Running head: TRAINING PROGRAM PLAN

Training Program Plan

Michael J. Murphy
AET 570
March 27, 2015
Lissa Goya

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Introduction

The training plan I will put together will enable the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in
Action Accounting (DPAA) the flexibility to have team members possess the knowledge and
understanding to process and prepare their cargo and equipment for air shipment in a timely
manner. All team members who are in a position to deploy out in the field to carry on the
mission of DPAA will be targeted to receive this training to identify the needed skills outside of
their primary specialty. All audience members will consist of military members from all
branches, contractors, and DOD civilians. The greatest emphasis will be placed on those who
will be in the team leader or team sergeant roles because they will be responsible for the actions
of all personnel under them. The training will be encompass DPAA familiarization and what and
why we do what we do, pallet build-up of their cargo and equipment, hazardous material training
where they will learn how to recognize hazardous cargo, and the various aircraft that will be used
in support of our mission. The team members will learn to identify with member loyalty and
honor for the organization (Mayhall, 2015). Once all training elements are met, the personnel
will be able to assist DPAA to deploy within a reasonable amount of time the correct way. The
training plan is a fluid plan because it continues to operate to improve the process. It will
incorporate all of the core requirements plus brainstorming suggestions from the team member
they if they are valid and could assist the overall process. DPAAs goal is to successfully and
safely recover the remains of our heroes and repatriate them to the United States and turned over
to their families. The mission of DPAA will be well known while continuing to bring our service
members home and strengthening our resolve to bring this chapter of American history to a
happy closure for all involved.

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Needs Assessment of Deployment Procedures

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has a very important mission of searching in
the far reaches of the world looking for the remains of American heroes of past American
conflicts around the world and bringing them home. Our organization is constantly sending our
employees to various spots around the world at a moments notice and there are incidents that
occur from time to time to highlight some deficiencies within our deployment process. The
deployment process should be a flawless and fluid process and we need to ensure that are at the
desired location when it comes to mobilizing and proceeding out of town. A training program
should be in place to ensure there are no shortfalls that could negatively impact operations. I
first like to get an informal view of what be the potential problem by completing a occupational
needs assessment (OPM, 2015). A great way to accomplish this is to ask people around the
organization various situational questions about the organization. I receive a very honest heart
pulse from indirect query.
Data Collection
The first course of action to improve our process and identify this training deficiency is to
collect data to get a general consensus of where everyones current knowledge level is (Clawson,
2010). Part of this process will be to formulate questions to ask all participants. The questions
range from processes in the early stages to the final stage. The answers compiled were hitting all
of the targets, but there was a large concentration of missed questions concerning country
clearances. This one step is a small one, but it has monumental impact when deploying out of
town. If this step is omitted one left off, the individual or team could possibly not make the trip.
Next, I started to perform an interview process to see why the country clearance process was

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lacking. After talking to a number of people, there seems to be too many hands in this particular
process where people are depending on each other and in turn the critical is being left undone.
This person thought it was taken care of by the individual and the individual thought it was being
completed by the staff member.
Analyze Data
After compiling the questions and conducting surveys around the organization, it was
time to compile and analyze the information. It seems the correct steps are in place, but there
needs to be more training concentrated on the country clearance process. This process needs
more attention and should be looked at again. Once the numbers are presented and verified, then
the case can be presented to senior leadership to warrant a change to the current training course.
Air Operations Training Program Budget
The word budget makes most of us cringe at the site of hearing it. A budget is no more
than a list that affords us an organized view of what our expenses are and how we are to
distribute them out. They allow us to have control over what we spend and if we are spending
more than what we are bringing in and if we can afford it (Austrailian Securities & Investment
Commission, 2015).
Personnel
The Air Operations branch is a relative small section currently manned by four personnel
with a slot for one more to bring it to a total of five. Two of the manning slots are in forward
locations abroad. Air Operations branch is responsible for training up to 200 personnel within
the organization on the procedures of mobilizing and moving out of town to perform their jobs.
The staff is certified in the transportation of hazardous materials, the certification of aircraft load
sequencing, requesting Special Assignment Airlift Mission (SAAM) aircraft, and the oversight of

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the overall deployment process. We are required to execute all assigned duties while operating
within a reasonable budget.
Fringe benefits
Fringe benefits are given to employees to create a more favorable working environment
and morale for services rendered (Investopedia, 2015). Our organization pretty has all situations
laid out when it comes to overtime pay. Whereas fringe benefits are concerned, air operations
offered compensation hours which can be claimed and taken in lieu of accrued leave hours. The
employees have up to twelve months to use compensation days. In todays economy, there are
not too many benefits given out.
External staff
As mentioned earlier, two of the four members of the staff are serving in our forward
location of Thailand. They serve in the same capacity as our Honolulu based staff with the
exception they serve all clients in Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. By having the two
slots serve in their location, it cuts down on travel costs back and forth to Honolulu. Its a great
benefit to have them serve in this capacity.
Materials
Air operations utilize typical material as does any other training office. In order to
perform the needed training, we utilize a conference room set up for student learning, computer
with a projector, projector screen, training course manual, updated software, and resource
publications. The materials will be utilized in certain stages along the way to facilitate the
various levels of training.
Technical support

