Joint Combined Exchange Training Evaluation Framework: A Crucial Tool in Security Cooperation Assessment.

摘要

A focal point of American security readiness is proactive security interaction with cooperative states and allies abroad to deter threats, protect the homeland, and advance national interests. As a component in this effort, the militaries of the United States and the Republic of the Philippines (PH) have been conducting recurring bilateral engagements since 1991. Among these Security Cooperation programs, Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) produces a high return on training investment through the enhancement of US Special Operations Forces (SOF) in mentor, instructor and advisor roles, as well as increasing cultural understanding and trust between American and Filipino counterparts, US-PH interoperability, and both militaries tactical skills. Despite several decades of conducting JCETs, no objective assessment of these events has been done. Thus, this study develops the JCET Evaluation Framework (JEF) a tool based on the Eight-Step and ADDIE training models to examine the effectiveness of JCETs. Uniquely, this study compares the post-training reports from both the PH and US SOF units to validate the evaluation design, and provides recommendations for the improvement of future JCETs: improving after-action report formats, developing an overall engagement strategy, improving resource sustainment and the human rights vetting processes, and conducting and bilaterally sharing post-engagement surveys.