Geared toward senior enlisted and junior officers, the longer resident IPEL course focuses on management skills. It addresses leadership areas such as effective communication, decision-making, personality profiling, team-building, diversity awareness, instructor training, rule of law, worldwide military current events and physical fitness. In addition to IPEL, NITC offers a wide range of courses that provide students fundamental academic skills and practical knowledge. The center is equipped with a state-ofthe-art specialized English training lab, classrooms and study/work rooms, computer labs with simulator and interactive computer instruction programs, and various specialized science laboratory classrooms. The training A Jordanian soldier undergoing training in the Middle Eastern nation of Jordan with a mobile education training team from Naval Education and Training Command Security Assistance Field Activity International Training Center (NITC) in Pensacola, Fla. is challenged approach taken at NITC is to enhance by an obstacle on a leadership reaction course (LRC). The LRC is an obstacle course that has been used as a key component of U.S. and military leadership training for many decades. LRC training has been a very successful part of the resident courses held at learning through group and individual international NITC. [Photo courtesy of Naval Education and Training Command] tutoring, interactive multimedia and The Walled In challenge simulates a helicopter crash computer simulation programs. behind enemy lines. To get back to safety, a team must cross a Students who attend the resident course leave the school double-walled security fence that is booby-trapped with an equipped to conduct leadership training and to serve as a liaielectrical wire on top. The ground between the fences is also son for U.S. MET teams serving in their respective countries. mined. The goal is for each team to get over the double fence Understanding that each country may have specific needs, with their gear without falling, touching the wall, the electrical the mobile IPEL course is custom built and is specifically wire or the ground, within 15 minutes. Materials made availdesigned for the host country. Course content reflects the able included pipes, rope and a 4-by-4 board that can be used to requirements and preferences identified and agreed to by that help get over the walls. country. Prior to the IPEL commencing, a one week assessDuring the last obstacle, the Gorge of Doom, each team ment of Jordanian capabilities and level of understanding was is sent to rescue an injured pilot from a downed aircraft. The conducted. unconscious pilot, a 160-pound mannequin, must be carried As a part of the assessment, Jordanian enlisted trainers were across a deep gorge with a single cable strung across to reach taught and certified to train their own personnel on a leaderthe rescue helicopter on the other side. The goal is to get the ship reaction course (LRC). team, their gear, and the injured pilot across the cable to safety The LRC is an obstacle course that has been used as a key within 15 minutes. Trainees are not allowed to touch the sides component of U.S. and international military leadership trainof the gorge or fall from the cable. ing for many decades. LRC training has been a very successful Enthusiasm for the LRC is evident by what students have part of the resident (IPEL) courses held at NITC. written in the courses feedback form: “What really made a lot of Before testing their skills on the LRC, the students were the material stick in my mind were the LRC exercises. Not only given a familiarization briefing. They were then broken up into did we learn about leadership in the classroom, but we were teams and sent on the reaction course’s three challenges: Shock able to practice these lessons in real life situations and I feel and Awe, Walled In, and Gorge of Doom. Each segment of the that this was a key to the whole learning experience. I feel that challenge uses simulated dangerous situations on the obstacle the LRC course was an absolutely great way to learn.” course. Leaders must know the skills and capabilities of their After being assessed and becoming certified to train their individual team members, and use appropriate communicaown personnel, the Jordanians used the skills they had gained tions and problem solving skills to successfully navigate the to design a training package for their specific MET that covered course. topics they felt would be most beneficial to their country’s During Shock and Awe, each team must move their people armed forces’ specific needs. over a blown bridge with two exposed high-voltage electrical The IPEL METs can vary in length from one to five weeks cables and a rushing river below. After crossing the river, they and can be offered to general audiences or to specifically tarhave to carry their gear and a heavy ammunition can containgeted pay grades from E-5 to O-2. MET curriculum can be ing intelligence material that has to be delivered to the chalprovided in English or the language desired by the host country lenge’s headquarters. Ground rules prohibit team members using simultaneous translation and instructors who speak the from touching the water or cables, and the mission has to be required languages. completed in 15 minutes or less. 12 | MT2 16.8
www.MT2-kmi.com