requested material. Currently, SOUTHCOM plans to execute
the next iteration of the course in December 2018. EUCOM
and AFRICOM are planning to execute tailored version of the
course in the spring of 2019. The Joint Staff, as the manager of
the course, will assist the Combatant Commands (CCMD)
in the execution of their version of the course. The Armed
Services can execute this course for their service specific organi-
zations as required, if not already trained as components of the
CCMDs.
The CCMDs are conducting the prior training mentioned
without dedicated resources. The in-residence course, online
computer based training, and command orientation programs
are meeting the initial requirements of the WPS Act. One can
only imagine filling the gender capability gap with allocated
resources dedicated to both personnel and training. This U.S.
WPS/Gender perspectives training program is slowly but surely
going in that direction.
Representatives from U.S. European Commander’s Women,
Peace, and Security and the International Criminal Investiga-
tive Training Assistance Program, of the Department of Justice
About the Author:
partnered this week to conduct an initial engagement with the
Elizabeth Owens Lape, Ph.D. (CDR, USN (ret)) completed a
police forces of Kosovo in order to identify areas of collabo-
23 year career in the U.S. Navy after serving in a wide variety of
ration that will be mutually beneficial moving forward. This
shore management, training, and joint billets retiring as an Edu-
engagement was a continuation of the EUCOM Women, Peace
cation & Training Subspecialist and as a Joint Specialty Officer.
and Security (WPS) office continued efforts to build solid in-
She graduated from the Purdue University NROTC program,
teragency collaborations between EUCOM and its interagency
received her Master’s in Education from Old Dominion Uni-
partners when it comes to implementation of the WPS Act of
versity, and her Doctorate in Higher Education Administration
2017.
at Old Dominion University. As a Government Civilian, Dr.
Lape (GS14) is currently serving as the Deputy of the Individu-
Advisor course, the INDOPACOM WPS point of contact,
al Training and Learning Branch for the Joint Staff J7 where she
LTCOL Brad Smith, suggested developing a week long U.S.
Operational Gender Course using the Australian course material is responsible for Joint Course Certification, Blended Learning,
along with the NATO NCGM Gender Advisor course material. Joint Staff Officer Fundamentals and Women, Peace and Securi-
ty Training/Education.
With the permission of the ADF and NCGM, similar lessons
in the respective courses were tailored to U.S. requirements. The
Notes:
pilot course was executed in June 2018 with 24 military and
civilian students from INDOPACOM and other organizations,
1
2011 and 2016 NAPs
effectively doubling the number of trained Gender Advisors
2
Teaching Gender to the Military: A Handbook
within the U.S. military. Overall, the course was well received
3
WPS Act
as mentioned in the last PKSOI Peace Stability Journal, Volume
4
WPS Act
8; Issue 2 dated August 2018. 5 This course was also mentioned
5
http://pksoi.armywarcollege.edu/default/assets/File/Peace_
in an article in Defense One titled “Mind the Gender Capa-
6
Stability_Journal_Volume8_Issue2_reduced.pdf
bility Gap” that drew the attention of Congressional Staffers,
6
https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2018/07/gender-capabil-
who were working possible appropriations to support the WPS
ity-gap/149477/
program.
Feedback from the course participants was reviewed and collat-
ed, resulting in a predominantly positive report. In fact, several
of the participants indicated they would have liked a longer
course! Adjustments made to the schedule and timing of the
lessons will ensure the next iteration will adequately cover the
49