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The technical support we receive is from our computer support section and our travel
section in order to completely perform our duties. The computer support section provides all
team members with laptops and docking stations. They also provide all technical services for the
training sessions concerning computer assistance.
Equipment
In the performance of air operations, theres a lots of equipment it takes to accomplish the
job and to train 200 individuals on air operations procedures when they have another primary
job. We procure all sorts of air operations equipment such as air 463L pallets, 5K nylon straps,
leather gloves, fiberboard boxes, and plastic coverings. These assets are crucial with the training
and how to properly utilize them for air movement.
Travel
A larger amount of the budget is set aside for travel because not only do we prepare the
teams to deploy out of town, we also fly to their location to assist them in returning home. The
extended training continues on the road too. The travel sends the members to remote places all
over the Pacific and Europe. The travel allows air operation team members to assist the teams in
properly preparing their loads to safety of flight.
Facilities
The facilities account for a very small percentage of the budget because were able to
perform all training within the already constructed confines of the organization, so minimal
expenditures would come out in support of the budget. When it comes to training classes, the
only thing that needs to be accomplished is to schedule the conference room far enough in
advance as possible.
Supplies

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Air Operations utilizes the same supplies as any standard office set up. This expenditure
is calculated with the entire organization in which the air operations branch fall under. This will
not be an added expenditure to the budget.
Miscellaneous
There are times when we have unforeseen circumstances and this will have to come out
of the current budget funds. These expenditures sometimes have managers justifying their
budget to the senior leadership if cost overruns happen on regular bases (Brinkerhoff, 2008).
We try to keep these down to a minimum and try our best to forecast well.
BUDGET
DOLLAR AMOUNT
EXPENSE CATEGORIES
$100,000
Personnel

$5000
Fringe benefits

$100,000
External staff

$1000
Materials

$1400
Technical support

$250,000
Equipment

$300,000
Travel

$500
Facilities

$0
Supplies

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$100,000
Miscellaneous

$857,900
TOTAL

DOLLAR AMOUNT
INCOME SOURCES

700,000
Parent company

50,000
Donations

900
Grants

107,000
Government

$857,900
TOTAL

The Air Operations Training Program Staffing Plan

The Air Operations Training program has significant staffing needs in order for the
operations to continue to run smoothly. There are critical positions that require attention to
detail because there are so many moving parts working precisely together to form one fluid
movement. Once students show proficient progress in the curriculum, they will be a highly
qualified air operations specialist. Below is a breakout of the tasks and qualifications required to
complete the training.
Required qualifications: Job Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

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There are specific qualifications needed which should highlight your education,
knowledge, skills, and preferred abilities to perform the duties of these specific positions. Your
skills will be evaluated by the training personnel assigned to each location. All potential
applicants must demonstrate experience in cargo preparation and equipment for movement by air
in a safe manner while displaying knowledge of all applicable transportation guidelines.
Applicant must be able to demonstrate on very high standards of air load planning and the weight
and balance of multiple cargo aircraft models while utilizing the Integrated Computerized
Deployment System (ICODES). Students must have experience planning air transportation by
displaying knowledge of systems various integrated methods. Students must complete a rigorous
two week technical Transportation of Hazardous material training course in addition to formal
training offered by training staff.
Time Requirement and Number of Staff Positions
The curriculum required to be a successful part of the team is extremely demanding and
will take approximately six months barring any delays in training. There are no specific numbers
per skill set because the requirement is for all personnel to possess all skill sets.
Qualifications

Positions

Training Time

Cargo/Equipment

1 Month

Guidelines and Regulations

1 Months

Load Plan Knowledge

1 Month

ICODES

1 Months

Integrated Knowledge

2 Months

Hazard Material
Transportation

2 Weeks

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Internal and External Resources

All required resources will be provided by the organization within the allotted time given
to complete all given tasks. The internal tasks includes laptop computer with accompanying
docking station, government passport for international travel, conference room, computer with
projector for training sessions, all airline transportation, and government vehicle to perform
assigned duties. There are also some outside agencies that are required in order for our jobs to be
successful. The outside resources required are transport of airlift assets to desired destination,
aircraft tracking systems and programs to allow for the request of airlift, contract solicitation, a
joint inspecting (JI) from the mobility unit, and various aircraft flying units selected to fly our
assets to mission location. In addition to the before mentioned resources, we have to dialog with
officials from foreign governments to utilize areas to perform our operations. Students will have
to learn the art of negotiation with high ranking officials.
Internal Resources

External Resources

Laptop Computer

Airlift Request from Air Mobility Division

Government Passport

Tracking Systems

Conference Room

Airlift Request Program

Computer with Projector

Contracting

Airline Transportation

Cargo JI

Government Vehicle

Flying Unit
Other Resources
Diplomatic Clearances
Negotiations
Resource Gap Strategy

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Filling resource gaps is very tricky indeed. Students must be very resourceful in how to
accomplish the required tasks while being thrifty with finances. The budget required to perform
our required tasks are becoming more and more strenuous because of yearly reductions. Each
and every one of us is required to identify any foreseeable problems that will cause an
extraordinary increase in finances.

