At the Joint Services College of Papua New Guinea in 1977, I was moved to the Advanced Defence Training Wing (ADTW) to teach Administration. The existing course was quite poor with masses of theory and little practical application of skills.
I was only an inexperienced Australian officer but determined to make the course as practical as possible. I thought of the range of skills I had learned since I joined the Australian Army. These would be essential for officers of the PNGDF.
I first put gentle pressure on all officer cadets to buy a pocket diary. Within the first fortnight all proudly carried a pocket diary. We inserted the weeks of the College calendar. We could now refer to week 23 or 35. This was the beginning of personal planning.
We inserted the date of graduation day, dates of exercises into the bush, holidays and expiry of time for assignments.
In the periodic tests on Administration, the question may be asked for 5 marks " Are you able to attend the planning meeting at the International Hotel in week 17? "
Near the end of the test, the diaries would come out and the answer would be "No. I will be on Exercise Long Hap". Great training. Some senior officers in recent years have told me they have never neglected to have a pocket diary that they use at all times.
Then we practised the monthly and yearly planners. These consisted of calendar pages in which activities were set down in horizontal lines with arrows.
There would be sequential and concurrent activities. These planners grace the office walls in military units to cover yearly activities and preparation for a planning activity lasting for weeks.
Then there was the Action Agenda that I have used all my life in church, school and community activities. I was known as a top planner in the community. Everyone was involved and actions ticked off when completed.
No. Item Action by whom
28 Gravel Arrange transport P. Rava /
29. Bulldozer Talk to maintenance J. Iga /
30. Meeting Agenda: Opening Program All /
In recent years, many officers have told me that my training made all the difference to their professional effectiveness. They have never forgotten.
Commodore Ilau and Colonel Joe Fabila have told me that their effectiveness in administration benefited from these techniques for all their careers. So too Commodore Kila has said that he has never forgotten the skills.
As well, I promoted an understanding of the importance of checking and double-checking. There were practical activities which required officer cadets to check and double-check the accuracy of what they were facing. Please click:
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