1. UNCLASSIFIED / FOR ADVISOR USE ONLY Lance Armbruster Contractor (p.1) The Working Group – An Overview Mr. Lance Armbruster, G7 Mentor

2. UNCLASSIFIED / FOR ADVISOR USE ONLY Lance Armbruster Contractor (p.2) Agenda Reference Purpose Concrete Experience and Discussion Define the Working Group Define, Analyze, Track, and Resolve the Problem Working Group Composition Working Group Agenda Actions Between Meetings Questions Practical Exercise and Student Briefbacks

3. UNCLASSIFIED / FOR ADVISOR USE ONLY Lance Armbruster Contractor (p.3) References Joint Publication (JP) 33-3, The Joint Task Force Headquarters, 30 July 2012. Army Doctrinal Reference Publication (ADRP) 5-0, The Operations Process, May 2012. Afghan National Army 1-3, Operations, December 2006.

4. UNCLASSIFIED / FOR ADVISOR USE ONLY Lance Armbruster Contractor (p.4) Purpose: The purpose of this class is to review the staff organization known as a working group. Outcome: Each member of the class will be able to provide an example of a problem his staff section faces, how to track the problem, and develop a working group for it.

5. UNCLASSIFIED / FOR ADVISOR USE ONLY Lance Armbruster Contractor (p.5) Concrete Experience 1 of 4 This class represents the members of a working group. The problem this working group faces is that many ANA vehicles do not work. This affects the ability of the ANA to defeat the enemies of Afghanistan. Write down one thing from your sections’ responsibility that creates this problem. Write down one thing about it that your section should track for the Commander.

6. UNCLASSIFIED / FOR ADVISOR USE ONLY Lance Armbruster Contractor (p.6) Concrete Experience 2 of 4 Maintenance problems - examples: –G1 – Trained mechanics working outside their MOS. –G2 – Vehicles damaged by enemy action. –G3 – Operations take priority over maintenance. –G4 – Spare parts and tools are lacking. –G5 – There is no planning for maintenance. –G6 – Not enough trained radio repairmen. –G7 - Not enough emphasis on operator maintenance training. –CS – Inadequate maintenance facilities.

7. UNCLASSIFIED / FOR ADVISOR USE ONLY Lance Armbruster Contractor (p.7) Concrete Experience 3 of 4 Maintenance problems – tracking examples: –G1 – Track mechanics assigned to mechanic positions and assigned other places. –G2 – Track and report enemy. –G3 – Track maintenance time. –G4 – Track parts and tools. –G5 – Plan maintenance time. –G6 – Track radio repairmen assigned. –G7 - Track maintenance training per ATG. –CS – Track maintenance facility construction.

8. UNCLASSIFIED / FOR ADVISOR USE ONLY Lance Armbruster Contractor (p.8) Concrete Experience 4 of 4 Discussion questions: –How many problems required information from another staff section? How many sections could only solve problems with help of another section? What are good reasons to get information from other sections? –What is a team? How is the GFC staff a team? –When is a Working Group required instead of an order or directive to subordinates?

9. UNCLASSIFIED / FOR ADVISOR USE ONLY Lance Armbruster Contractor (p.9) The Working Group “A working group is an enduring functional organization formed to support a broad HQ function within a HQ.” Examples: maintenance, new unit fielding, personnel loss (AWOL, etc.). A working group works together to solve and track the resolution of a complex problem affecting a unit or command. A working group is NOT for a problem fixed by a simple order or directive.

10. UNCLASSIFIED / FOR ADVISOR USE ONLY Lance Armbruster Contractor (p.10)

11. UNCLASSIFIED / FOR ADVISOR USE ONLY Lance Armbruster Contractor (p.11) Problem Identified Working Group Established Define the Problem Develop Problem Question Analysis of Problem Find Sources of Problem Develop Tracking System Work Outside the WG Working Group Meeting Update Tracking Working Group Meeting Work Outside the WG Update Tracking Working Group Meeting Solved!

12. UNCLASSIFIED / FOR ADVISOR USE ONLY Lance Armbruster Contractor (p.12) Define the Problem It is easy to identify a problem. It is hard to define a problem. It is even harder to find the cause of the problem. The Working Group must develop a Problem Statement: “What are the causes of low equipment readiness and how may they be eliminated?”

13. UNCLASSIFIED / FOR ADVISOR USE ONLY Lance Armbruster Contractor (p.13) Analyze the Problem The Working Group analyzes the problem to find its causes. The Working Group develops solutions to the causes. The Working Group determines what needs to be tracked to show progress in resolving the problem.

14. UNCLASSIFIED / FOR ADVISOR USE ONLY Lance Armbruster Contractor (p.14) Track and Resolve the Problem The Working Group works with other units and staff sections to resolve the causes in each section. Each weekly meeting of the Working Group should show the progress made in resolving the causes. The Working group should brief the Commander and/or Chief of Staff on progress using the information tracked.

15. UNCLASSIFIED / FOR ADVISOR USE ONLY Lance Armbruster Contractor (p.15) Working Group Composition Chairman – senior responsible officer. Leader – staff officer from the section with the greatest responsibility for the problem. Staff members from appropriate sections.

16. UNCLASSIFIED / FOR ADVISOR USE ONLY Lance Armbruster Contractor (p.16) Working Group Weekly Agenda Review the purpose. Review the expected outcome. Brief the current status – tracked information - shared. Update the analysis of the problem. Brief current actions to fix the problem. Brief future actions to fix the problem. Conduct cross- functional assistance coordination. Determine what requires GS support – cannot be fixed inside GFC and request command support. Determine any recommendations for the Commander. Set the next meeting and what should be done by that time. If directed, brief the CofS or Commander and present requests for GS assistance.

17. UNCLASSIFIED / FOR ADVISOR USE ONLY Lance Armbruster Contractor (p.17) Actions Between Meetings Each staff section: –Track the status. –Work with higher and lower units and staffs to resolve the problem or seek solutions. –Advise the leadership of what needs to be done and ask for support of leadership to address GS/MoD. –Write reports as directed. –Prepare information to be presented at next working group.

18. UNCLASSIFIED / FOR ADVISOR USE ONLY Lance Armbruster Contractor (p.18) Questions?

19. UNCLASSIFIED / FOR ADVISOR USE ONLY Lance Armbruster Contractor (p.19) Practical Exercise Identify a problem in the ANA that affects your section. Develop a Problem Question. Determine one cause of that problem. Write down what could be done to eliminate or reduce the cause. Establish what could be tracked to resolve it. Be prepared to brief the class on what you developed.