Staff Evaluation
Staff will be evaluated annually by their reporting official. The evaluation process is
between the rater and employee and its completely confidential except when used to provide
monetary rewards to employee. The evaluation will be placed into the workers personnel file. It
will contain both derogatory and positive information as related to the employee.
The training required will test the will of the students while balancing the entire
curriculum simultaneously. It will seem difficult to lean the amount of material presented to
them from all directions, but they will understand it once they see it. The curriculum is built
upon each other in order for the students to see how the entire process comes together.
Stakeholders and Goals
Stakeholders (minimum of
five)

Partnership goal

Ways to build support

Government

The federal government

wants to ensure the success
of the company which
would allow more people to
become employed, report
financial situation, obey
laws, and pay taxes

1. Utilize the federal funding

resources wisely and prevent
fraud, waste, and abuse
2. Perform self-audit checks
to ensure financial records
are in order
3. Produce results to validate
reasoning for continue
support and keep

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Unions

Vested interest in company

succeeding to continue to
organize employees to
maintain good wages,
resolve disputes and safe
working conditions

Employees

Earn high wages and

perform at a high level in
order to maintain their job
within the organization

Owners

Wants to maintain high

operations tempo to
maximize profits

Community Council

Push support of the

enterprise because they can
continue to employ people
from the local community

Suppliers

Continue to deliver first rate

products in a timely manner
so the organization can
continue to purchase their
products, goods, and

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current/increased funding in
play
1. Notify union on all
matters affecting workforce
2. Encourage and build
partnerships that foster
worker engagement
3. Use social media to show
the organization and
relationships the unions help
promotes
1. Have economic incentives
for all company employees
2. Respect employees and
provide support and treat
them like a part of the
company
3. Provide realistic
constructive feedback on a
regular basis
1. Push a sense of ownership
and reward for team results
when they are good and bad
2. Provide clear precise roles
and individual and team
ownership
3. Always strive for
excellence and improvement
and provide feedback
1. Hire the qualified
individuals from within the
local community if possible
2. Work with community
leaders in public and private
sectors to create more
opportunities
3. Invest within the local
community to strengthen
channels and promote what
product the training provides
1. Show suppliers that they
are part of the family by
continuing to order goods
and services through them as
long as the quality service is

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there
2.Provide equitable and fair
transactions that abides
Provide equitable and fair
transactions that abides by
the law
3. Share the excellent
service provided by the
supplier and to other
organizations

services

Communication Plan
Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Accounting Agency (DPAA)

www.worldfast.com

FACT SHEET

Bringing Our Heroes Home

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DPAAs mission is to achieve the fullest possible accounting of all Americans missing or killed in
action as a result of the United States past war conflicts. The daily operational tasks involve investigating
informational leads and recovering and then run the task of identifying Americans that were never brought
home. The current work force consists of approximately 400 military members, DOD government civilians,
and contractor personnel. The Central Identification Laboratory (CIL) is the largest forensic anthropology
laboratory in the world.
DPAA falls under operational control and directions of the Office of the Secretary of Defense as
approved by Congress which is headquartered in Washington D.C. DPAA West is located in Honolulu, Hawaii
while two satellite terminals are located in Ohio and Nebraska. Congress created one agency responsible for
the recovery and personnel accounting of missing service members. The three entities brought together were
the former Defense Prisoner of War Missing Personnel Office, the Joint Prisoner of War/Missing in Action
Accounting Agency, and Life Science Equipment Laboratory. Compiling these agencies will allow for better
control and accountability of family resources and services, operations, and research. At present, there are
more than 83,000 American still unaccounted for (Agency, 2015).
Objectives:
1) Reinforce DPAAs mission and why everybodys contribution is vital
2) Familiarize all team players on computer share point program to find information
3) Identify hazardous materials and how to recognize and package them
4) Perform actual cargo preparation and aircraft configurations
5) Learn to load and compute weight and balance of various cargo loads
All members of DPAA perform their own specialty within the organization, but we all come together
when time to prepare for a mission to move out of town. The training plan will help all members learn to
perform certain duties to aid in the preparation of their cargo so they can expedite the process of deploying out
of town. The training option came about from previous deployments and all of the problems that were
documented and monitored. There were always repeat write-ups and we needed to come up with a course of

