Feral Jundi

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Industry Talk: In Building Afghan Army, It’s Back to Basics

Filed under: Afghanistan,Industry Talk,Training — Tags: , , , , — Matt @ 8:50 AM

     It looks to me that Walter just opened up the synopsis on FBO about this contract, and pointed out the key elements. Which is great, but this is nothing new.  Contractors have been taking on extremely complex and tough tasks for awhile now. Although I do want to thank him for bringing attention to what we do out there. –Matt

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In Building Afghan Army, It’s Back to Basics

By Walter PincusTuesday, September 29, 2009

Building up Afghanistan’s army, which has become a top priority in the Obama administration’s strategy, will not be simple, no matter how many more U.S. troops are going to be provided Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal.

Army building, like nation building, is a challenge in a country in which corruption is rife and illiteracy is high. Nine out of 10 new Afghan army recruits cannot read or write, according to recent news reports.

One way to gauge how the U.S. military sees this job is to look at the tasks that have been drawn up for the 175 contractors to be hired to help mentor and train personnel at the Afghan Ministry of Defense.

The U.S. Army Materiel Command has provided bidders for this two-year contract with a 96-page statement of work. It details the tasks to be performed by teams assigned to each of the 18 functional areas within the ministry.

Many of the tasks reflect Pentagon practices transferred to Afghanistan. For example, the contractor is to “develop and deliver an education program on ethical practices for key leaders” in the offices of Defense Minister Rahim Wardak and his top deputies. They are also to develop an ethical code of conduct for leaders, as well as “a tracking system for allegations of corruption.”

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Saturday, September 19, 2009

Training: Shipboard Security Officer Operations, Sig Sauer Academy

Filed under: Kaizen,Maritime Security,Training — Tags: , , , , , — Matt @ 11:38 AM

     That is great that Sig Sauer Academy is putting on this kind of training, and I had no idea they entered into this market. I would be curious if any of the readers have gone through this course, or if they have recommendations for other schools out there?  I will try to post other schools in the future, and for the record, I do not work for Sig Sauer Academy and this is not an endorsement.  All I am doing is just putting this stuff out there for guys and gals that are interested in seeking training for work in the maritime security industry. –Matt

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Sig Sauer Academy

Comprehensive firearm, tactical and self-defense training.

SIG SAUER® has a course for every type of student, from first-time firearm training to cutting-edge military and law enforcement training. And since we place as much emphasis on the classroom as we do the firing range, you’ll not only know how, but also when to use the skills we teach. We can even customize a curriculum to meet your particular needs.

At SIG SAUER Academy, you will get the advanced tactical and law enforcement training you need for the job.

Whether you want to learn the basics or advanced firearms training, there is no better place to receive expert training than SIG SAUER Academy.

*****

Shipboard Security Officer Operations

Duration: 6 days

Abstract

Designed for officers of private or commercial vessels, this 6 day class takes the captain, master, or designated officer through a blended mix of classroom and range training exercises

Overview

• Trust and Leadership

• Incorporating security response into scheduled crew drills

• Low-light / night time training

• Pre-planning

• The risk matrix

• Environmental considerations

• Exterior tactics

• Interior tactics

• Incident aftermath and reporting

• Developing a vessel specific action plan and training plan

Go to Sig Suaer Academy Here.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Training: We Have Shooting, First Aid, Driving, and EP Courses, But Where Are the Leadership Courses?

Filed under: Leadership,Training — Tags: , , , , , , , , — Matt @ 10:42 PM

Training:  We Have Shooting, First Aid, Driving, and EP Courses, But Where Are the Leadership Courses?

09/11/2009

     You know, I really dig all the action schools out there.  That stuff is fun, and they are also vital to our core skill set for working in this industry.  But something is severely lacking in the training industry, and that is leadership training.

     It is not enough anymore to say ‘I was an NCO or Officer in the military’, or ‘I was a Police Sergeant at my old PD’.  Nope, what we need is industry specific leadership/management training, and I just don’t see it out there.

     Better yet, we need to see companies putting more of an emphasis on good leadership out there, by setting up training for their contractors, managers and regional managers.  So much money these days is spent on shooting and all the other sexy stuff for overseas spin ups, but you see absolutely no training at all for leadership stuff. The companies make a god awful amount of money on these contracts, and the least they could do is spend the money for this training, and go over what they expect out of their leaders and aspiring leaders. To actually institute some system of management that will give the contractors out in the field, a better chance at doing well out there.

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Friday, August 28, 2009

Books: The Tactical Trainer: A Few Thoughts On Training And Training Management From A Former Special Operations Soldier, By Msg. Paul R. Howe, U.S. Army Retired

Filed under: Books,Training — Tags: , , , , , , — Matt @ 12:46 AM

    Add this to your reading list.  Paul Howe has produced another outstanding resource for the military/police/contractor community.  For the record, I have not read this book because it just came out.  If any FJ readers have anything to say about the book, let it rip in the comments section, because I would be very interested to hear any feedback on the thing. –Matt

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The Tactical Trainer: A Few Thoughts On Training And Training Management From A Former Special Operations Soldier

By Msg. Paul R. Howe, U.S. Army Retired

     I will be describing how to structure high risk tactical courses in this book.  I have developed these courses through my years of instruction with CSAT (Combat Shooting and Tactics).  While I describe various techniques, I will limit any description of tactics as the bad guys have a tendency to study our work.  Sometimes, I will be generic and it will be so on purpose.

     I will also describe some “near misses” and training accidents in this work.  This is not to demean or cast a shadow on those involved.  It is necessary to learn from our mistakes.  If we cover them up, they will be repeated at the same price-the loss of a human life.  My goal is to always give safer and more efficient training techniques to fix the problem.  These safety techniques will come through a logical stair-stepped methodology.

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Sunday, June 14, 2009

Training: ‘Mindless’ Basic Training Gets Some Smarts

Filed under: Training — Tags: , , , , , , — Matt @ 1:32 PM

“It’s a revolution,” said Col. Dan Kessler, who directs the training here. He’s one of the young Turks who’s come back from combat determined to change the old ways.

In addition to a sense of urgency, combat has brought one other influence back home: you have to innovate, take risks, and try new things. That’s always acceptable out in the field. It’s not been so acceptable in garrison, where promotions seemed to come from “following procedure” and not making mistakes. 

   An excellent little article about what we are doing differently in boot camp to make better soldiers for the war effort.  I posted this as an example as to what is required of today’s military, but it also has application to the way security contractors should think out there. Good stuff and it certainly highlights the importance of the kind of concepts being brought up under Jundism. –Matt 

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‘Mindless’ Basic Training Gets Some Smarts

06/12/09

FORT BENNING, Ga. — When seasoned combat soldiers began returning from the war to help train new recruits here, the first thing they did was to stop training for what the Army called “convoy live fire.”

Nobody actually does that in Iraq or Afghanistan, they explained.

In fact, they said, much of what the Army was teaching its new recruits at this premier training center was wrong or irrelevant to actual combat.

Instead, what was being force-fed to recruits seemed drearily familiar to old soldiers who’d gone through “basic” here a generation ago. Marching in formation, for instance; rifle bayonet training that dated to World War I (“Lunge! Kill!”). And convoy live fire, a technique invented after Jessica Lynch was abducted in 2003, which became dangerously outdated almost immediately.

That it took five years to get this stopped says something about the Army.

It also provides a glimpse into a struggle inside the Army and, indeed, across the entire U.S. military. Let’s call it the combat military versus the “garrison” or “headquarters” or “always done it this way” military.

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