AU instructor conducts Iraqi leadership workshop Published Aug. 17, 2009 By Capt. Robert Burnham 114th Public Affairs Detachment, Iraq Ground Forces Command Headquarters, Iraq -- A leadership workshop was held at the Iraqi Ground Forces Command Headquarters for Iraqi and U.S. staff officers to focus on conducting pre-decision making critical thinking and analysis from July 18 to 21. "Effective decision making is critical to Iraq's future," said Lt. Col. Jeffrey Coggin, an instructor at Air University's Eaker Center for Professonal Development and currently deployed as the Multi-National Corps-Iraq deputy comptroller. The goal of the training was to help enable staff officers to assist their respective senior leadership make calculated decisions concerning military operations. Air University supported the leadership workshop by providing material from the Defense Decision Support Course. Colonel Coggin used a modified version of this course to present its principles to a combined Iraqi and American audience of 12 officers. Mathus Remaden, a linguistic and cultural advisor from Pineville, N.C., provided the link to communicate the course content and instructor's motivation."One thing that Lt. Col. Coggin and I had in common was that we shared the same energy," Mr. Ramaden said. "Energy- that's what allowed our tag team to succeed." Discussions and practical exercises focused on identifying specifics issues, using tools to sort and analyze available data, develop possible courses of action, and generate educated recommendationsfor decision makers. "To make well-informed decisions you need to be able to peel back the onion and get to the core of the real problem," Colonel Coggin said. "The decision support process can be applied by people of all ages to make rational decisions daily." The mood and enthusiasm remained upbeat as colleagues from the U.S. and Iraqi military worked together under what would seem to be a mutually identifiable role- playing scenario, making decisions for an amateur football team. Among other exercises, students were charged with working through decision support to construct a new sports field. First, the group had to identify the difference between football as known by Americans, and futbol, the national sport of Iraq, otherwise known as soccer to the U.S. officers. "Is this football, or is this futbol?" Colonel Coggin asked while holding up pigskin in one hand and a round black and white checkered ball in the other as Ramaden translated. The sports metaphor appropriately described the challenge U.S. and Iraqi Forces face in identifying cultural differences as they build upon their similarities. Once the group was able to understand some of their differences, they were able to move past them and connect with mutual similarities to collaborate. "What works in one culture may not work in another," Colonel Coggin said. "Open discussions regarding decision brainstorming and analysis allowed members of the group to share their own ideas and highlighted the importance of incorporating different perspectives and ideas to view a given situation. "We're excited," one Iraqi Army officer said. "We hope to conduct similar training in the future." Colonel Coggin concluded by paraphrasing a significant American leader, Martin Luther King Jr., who relied on the power of hope and the perspectives of others to develop his vision. "You don't have to see all the way to the end. You just need to take one step at a time and keep going."