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Client: National Defense University (NDU) is the premier center for joint professional military education. Designated as the Executive Agent for Interagency Training, Education, and After-Action Reviews, NDU is responsible for developing and implementing a Joint Program of Learning for multi-agency and inter-departmental coordination and planning. |
Challenge:
US government (USG) professionals face an increasing requirement for multi-agency coordination, cooperation and planning. Joint Forces Command (JFCOM) developed an experimental concept to place personnel from USG civilian agencies, each with different training experiences, backgrounds, and cultures, at the different DoD regional commands, with the goal of better integrating diverse USG capabilities and efforts in the ongoing Global War on Terrorism. These interagency groups are called Joint Interagency Coordination Groups (JIACGs).
Organizing and institutionalizing JIACGs proved to be a challenge, as it required synchronizing the efforts of multiple agencies, keeping all agencies informed of these efforts, and developing a program for training and evaluating these diverse groups.
Objective:
Develop an Interagency Transformation, Education, and After Action Review (ITEA) Program for JIACGs, determine perceptions of the JIACG concept and develop requirements for interagency training & education (T&E).
ThoughtLink Solution:
In 2001 and 2003 ThoughtLink interviewed agency representatives to collect their input on requirements for a JIACG training and exercise program.
ThoughtLink analyzed and compared the data from both surveys and found that many issues and concerns were identical, most notable the absence of effective and robust interagency T&E due to institutional obstacles.
Significant differences between the two surveys included the potential training audience expansion due to the Global War on Terrorism. Since 2001, the US has intervened in Afghanistan and Iraq and is involved in long-term reconstruction projects with participation by the USG interagency community, as well as other nations, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and others. The IA component will likely be much larger than recent operations prior to 2001 and huge numbers of USG personnel need T&E in homeland security issues. Second, communications are greatly improved - in contrast to 2001 findings, most people in the 2003 survey have classified and unclassified access on their desk. JFCOM has provided a secure collaborative environment for JIACG members and their parent agencies, which is an important step.
Value Added:
ThoughtLink concluded that as part of the process of institutionalizing the JIACG concept, JFCOM would need to specify the training requirements for JIACGs. To achieve this ThoughtLink outlined the content and delivery mechanisms for a T&E program, highlighted the importance of measuring and publicizing JIACG success, and the role of communication among peers and agencies.
ThoughtLink recommends developing additional delivery methods, as not all JIACG participants will have the time or availability for face-to-face pre-scheduled T&E. As a response to survey findings NDU has developed an educational program for US government executives, in the area of multi-Agency and Department planning and coordination for overseas emergencies. The ITEA program now serves as a national focal point for innovation in education, research, and gaming that addresses the interagency response to such crises. Read more.
