Table 4 – Graduates’ Responses to Open-Ended Questions

Graduates’ Responses to Open-Ended Questions 1, 2 and 3

SESSION RESPONSE
Question 1 - List any job related tasks which should be added to the training. Explain why? How can we make
this course better?
Session Response
035 Have a more advanced maintenance course in order to know how to repair it. During my tour with IFOR a
pump broke during an operation and we did not have a spare pump. We could have repaired it ourselves
instead of waiting for a new pump.*
This course had outstanding content of both theory and practical exercises. By the end of the course I felt
that I knew the machine inside and out, without even looking at the boon; however more time should be
spent on the post chlorination.*
Spend more time on troubleshooting and maintenance of the equipment. When problems arise, we could
remedy them.*
More troubleshooting.**
Spend more time on recce, developing the sight.**
Not trained on a new piece of equipment, specifically the trailer for the ROWPU as well as the apparatus for
making water bags. *
Session More time should be allotted to the new water bagger portion of the training.*
036 Salt water training should be added to the training. We hear that it can be done but we have never used it, so
for this reason it should be added.*
The tasks that we have to complete are ideal and should be carried out by a qualified person but
unfortunately they are carried out by the squadron reconnaissance commander and sergeant as well as the
number 3 recce sergeant (may be approved by the member for the water test).*
We only accomplish 60% of our job. *
More time should be spent on the water bagger.*
 The water bagger is presently just show. More time to operate and maintain, if this equipment is to be used
for deployed operations.**
The 5 teachings points presently taught reflect the knowledge required for a combat engineer to correctly
carry out his task when the need arises. The course should stay as it is with the exception of more time
required for me to update myself and practice on the equipment. *
Session A deeper understanding of the equipment’s operation and maintenance in case of major problems. The
037 analysis of water should receive more emphasis during the course to ensure that we know what we are
talking about. More work with the water bagger. *
Testing potable water should be our responsibility as the water supply supervisor.*
I was there to help the person who was there; this is not my permanent position. This helps me to stay up to
date and not forget too much.*
On my course, we did the water bagger unit. I think there should be more time allotted for this, i.e.,
troubleshooting. I feel the instructors did not have enough knowledge (but they did their job well).*
I feel we need more training on the water bagger.*
More time on the water bagger.*
More time is required in teaching the water bagger kit.*
Include an exercise to actually supply the water to a group of people.**
Question 2 - List the job related tasks that you think should be deleted from this training?
Session Camouflage of the vehicle and equipment. Lots of time lost resulting in less practice time.*
035
Session All the training was good, no need to delete the training.*
036
Session The book call “Chemistry of Water” is heavily detailed for what they need on the ROWPU. Stop keeping the
037 students behind the desk – let them out in the field to discover what they need to know.*
Delete one day on the ROWPU.*
More in depth knowledge of the operation of the equipment and maintenance in case of major problems.*
 Analysis of water – more emphasis on this point during the course to ensure that we know what we are
talking about.*
More work with the water bagger.*
Testing for potable water should be our responsibility as the water supply supervisor.*
Question 3 - How can this training be improved?
Session I feel that more training on post-chlorination should be done on the course, as this is such an important part
035 of running a waterpoint.*
More time should be spent on the ROWPU and the water bagger.*
Have a report every six months of problems encountered with the machine and the actions to be taken to
correct them. Have maintenance manuals in French.*
Inadequate theory on water chemistry. The instructor, I think was unsure of the materiel he was teaching.
The school staff should have one week of training with someone from the packaging company for the water
bagger. This would allow the instructors to teach with more confidence. One week of theory and practical for
the water bagger should be a minimum. Until the ice storm of 98, I thought I knew the water bagger fairly
well. We had problems with it and we asked someone from the packaging company to help us. I learned
more in that one week than I did in my two years as an operator.**
Very informative.**
Well run course, good instructors.**
The course should be given in French.**
Session Good course, well taught.*
036 The training in my opinion was fine.*
The course was very pertinent, very good course.*
A more in depth knowledge of the mechanical functioning of the apparatus would permit operators to perform
more complete and precise maintenance. The part of the course that deals with the analysis and chlorination
of water should be beefed up and better documented to ensure that the students fully understand the
consequences that can arise from variations in the water produced; for example too much chlorine in the
water will cause diarrhoea in those who drink it.*
Session Have the books available in French. More practice time with the water bagger. Have more time during the
037 course to go more in depth on certain complicated points in the areas of maintenance and cleaning cycles. I
was there to help the person who was in charge of the ROWPU, but this was not my permanent position.
This helped me to remain up to date and not forget too much.*
Good course, well taught, but once you get to a unit should be put in a water supply section or you will lose
the knowledge very quickly.*
The course helped me very much in understanding the water purification machine.*
Have the books in French.*
More practice time with the water bagger.*
More time during the course to go more in depth on certain complicated points in the areas of maintenance
and cleaning cycles.*
More training on the water bagger system.*
Very good course, well run.*
Great course.*
A little more time for practical applications i.e., two or more days is not enough for moving the water point.
You need at least two weeks.**
Good course. Well run.**
Course should include visits to local water treatment plants.**
Water chemistry should be more detailed in instruction. Learn the water bagger in detail.**
•*Was employed in a position requiring this qualification.
•**Was not employed in a position requiring this qualification.