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UNCLASSIFIED//REL TO NATO/ISAF

Fundamentals of Advising Advisor Skills LtCol Andrew Vellenga TREX / CJ7. UNCLASSIFIED//REL TO NATO/ISAF. Purpose. To inform RS Advisors about Critical Advisor Qualities. Patience Cultural Knowledge Language Interpersonal Skills SME Professionalism Empathy Situational Awareness

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UNCLASSIFIED//REL TO NATO/ISAF

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  1. Fundamentals of Advising • Advisor Skills • LtColAndrew Vellenga • TREX / CJ7 UNCLASSIFIED//REL TO NATO/ISAF

  2. Purpose To inform RS Advisors about Critical Advisor Qualities • Patience • Cultural Knowledge • Language • Interpersonal Skills • SME • Professionalism • Empathy • Situational Awareness • Diplomacy Rapport +Credibility +Value = Influence As advisors, we are not here to overhaul the Partner Nation Military or make it identical to ours. Advising is the “art of suggestion” that influences your PN counterpart in a way that allow their Military to grow at their pace.

  3. Advisor Success • Advisor Success “ The amount of influence an advisor attains will be directly proportional to the sum of three factors: • Rapport between the advisor and the host-nation commander or counterpart • Credibility of the individual advisor • Perception by host-nation forces of the continued value of the relationship.” -Lieutenant Colonel Mark Grdovic

  4. Building Rapport • Spend time with counterparts • Respect age, experience, status • Avoid favoritism • Talk about his customs/history • Ask oblique questions • Monitor non-verbal cues • Be discrete • Listen More and Talk Less Rapport Understand Respect Trust

  5. Credibility • Be sincere • Knowledgeable of region/country • High-quality training • Proficiency in military skills • Use what they use • Stand by your word Credibility Professional Believable Reliable

  6. Perception • Beliefs • Time • Money • Culture • Gender • Media • Public Opinion • Affiliations • Expectations Perception Worldview Personality Learning Style Development

  7. Advisor Pitfalls • Poor Situational Awareness • Intractability • Over-reliant on metrics for success • Techno-centric • Task oriented • Comfort oriented • Bad Attitude Advise Leadership Professional Competence Cultural Awareness

  8. Advising Principles Advisors Train “Do not try to do too much with your own hands. Better the Arabs do it tolerably than that you do it perfectly. It is their war, and you are to help them, not to win it for them. Actually, also, under the very odd conditions of Arabia, your practical work will not be as good as, perhaps, you think it is” —T.E. Lawrence, “Twenty-Seven Articles,” 1917

  9. Advisor Primary Responsibilities • Build rapport • Observe processes • How are things being done? • How is this different from decreed process? • Assess capabilities • What are they capable of accomplishing? • Are similar HN efforts making like progress? • What factors are causing limitations (corruption, patronage, culture, knowledge)? • Identify “Change Agents” • Determine needs • Discuss with counterpart and identify needs • Identify and prioritize mission critical shortfalls • Report • Report findings to CF • Determine best approach to address needs considering counterpart’s environment and frame of reference • A “do nothing” course of action should always be considered • Support counterpart in addressing needs • Help counterpart in finding “internal” solution • Never do the work for the counterpart

  10. Ground Truth • What's offered versus what's reality • What are they showing, what's the real truth? • If they are asking, be prepared to share • What do you think of our aircraft/facilities? • How much experience do you have? • Flight hours, combat time, weapons qualifications • Don’t say “YES” unless you can 100% deliver • Make plans for a follow-up meeting or discussion

  11. Advising Principles Different is not always Wrong Maintain realistic expectations

  12. Lessons Learned: Five Stages Most advisors will experience theses mental stages in the course of advising: • Enthusiasm • Feels they can make significant progress • High confidence • Confusion • Does not understand why proposed techniques/procedures are not being embraced • Sees logic behind western approach and timeline does not see reason to deviate • Culture shock • Anger/Frustration • Counterpart/Host Nation is lazy, incompetent, and/or corrupt • Counterpart/Host Nation does not care • Despair • Feels there is no hope of improvement • Feels mission failure is imminent • Acceptance • Realizes Counterpart’s cultural frame of reference and agenda • Realizes progress can only take place within that frame Many advisors get trapped in one of these three stages. In general, the faster this point is reached, the more effective the advising efforts.

  13. Advising Principles Red Cloud Learn from others experiences Alexander Haig Condoleezza Rice Warrior-Diplomat

  14. Questions? LtColAndrew Vellenga NIPR: andrew.e.vellenga@afghan.swa.army.mil DSN: 449-1008

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