Part 1 – Cover Letter for Graduates and Supervisors

WATER SUPPLY OPERATOR (AHHU)

Mandatory Participation - Training Validation Focus Group

Good day graduates and supervisors,

1. The Director Health Services Personnel (D H Svcs Pers) Ottawa authorized the
completion of a validation study to assess the Water Supply Operator (AHHU) course in an
objective and fact-based approach.

2. The graduates were selected based on course graduation date and current employment
position and location, and instructors were selected based on availability and ease of access.

3. This validation was triggered by the absence of a program validation since the inception
of the course 15 years ago and an increased need for Water Supply Operator (AHHU) course to
support CAF’s operational tempo.

4. The aim of this study is to ensure that the Water Supply Operator (AHHU) course
adequately prepares graduates to produce potable water in their current workplace or in a
previous deployment. It will also confirm if graduates received training for each task, if training
has met the job requirements, and if improvements can be made

5. As part of this study, virtual focus groups’ sessions will be conducted to obtain detailed
feedback from graduates and supervisors. The data collected from these focus groups will
support the overall aim to verify if the Water Supply Operator training has prepared graduates
for job performance.

INSTRUCTIONS

6. The six virtual focus group sessions are scheduled on the following dates / times:

a. Graduate Focus Group:

1) Group 1 - 29 Jun 20 from 0900 to 1000 EST

2) Group 2 - 6 July 20 from 0900 to 1000 EST

3) Group 3 - 8 Jul 20 from 0900 to 1000 EST

b. Supervisor Focus Group:

1) Group 4 - 6 July 20 from 0900 to 1000 EST

2) Group 5 - 8 July 20 from 0900 to 1000 EST

 3) Group 6 - 10 Jul 20 from 0900 to 1000 EST

7. All focus groups will include between 5 to 8 participants and be hosted and recorded on
the CAF approved meeting application Zoom. During each one-hour session participants will be
asked between 6 to 8 open ended questions. See the meeting details will be sent to you at a later
date.

8. The focus group will be conducted via the Zoom meeting application and will be video
recorded. If this is your first-time using Zoom, we ask that you download the application on your
civilian computer or on your phone, and test the application in advance of the scheduled meeting.

9. During this one-hour session, I will facilitate a guided discussion on the following tasks
that are part of the Water Supply Operator course:

a. T0001 - Determine water treatment requirements;

b. T0002 - Conduct RECCE for the location of a combat water supply point;

c. T0003 - Establish a combat water supply point; and

d. T0004 - Maintain water supply equipment.

10. Note that during the focus group there are no wrong answers but rather differing points of
view. Please free to share your point of view even if it different from what others have said.
Keep in mind that we’re just interested as interested in negative comments as positive comments,
and at times the negative comments are the most helpful.

11. General questions about virtual focus group can be referred to the WO Emil Taber,
Validation Lead at CSN: 271-XXXX.

E.G.H. Taber
Warrant Officer
Validation Lead
D H Svcs Pers