The planning-training-exercise-respond cycle is essential to ensure a company’s preparedness and ability to respond. All four elements must be integrated for the best results. Effective integration of your training and exercise programs will support a cycle of continuous improvement. Training builds knowledge and skills; exercises offer the opportunity to practice those skills.
Develop training and exercise objectives with that integration in mind. Training objectives should include certain components that will be emphasized in upcoming exercises. Exercise objectives should include practicing key skills and tasks learned in training. Typical training objectives include:
- Members demonstrate understanding of Incident Command System (ICS).
- Members are familiar with company contingency plans.
- Members are able to execute specific components in upcoming exercises.
- Training content addresses areas for improvement identified in previous activities.
The same person does not always manage Training and Exercises. How can you achieve integration to support continuous improvement?
- Senior management sets a clear expectation for leaders of training and exercise programs to work together and set integrated objectives.
- Training personnel participate in exercise design.
- Training personnel serve as evaluators/coaches in exercises, so that they see first hand the team’s performance.
- Exercise designers and leaders participate as co-instructors in training.
Integration and synergy between your training and exercise programs will lower the overall cost of your programs and improve your company’s preparedness and resilience, and drive continuous improvement.
Author: Hank García, CCG Senior Consultant
