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Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is well into its second year without any signs of a resolution. The war is a reminder that we no longer live in a world where major power competition and conventional war in Europe remain unthinkable. The ongoing developments, which may appear geographically distant, dispel the possibility of living in “splendid isolation” or being immune to the changing world order. Contemporary events are a testimony to the evolving character of war and underscore the need to extract relevant lessons that help shape the Canadian Army of today into a prepared army of tomorrow.

As we seek to understand and adapt to the evolving operating environment, this edition of the Canadian Army Journal (CAJ) directs attention to a range of relevant issues. The first feature article by Major Jan Kool addresses the issue of tactical command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance through the lens of command and control (C2). He identifies pertinent lessons from enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Latvia and 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group’s experimentation and argues against adopting “purely technical solutions to modern C2 problems.” Adding valuable input to the discussion of C2, LCol Andrew Duncan proposes a simplified method for joint operational practitioners to achieve greater situational awareness in complex military operations across multiple domains.

Drawing attention to Russia’s overemphasis on artillery in the ongoing war, Drs. Grau and Bartles delve into a crucial yet underexplored subject of Russian land forces—integrating robotics into artillery platforms. They utilize Russian literature and sources to explain the modernization of Russian artillery, with a particular emphasis on the 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV self-propelled howitzer and its induction.

The volume also covers the subject of military training support to foreign partners. Maj Kyle Vetter examines the cultural aspect of this assistance and how it shapes the effectiveness of training programs for host nations. The subsequent articles contribute to the ongoing and dynamic debate on the Armoured Corps modernization. CAJ has been fortunate to feature periodic articles on this subject and will continue to do so in future editions. Maj Bryce Simpson undertakes a historical survey of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps (RCAC) reconnaissance structures and brings attention to the limitations of the four-vehicle construct when undertaking reconnaissance and security tasks. Additionally, Capt Miles Smith draws upon the Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) reconnaissance squadron’s experience during Exercise MAPLE RESOLVE 21 to emphasize the potential difficulties that may arise with the adoption of RCAC’s cavalry concept.

The last two feature articles share a common thread on military education and training in the digital age. Maj (retired) Marshall Gerbrandt explores the prospect of using distance learning to reduce military members’ time away from home, examining its advantages and drawbacks in the current landscape. In the final article, LCol Nathan Richards evaluates the impact of artificial intelligence tools, particularly ChatGPT, on professional military education.

We are delighted to present an array of thought-provoking book reviews in this volume. Gerry Madigan offers insights into Auftragstaktik: The Birth of Enlightened Leadership through his review and compels us to rethink the foundational understanding of leadership. Next, Charlotte Duval-Lantoine’s review of Deploying Feminism: The Role of Gender in NATO Military Operations is worth a read, where she also poses pertinent questions about the role of militaries in gender equality. Matt Malone’s review of Taking Nazi Technology and Robert Addinall’s review of 12 Seconds of Silence shed light on fascinating aspects of history and technological innovation. Murray Robertson takes us on a journey through his review of Courage, Sacrifice, and Betrayal: The Story of the Victoria Rifles of Canada – 60th Battalion in the First World War. Finally, Capt Alexander Landry revisits a significant episode in Canada’s global engagement through his review of The Lion, The Fox, and The Eagle: A Tale of Generals and Justice in Rwanda and Yugoslavia.

In closing, I take this opportunity to bid farewell to Maj John Bosso, who played a very crucial role in CAJ’s journey for the last many years. I would also like to thank Samuel Priems, who interned with us and utilized the short stint to contribute meaningfully to the journal’s production process. We wish them both all the best in their new endeavours.

I hope you enjoy reading the CAJ 20.2 volume. I sincerely thank the Army Publishing Office, our authors, reviewers, editorial board members, and readers for their unwavering support. We invite you to explore exciting new initiatives on our CAJ website and share your valuable feedback to help us enhance your journal. Your engagement is vital to the journal’s continued growth and success, and we look forward to this journey with you.