As unit compliance inspection nears, deployed commander stresses training

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Tim Horton
  • 916th Communication Squadron
BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq --  "How many times do I have to review the same boring, tired-training videos?"
"Do you know how many times I've completed this training since I've had my job?"
"Is this stuff ever used?"

Statements like these are so common, you probably hear them almost every day--maybe you even use them. Training, whether it's computer-based training or an actual class, is so important and it may save your life. A never-ending process, training begins when you're born and continues all of your life.

General education applies in every situation of life. We begin our journey early and continue to put life experiences in our reservoir. No worries about overload--our memory storage device doesn't max out! As situations develop, we refer to information on hand for reaction. We may have an exact example which is easily accessed. Sometimes it's a similar condition which we can apply certain principles. Other times, it's a totally new circumstance and then we learn.

Even though some specific education is useable in different scenarios, it's primarily useful in unique situations. For example, many principles taught in sports have a practical use in other arenas, but sports' training is primarily geared to either a team or individual sport with an expected goal of victory. Other specific training is only used during a designated time, place, or situation. Many job-related training experiences are only applicable when at work and that can even be site-specific.

Leaders must immediately evaluate their training programs, not only to see the curriculum, trainers' qualifications and students' comprehension & pass/fail rate, but also to witness training implementation. It's not enough to have the best training program, top-rate instructors, or even a great pass rate. What's really important is what's observed after the training period is over, after graduation. What will the students carry away and use? What will they do when tested either by an inspector or by day-to-day events?

With inspections looming in the not-so-far distance, training is at the forefront of everyone's attention. If the training is not completed correctly, points are lost. If errors are discovered in this vital program, eyebrows are raised. If either by observation or questioning the team notices bad or totally wrong practices, inspection failure is possible. Most everyone will be on their best behavior during inspections--probably not a soul will perform in a substandard fashion. But will it be practiced when it really counts--when their life or lives of others are at risk?

I implore you to examine your practices. Are you following prescribed practices or do you "wing it"? Sometimes we get wake up calls that quickly remind us to follow correct methods. At other times, no warnings are granted. We've heard we should play like we practice--do we need more practice?