THE NATO LESSONS LEARNED PROCESS WITHIN THE NATO SP COE
The NATO Lessons Learned (LL) process is applied also at the NATO SP COE level, endowing the personnel to implement it for the benefit of the Centre, Stability Policing Community of Interest (SP COI) and the Alliance, overall.
As the aim of a LL capability is to achieve improvement through the sharing of experiences and practical knowledge, within the NATO SP COE there have been done important steps towards increasing the organizational LL culture; the reflection of that may lead to a working processes based on the understanding that continuous improvement occurs when individuals and organization apply their experiences and practical knowledge to avoid repeating mistakes or help others to avoid those same mistakes, use in the best manner possible the Best Practices (BPs), having as outcome the improved performance within the Stability Policing Operations (OPS), Training (TNG), and Exercises (EXEs).
NATO SP COE LL CAPABILITY
Considering the Bi-SC Directive 080-006 regarding the LL Capability, the NATO SP COE implemented the following:
- Structure.
The Lessons Learned Branch (LLB) composed of two sections:
- Analysis, Evaluation and Experimentation Section (AEES);
- Validation and Dissemination Section (VDS).
- Process.
The NATO SP COE Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the Lessons Learned Process.
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Tools.
> For collecting and processing Observations, Lessons Identified, Best Practices (OLBPs):
Internal process through After Action Review (AAR) process for:
- Capturing OLBPs following significant events (i.e. Conferences, WGs, WTs, OPSs, EXEs, TNGs, etc.) IOT contribute to the SP COE LL process;
- Serving as a starting point in order to analyze, conclude and recommend for improving SP capabilities and sharing the OLBPs within the SP COI;
External process. How?
- Conduct interviews, draft and address surveys, questionnaires, perform analysis for the SP COI benefit, according to the Requests for Support coming from NATO Community;
- Make the Joint Analysis Reports concerning (JAR) the Stability Policing, in line with the Bi-SC Command Directive (Bi-SCD) 080-091 for the Joint Analysis Requirements and Reports from 2015. This document, issued in 2018, has the purpose to overview SP involvement in NATO operations being ready to be properly engaged for “Projecting Stability”. This study gave clear indication that Stability Policing is part of the “Projecting Stability” approach, taking into consideration the role that a NATO Police Capability play across the spectrum of conflict starting from the prevention to any re-ignition of combat activities, in the benefit of the population and Host Nation Police Forces Authorities, as key condition for reaching the Mission End State. Main research areas were: SP role for a Safe and Secure Environment, SP activities performed under NATO umbrella, SP in reinforcement and replacement Missions, and SP involvement in NATO Planning Process. Several interesting Conclusions and Gaps identified, together with numerous recommendations, were sent to NATO Key Leaders and Commands;
- Invest and enlarge the Lessons Learned Community of interest in Stability Policing;
Other Activities
- First Lessons Learned Workshop (1st SPLLWS), held in Vicenza (Italy) on 28 – 29 November 2017, at SP COE HQ, in order to create and develop the NATO Stability Policing Lessons Learned Community of Interest (SPLLCoI), identify the needs of NATO Nations/Partners and International Organizations regarding Stability Policing LL, and open the process for sharing Stability Policing Observations (OBs), Best Practices (BPs), Lessons Identified (LI) and Lessons Learned (LL).
- Second Lessons Learned Workshop (2nd SPLLWS), held in Vicenza (Italy) on 8 – 12 October 2018, at SP COE HQ, designed to support the development of Stability Policing, through 4 syndicates architecture focused on specific topics, generated by the JAR’s recommendations and the 1st SP LL WS outcomes.
> For sharing Observations, Lessons Identified, Best Practices (OLBPs):
The NATO Stability Policing Community of Interest (NATO SP COI) hosted by NATO LL portal (https://nllp.jallc.nato.int)
