Does Team Training Make a Difference. A Comparison of Early MEAO and AMTG Voices on Pre-Deployment Training and Team Issues - Sub-Task Report for the Human Dimensions of NCW

摘要

This document reports on the analysis of interviews with the Al Muthanna Task Group (AMTG), a battlegroup that formed Australia's main ground force contribution to the Multinational force in Iraq over 2005-2008. The report focuses on issues relating to training, pre-deployment preparation and teaming aspects of deployed units. AMTG findings in relation to those issues are compared with an earlier interview program which involved a representative sample of ADF (Australian Defence Force) personnel who had deployed to the Middle East Area of Operations over the period 2003-2005. The results of this analysis indicate that while some difficulties were not as prevalent, some had endured, and others had emerged. Enduring themes pertain to mission specific training, cultural awareness, and the timing for assembling of teams. New issues relate to the perceived reputation of the ADE and differences in expectations and attitudes between those that regularly operated on patrol and those that remained within the base.