Pilot program to set new standard
By: Staff Sgt. Emily J. Russell and Spec. Erica Isaacson
112th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
- Posted Apr. 2008
FORT LEWIS, Wash. – The Premobilization Training Assistance Team (PTAT) was created to assist Washington Army National Guard units as they prepare to deploy by offering guidance and training when time and resources are limited during premobilization.
The Ft. Lewis based PTAT was founded in April of 2007, “to facilitate getting through the mobilization process,” said Master Sgt. Kevin Johnson, the training support team non-commissioned officer in charge.
The PTAT is comprised of three teams; the digital support team, training support team and training assistants. The TST, training assistants and unit are able to digitally track the unit’s training progress using software currently being developed by the digital support team.
The goal of the PTAT is to set a standard among deploying Washington National Guard units by streamlining premobilization training. This is accomplished through a four-phase process.
Phase one consists of introducing the training assistant to the unit they will embed with, and provide training expertise that units may not normally have. The goal is to promote confidence in the PTAT and their ability to make the premobilization process easier.
“We don’t walk in and say we’re the authority,” said 1st Lt. Troy Jackson, team leader with the TST. He explained that he tells units, “we are purely here to help you; we want to make your process easier so when you go to your mobilization station you’re prepared … and can easily move into deployment.” Once the unit understands the importance of the PTAT, Jackson says everything else, “is a cakewalk.”
The PTAT doesn’t just “make things up” for a unit. According to Sgt. 1st Class Ka Leung Chan, senior auditor with the TST, the PTAT goes through a checklist to identify crucial elements and make sure units are following the right procedures.
Phase two is execution of the plan. Training assistants conduct onsite visits and ensure units are conducting training to standard and within the guidance set by First Army.
“If a unit is conducting individual weapon qualification, the TA will show up on the range and make sure they are conducting the range safely and that the First Army requirements for premobilization is achieved,” explained 1st Lt. Aron Horel, another team leader with the TST.
Phase three revisits the initial audit conducted during phase one.
“We take the phase one audit as well as the checklist and see how they’ve adjusted,” explained Sgt. 1st Class Dan Cromwell, senior auditor with the TST. “Phase one and three really piggyback on each other. We (also) concentrate on checking things like the mission essential task list, newsletter, and memorandum’s of instruction.”
The fourth phase emphasizes feedback to determine unit status in their training schedule and what improvements need to be made.
“The training support team takes part in the unit’s daily after action review and gives candid feedback on the success of the unit and whether they have achieved the standard,” said Johnson.
The status of the unit is reported to Lt. Col. Roth, commander of the PTAT. He, in turn, briefs Brig. Gen. Gordon D. Toney, assistant to the adjutant general, and Maj. Gen. Timothy J. Lowenberg, the adjutant general for the Washington National Guard, and receives any feedback they have to offer.
Once a unit has completed all premobilization tasks, Toney signs off on a mobilization document which states the unit is validated by First Army standards.
“First Army accepts the tasks have been completed so the unit does not duplicate training at their mobilization station,” Johnson said. “Mobilization station is for collective tasks such as lanes training and convoy operations, not individual tasks.”
The PTAT began as a concept to support unit training any way possible. Since it began, the team has refined its process by conducting internal audits to determine what is and is not working for the units.
“It’s an ongoing process,” Chan said. “We take a lot of comments from after action reviews, the commanders themselves and the unit and find out what was good and what wasn’t. Feedback from the unit is very important.”
According to PTAT officials, if the program succeeds here, it could be implemented for the National Guard in all states to provide quality assurance and expertise, as well as expediting mobilizing units through their premobilization process.
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