Effective U.S. Military Training Increases Battlefield Confidence of Partner Forces: A Replication Study
Abstract
Training partner and allied military/police forces is a core component of U.S. foreign policy. The U.S. has had mixed success in partner force training, though few studies have investigated how to improve success likelihood. In one of the relatively few studies on this topic, the impact of U.S.-led Coalition training on partner force battlefield participation was assessed in Peshmerga, a Kurdish Iraqi unit that the U.S./Coalition trained and equipped during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The study determined that Coalition-trained Peshmerga were less likely to hide/flee during battle than those not trained by Coalition forces. The current study aimed to replicate the findings of the Peshmerga study in a Syrian Kurdistan trainee sample while expanding on a few key points. Specifically, determine whether partner force trainee battlefield confidence differs with and without U.S. support; assess whether battlefield confidence was related to (1) the length of time training with the U.S., and (2) trainee tactical skill acquisition levels (i.e., a proxy for training effectiveness); and conduct an exploratory assessment of whether cultural, religious, and language differences between U.S. trainers and foreign trainees is related to subjective tactical skill acquisition. Taken together, these findings provide data to support common sense notions that have been experienced by U.S. trainers in the field. The findings are in support of a broader model suggesting training effectiveness influences battlefield confidence and participation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 02, 2023
- Accession Number
- AD1211498
Entities
People
- Janna R. Mantua
Organizations
- Institute for Defense Analyses