Feb.27.2009
by Ed Beakley
II. Training decision makers to the 'Ace' level-Part 1
Operational Thread Premise:
There are two critical elements missing from most current HLS/HLD training programs. First is the notion of dedicated opposing force and second, the need to include non-scripted decision making situations. Most training events and drills are based on availability of resources – both human and physical - necessary for the management of, or the consequences of, a specific disaster type. As stated previously, these mostly pre-scripted drills fail to address crisis development, eliminate the Observation and Orientation stages of the Observe Orient Decide Act (OODA) Loop by pre-determining their characteristics, thus eliminating uncertainty, and therefore, bypassing the essential element of critical command thinking.
The result: Level of readiness defined as instantaneous ability to respond to a suddenly arising major crisis based on locally available, un-prepositioned and un-mobilized countermeasure resources is either unchanged or decreased due to these flaws built into current philosophy of drills. Therefore, this approach reduces or negates achievement of performance that our technical superiority promises.
Based on reports like that on Mumbai and Secretary Napolitano’s concerns, is there a need and a receptive ear for a Scream of Eagles II from the first responder community?
Resolution suggests a TOPGUN or “combat training center” type approach for homeland security and defense education, training, and exercises.
If the eagle screams were to be answered, then development of an HLS/HLD “TOPGUN” will require answering these Questions?
- Can the “train to the ace level” concept behind Top Gun, Red Flag, National Training Center at Ft Irwin, i.e. the combat training center or “CTC” concept be applied to hyper complex crisis, worst case disaster command control learning?
- Would “first mission” exposure for operational level decision makers provide value added? (consideration that given funding constraints, daily normal real world law enforcement, fire response, emergency management, and job rotation, there may be only one opportunity in a three year cycle to expose the candidates. Can one exposure make a difference? What would be the impact of dynamic simulation interjected into the classroom?
- What needs to be included in pre-exercise classroom and simulated command problems to make the learning and training effective? In particular, by who and how are cognitive elements and related decision making in crisis taught?
- What kind of research needs to be done in this area?
Discussion now open. Please reply to projectwhitehorseatroadrunnerdotcom.
Refs:
RC#30 TOPOFF – Should Eagles Scream?
Scream of Eagles – Happy Birthday TOPGUN
RC#29 National Security Exercises Need Change; TOPOFF meet TOPGUN – Maybe
JEB – 24 Feb, 2009
[For Part 2 see: II. [Part 2] Scenarios – To the ‘Ace’ Level]
