Enhancing the effectiveness of ad hoc units a revised training model

Abstract

To meet the personnel shortfalls resulting from the Global War on Terror, the United States Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command developed an integrated approach to strength management - of the ad hoc unit. This came at a cost, however, generally in terms of lost efficiency and decreased capabilities to conduct tactical and operational Civil Affairs Operations. This thesis encapsulates fifteen months studying eight United States Army Civil Affairs units who deployed to Iraq as part of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, Rotation 0 - 08. The research objective was to determine if the units were effective and what, if any, changes are needed to improve the training program prior to deployment. The thesis presents a better method for preparing ad hoc units for deployment, and argues that overall unit effectiveness depends upon leveraging time management throughout training, validation, and deployment. By creating a collaborative approach to task management and linking social, cultural, and task cohesion, the Army can more effectively execute pre-deployment training plans for ad hoc units. The thesis also recommends that the Army adopt both a refined training model that augments the Army Training Management Cycle developed in Army Field Manual 7-0, Training the Force and revise the training management program to focus on integrating fulltime collaborative efforts into the training development and execution cycle.