Lessons Learned Integration

Lessons Learned Integration by Norman English “What do I know and who else needs to know?” When it comes to lessons learned, this is the question every warfighter must ask; however, lessons learned integration is more than just sharing experiences with others, it begins with understanding the Army’s lessons learned integration processes and fostering an environment where soldiers and leaders see the value of knowledge sharing. So how are observations, insights, and lessons (OIL) and tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) shared and integrated within the Army? It starts with the soldier and leader. Every soldier and leader must have the initiative to offer lessons and TTP to their peers, subordinates, and assigned organizations. Knowledge management continues to evolve and the U.S. Army Center for Army Lessons Learned (CALL) and the Combined Arms Center (CAC) do not underestimate its value. As technology changes, harnessing an individual’s willingness to share information and understanding is critical. Tomorrow’s soldier and leaders should want to participate in lesson sharing, which is critically important to future battlefield success. We find that, in many cases, soldiers feel they have nothing to share or their experiences have no value in the realm of lessons learned — do not underestimate the potential value of your contributions! “A lesson learned is not learned until behavior is changed.” While CALL cannot mandate soldiers and leaders change their behavior, the OIL CALL shares with individuals, the operating force, and the institutional Army enhances and contextualizes doctrinal discussions and professional military education (PME). CALL assists the lessons learned process by providing critical warfighter support via military analysts, liaison officers, websites, written products, and personal networking. Currently, CALL provides this rapid information sharing via the lessons learned integrated (L2I) network and the doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership and education, personnel, and facilities (DOTMLPF) issue resolution process (IRP). CALL’s L2I network has more than 50 military analysts supporting the operating force and the institutional Army. These analysts anticipate the needs of their supported staffs and units, conduct research, and share the most current and relevant OIL and material for inclusion in PME, programs of instruction, and local training. The L2I network, working simultaneously with CALL battle command training program (BCTP) liaison officers and theater observation detachment (TOD) liaison officers, provides the initial analysis and rapid sharing of countless OIL and TTP to supported units and schools. For example, over the past 3 years, CALL has provided thousands of data points to the schools and centers for potential integration into discussions and instruction. CALL’s second rapid OIL-sharing process is the DOTMLPF IRP. Much like L2I network analysts, DOTMLPF analysts work with each school and center to further develop identified trends and gaps in doctrine and training. They provide recent and relevant OIL and reports (regardless of source) to assist lead and support agencies in achieving unique solutions to identified issues. OIL and TTP from Operation Iraq Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom have grown over the past 6 years. What have you learned? Who else needs to know? If you do not share, CALL cannot share. If you want to participate in making the Army a better fighting force and supporting your peers preparing for or in combat operations, contact your local CALL L2I analyst or visit our website at http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/call/index.asp to submit TTP or after-action reviews. The website also offers peer submissions and the latest products from CALL and the Combined Arms Center. Mr. Norman English is a military analyst, Lessons Learned Integrated (L2I), Center for Army Lessons Learned, U.S. Army Combined Arms Center, Fort Leavenworth, KS, with duty at Training Development Division, Directorate of Training, Doctrine, and Combat Development-Experimentation, U.S. Army Armor Center, Fort Knox, KY. March-April 2009 — 53