FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The following table summarizes the main findings, conclusions and recommendations drawn
from the respondents long and short answers to the validation survey.
(a) Serial (b) Finding Theme
1. Control documents: QS
and TP have been drafted
to reflect the operation of
the modified equipment in
the current version of the
WSO.
2. Equipment: 68% of
respondents were not
confident in its operation
and 69% have not
exercised their skill sets
with the water-bagger
since their training. Open
responses indicated more
time be spent on the water
bagger operation and
maintenance.
3. Employment: 57% of
respondents rarely or
never use their WSO skill
sets.
56% are in or were in a job
that requires the
qualification.
4. Respondent Satisfaction:
100% of respondents were
satisfied or very satisfied
with the training.
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(c) Conclusion (d) Recommendation
QS and TP are in draft form and
are aligned for uninterrupted
training on the modified
ROWPU. Major TP modifications
will be required in the operation
and maintenance of the new
system. QS should only require
minor timing and lexicon
modifications.
AITA has queried Engineer CER’s
to report on the future of the
water packaging system,
specifically should it remain
within the engineer equipment
holdings. The findings in this
report suggest that the skill set
is not being utilized and that
operators are not confident in
their abilities to operate the
equipment.
Slightly more than half of
respondents do not use their
WSO skill-set. The operation of
the water purification system is
often limited to operational
deployments; foreign and, to a
more limited extent, domestic.
More than half of respondents
are in a position that requires
the qualification. This is typical
for an engineer regiment as
progression within the trade
dictates that sappers gain
experience in different areas of
a CER.
Current training is working.
Current training is working;
 89% were happy with the
duration of the training.
5. Training: Open responses
highlighted that more time
be spent on preservation
and de-preservation.
Open responses
highlighted that more time
be spent on maintenance,
in particular the Kinney
strainer, valve 29, general
maintenance (door repair)
and cleaning procedures
for hoses and bladders.
More time on drawing
water samples for
incubation, and water
analysis.
Share lessons learned from
previous ROWPU
operational deployments.
Teach the chemical,
biological, radiological and
nuclear (CBRN) test kits.
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some minor improvements
were identified for various
training topics.
Open ended responses focused
mainly on the requirement for
more time to be spent on
maintenance; general and
specific. As the ROWPU is a
highly technical piece of
equipment, it is natural for
students to desire more time on
its maintenance. Operational
lessons learned (LL) from the
deployments of the ROWPU in
Haiti, Philippines and Pakistan,
identified a gap in maintenance
at the unit level (preservation)
and operator experience levels
in troubleshooting water quality
problems.
Respondents felt they could
benefit from LL. There are
numerous detailed LL from
previous DART deployments
and Afghanistan that could
assist in developing a “bigger
picture” understanding of WSO
operational challenges.
This topic seems to have been
quickly glossed over, or not
taught in detail because of
insufficient resources.