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action to remedy the situation. Another cause of concern was the relatively high military turn-over rate in
which some knowledge was being passed on, but the majority of it was walking out of the door. A survey was
connected by all team leaders on how we could help out the situation and a training plan is being developed to
aid in this process. Air Operation experts train personnel that will give all team members a little bit of
knowledge which will allow them to prepare their cargo with minimal errors when preparing for pre-flight
inspection. The unit deploys all over the world in order to recover American fallen heroes so we can bring
closure to countless families whove been waiting. When remains are recovered and positively identified, they
are given a repatriation ceremony to welcome them back to the United States before they are handed back to
the families.
The training program will benefit both the team members and the organization as a whole. All
members will become well versed in the procedure it takes to pack up and proceed on airlift missions in order
to perform our specialty functions. The training will give all learners a sense of ownership because time after
time, the team members show frustrations when trying to apply the knowledge theyve seen or been passed on.
The morale of the unit will increase because the training program shows team building and strategies of
communication. Communication between the sender and the receiver will be demonstrated on multiple
occasions. All participants will learn leadership and have the ability to lead and be a part of a team.
The training will be offered via multiple platforms. A great deal of it will be tradition classrooms
with interactive technology. The learners will become familiar with navigation various operating instructions
to master the process of looking up all materials needed to perform the given deployment tasks. On the job
training will also be demonstrated utilizing hands on approach which is required for most of all duties. The
entire timeline needed to be proficient at all tasks is six months. The program is well worth the effort and all
learners will gain valuable information.
Program Evaluation
The evaluation process will present itself on many different fronts. All personnel will have a hand in
the evaluation process. The evaluation process will give the organization a sense of where they are and what

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direction needs to be taken. After the students complete a course of training, they will be able to complete a
survey identifying what they liked or something that could be improved or changed. Since the training course
is quite long, there will be opportunities for the students to provide feedback on the go and throughout the
process. Leaders in the organization will be able to monitor real time fluid reports on how long or how quick
the teams are able to process and prepare themselves to be ready for deployments. The real time data will give
senior leaders a firsthand look on what is going good and what procedures need to be improved upon. The
leaders will be critiquing the process very thoroughly because of the importance of our mission and who we
owe answers to which are the families of the missing in action. Some parameters that will be measured are
how quick can the team gather their equipment, how long does it take them to prepare their equipment for
shipment, how long does it take to process through the passenger terminal, and if the aircraft departs on time.
All of these are very important and any one of them can throw the mission off course if they do not happen in a
timely manner. All of this data will be compiled and stored for historical purposes once the information has
been recorded and taken care of with improved processes. Collection of this data will be compiled throughout
all phases of the process since there are so many moving parts just to complete one movement. With this being
said, there cannot be a short fall in any of the processes. Training has to be on point to get the teams ready and
poised for movement. Focus groups will be put into action to discuss the short falls if any and come up with
improved ways to making the process better. This training is here to reinforce the way DPAA does business
and hammer home that the organization is 100% dedicated to bringing American servicemen home to be
reunited with their families.

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REFERENCES

Agency, D. P. (2015, March 11). Past Conflicts. Retrieved Mar 26, 2015, from Defense
POW/MIA Accounting Agency: http://www.dpaa.mil/OurMissing/PastConflicts.aspx
Austrailian Securities & Investment Commission. (2015, February 18). How to do a budget.
Retrieved March 6, 2015, from Money Smart: https://www.moneysmart.gov.au/managing-yourmoney/budgeting/how-to-do-a-budget
Brinkerhoff, R. (2008). Section VI: Measuring and Evaluating Impact - Chapter 30: Level 3
Evaluation. Retrieved March 6, 2015, from ASTD Handbook for Workplace Learning
Professionals:
http://search.proquest.com.contentproxy.phoenix.edu/docview/896136536/fulltext/980D2B165E
6C4992PQ/1?accountid=35812

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Clawson, H. K. (2010, January ). Guide to Conducting a Needs Asessment. Retrieved February

27, 2015, from OVC's Technical Assistance Guide Series:
https://www.ovcttac.gov/taResources/OVCTAGuides/ConductingNeedsAssessment/welcome.ht
ml
Investopedia. (2015). What types of companies usually offer fringe benefits? Retrieved March 6,
2015, from Investopedia: http://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/021115/what-typescompanies-usually-offer-fringe-benefits.asp
Mayhall, R. (2015). How to Develop. Retrieved March 27, 2015, from Hieran:
http://www.hieran.com/comet/howto.html
OPM. (2015). Training and Development. Retrieved February 27, 2015, from U.S. OFFICE OF
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/training-anddevelopment/planning-evaluating/