NCJ Number
59028
Date Published
1976
Length
66 pages
Annotation
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CONVERSION OF A BASIC LAW ENFORCEMENT COURSE (BLEC) FOR MILITARY POLICE (MP) TO A PERFORMANCE-ORIENTED, SELF-PACED MODE WAS EXAMINED USING A FIELD VALIDATION STUDY AT ONE MILITARY BASE.
Abstract
INVESTIGATION METHODS INCLUDED REVIEWING COURSE IMPLEMENTATION PLANS, DESIGNING AND DEVELOPING A COURSE MONITORING SYSTEM, OBSERVING TRAINING, INTERVIEWING INSTRUCTORS AND STUDENTS, AND DESIGNING AND ADMINISTERING THE FIELD VALIDATION STUDY. RESULTS INDICATED THAT THE OPEN ACCESS, SELF-PACED CONTINUOUS FLOW MODEL IS FEASIBLE FROM BOTH TRAINING AND MANAGERIAL STANDPOINTS. A SAMPLE OF 491 BLEC GRADUATES, WHICH COMPRISED 52 PERCENT OF THE TARGET POPULATION, RATED THEMSELVES AND WERE RATED BY THEIR SUPERVISORS AS 'PREPARED' OR 'WELL PREPARED' ON 41 OF 43 IDENTIFIED ENTRY LEVEL SUBTASKS ON THEIR FIRST DUTY ASSIGNMENTS. SOFT SKILL SUBTASKS SUCH AS PREPARING REPORTS AND GATHERING AND RECORDING FACTS RECEIVED LOWER RATINGS IN GENERAL THAN HARD SKILL SUBTASKS SUCH AS HANDLING WEAPONS SKILLFULLY AND SEARCHING PEOPLE. THUS, PERFORMANCE-ORIENTED, SELF-PACED TRAINING PRODUCED MORE EFFECTIVE HARD SKILL LEARNING THAN TRADITIONAL GROUP-PACED INSTRUCTION. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THIS FORM OF TRAINING BE EXTENDED TO THE ENTIRE BLEC, THAT SOFT SKILLS BE GIVEN MORE PRACTICE THROUGHOUT THE COURSE, AND THAT TASK LEVEL TRAINING AND EVALUATION BE INTRODUCED THROUGHOUT THE COURSE. ILLUSTRATIONS AND TABLES PRESENT LEARNING MODELS, A BLEC SUBJECT MATTER OUTLINE, TASK STRUCTURE AND SEQUENCE, AND RESULTS FROM THE FIELD STUDY. APPENDIXES INCLUDE AN ATTITUDE QUESTIONNAIRE AND SURVEY RESULTS. (CFW)