Research Article
Rev’d (Sgt) Elijah Onyang
Abstract
This article is on the challenges faced by instructors in the military setting. Although teaching has always been challenging regardless of its setting, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (BATUK), has been undertaking training in Kenya for decades. BATUK has a strong partnership with the Kenyan Defence Forces and with the local communities around the areas that they use for training. This cooperation is set out in a joint Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with transparent processes for resolving any disagreements and has an extra positive factors to ease learning and discipline. With the ultimate aims of defending nation and its interests from external threats, conducting right training is vital. Standardised training programmes and techniques, fixed tactical solutions, and common doctrine have made it easy for instructors to teach through the modular instructors’ "book solution" and easy evaluation. However, these techniques are often ineffective in preparing soldiers to deal with evolutions, new missions, unique environmental conditions, and the uncertainties of combat. Therefore, this study using mixed methods approach is conducted to review factors that influenced the instructors’ performance. Findings indicate that knowledge and experience is the core determinants of competency besides commitment, policy, motivation, and working environment.