistic risk based observations is key to a level of flexibility which the UK and others are wise to accept.
Chapter six, 'Canadian Armed Forces Unification', is a case study of good intent that initially failed. It went through three major stages of change in its sixty-year journey to become functional branches under one management roof.
Chapter seven, 'The United States Marine Corps', is another case study that delves deeper than in prior chapters into the strengths and weaknesses of the USMC. The author evaluates them against UK defence needs. This includes the latest expansion of the corps into combating 'grey-zone' threats.
Chapter eight, 'Modern Defence Forces', is a subjective look at what makes up a moder...