Military Police Soldiers Training the Trainer at Baghdad's Patrol Headquarters

Photo By 1st Lt. William Marquez | On Nov. 22, at the Baghdad Patrol Headquarters, Sgt. 1st Class Arne Eastlund uses different techiniques of how to get and keep the attention of Iraqi student while giving blocks of instructions.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

12.10.2009

Story by 1st Lt. William Marquez 

49th Military Police Brigade

BAGHDAD, Iraq - On Nov. 22, at Baghdad's Patrol Headquarters, Sgt. 1st Class Arne Eastlund of the 49th Military Police Brigade conducted a class with a group of Iraqi patrol policemen serving in Baghdad. The purpose of this class was to help prepare the Iraqi patrolmen teach classes on crime scene preservation to their fellow patrolmen at Baghdad's Patrol Headquarters.

Sgt. 1st Class Eastlund is no stranger to teaching others how to teach. Before he joined the National Guard shortly after 9/11, Eastlund trained corporate executives on how to effectively give presentations and conduct classes. In his introduction to his Iraqi patrol students, he mentioned his corporate background to establish credibility and a connection with his students. "It's good to speak a little about your experience and expertise in the subject you are teaching. It gives your students confidence that you know what you are talking about," said Eastlund to his Iraqi patrol students.

Although Eastlund emphasized the importance of expertise in a field, he also made it clear to his students that a good instructor will never try to teach something beyond his area of expertise. "A good instructor should know his subject inside, and out, and he should never merely repeat what is written. However, he should also never try to teach more than he knows," said Eastlund.

Another theme Eastlund emphasized throughout his presentation was the importance of a teacher knowing his audience. "When you know your audience, you can anticipate questions, and you can pick the most effective teaching methods and tools," said Eastlund. Eastlund's students seemed to all agree that the teaching style that is most effective is one that stresses learning through practical exercises and seeing the correct way to perform a task, rather than learning solely through reading and listening. When Eastlund made this point, nearly all of the patrolmen in his class nodded their heads in affirmation.

Eastlund's class was an example of what he referred to as "modified lecture." His class with the Iraqi patrolmen consisted of a presentation by Eastlund combined with classroom discussion, and was driven by student questions and Eastlund prompting the students into sharing their ideas. "Student interaction is very important. Students learn from each other," said Eastlund.

Sgt. Major Saeodoon, a Sgt. Major in charge of the patrolmen attending the train the trainer course, agrees with Eastlund that the best way to learn a skill is a combination of discussion, demonstration, and practical exercises. "If you separate talking about a lesson from practicing a lesson, knowledge is not possible. Combining discussion with practice makes knowledge possible," said Saeodoon.

Based on his personal experience with American Special Forces trainers, Saeodoon believes American training doctrine has a positive influence on the Iraqi Police and Iraqi Army. "One of the things that our Special Forces trainers emphasized was doing something until you learned it. In the old days, you did it once and you were qualified; but what matters is practicing something until you get it right," said Saeodoon. At the end of any lesson, Saeodoon's American Special Forces Trainers expected Saeodoon and his fellow Iraqi soldiers and policemen to know what was taught. Their American trainers' commitment to effective teaching left a deep impression on Saeodoon. "Their insistence on us understanding what they taught was very motivating. They taught us that today is today, and tomorrow is tomorrow. Be serious in your work, and don't depend on [God's Will]." said Saeodoon.

• Date Taken: 12.10.2009
• Date Posted: 12.10.2009 16:08
• Story ID: 42579
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