Dispute Resolution Training provides problem-solving tool kit at Geilenkirchen

  • Published
  • By Lt Col. Thomas McNab, 470th ABS Staff Judge Advocate

The 470th Air Base Squadron hosted a course titled “Dispute Resolution for Company Grade and Senior Noncommissioned Officers” Mar. 26 – 28, 2019, at the Geilenkirchen NATO Air Base Education Center here. The 21 participants in the course came from Geilenkirchen, Kalkar, and Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum NATO Bases. The three-day interactive course was taught by Lt Col Tom McNab, the Staff Judge Advocate at Geilenkirchen.

“This course is part of an Air Force-wide revitalization effort, which aims to have leaders and supervisors look at problems from a different perspective and discuss underlying issues and strategies to resolve workplace conflict at the lowest level. This allows individuals to focus on their mission supporting NATO in addition to supporting 52d Fighter Wing and NATO lines of effort aimed at professional leadership development,” said McNab.

On day one, participants were introduced to the foundations of dispute resolution and negotiation and then challenged to apply what they learned through hands-on scenarios. During days two and three individuals learned about the techniques of resolving workplace conflict through facilitation, with one session dedicated to cross-cultural communication in an international environment. Each participant was able to practice facilitating a real-world simulated workplace conflict with fellow students serving as role players to make the training as realistic as possible.

Once the mock facilitations were complete, the class gathered for feedback on how well each session went. The facilitator, role players and Lt Col McNab shared the difficulties and triumphs each experienced and witnessed during the mock facilitations.