WEBVTT

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I’m Captain Meg Kilbride from Halifax,
Nova Scotia,

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a Training Development Officer
posted to the Canadian Special Operations

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Training Centre at Canadian Forces Base
Petawawa, Ontario.

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The Canadian Armed Forces

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is recognized worldwide
for its first-class training system

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and at its heart are Training Development
Officers, or TDOs,

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who strive to make Canada’s

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forces some of the best-trained
military personnel anywhere.

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Behind every successful operation
is successful

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training and Training Development
Officers are at the forefront of that.

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We often lead subject matter
experts and instructors

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in developing their training
from the ground up – everything

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from the classroom to the simulator
right through to field exercises.

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TDOs play a critical role
in the training of all military members

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by ensuring that training
is as effective and efficient as possible.

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TDOs often spearhead changes

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in instructional methodology
and instructional techniques.

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We’re often the first ones to bring forth
that first idea,

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to encourage instructors
to try a new method.

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Training development officers
are also advisors to senior leadership.

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They offer insights and analysis
on how to best train the military

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to meet the needs of Canada’s
missions, both at home and abroad.

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They’re engaged at all levels of military
training —

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from the procurement of fighter aircraft
or naval warships, to working directly

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with instructors at diverse
training schools across the country.

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A Training Development Officer

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will actually visualize
the training right as it is happening.

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One day I may be in a classroom
teaching instructors,

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while the next I may be out
with the students in a helicopter.

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The possibilities are endless.

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TDOs live by their motto “Always
seeking a better way”

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to devise and refine training programs
for Canadian Armed Forces personnel.

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They work in headquarters
and schools across Canada

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and around the world
in deployed operations.

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This can range from working on high-level
strategic plans in one job,

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to working with instructors in a high-end
tactical simulator in another role.

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One of the unique opportunities that a
Training Development Officer can have in their

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career is working with the Special Forces,
which is where I work.

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Within CANSOFCOM,
we aim to train as we fight.

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And as you can imagine, missions within
the Special Forces are very high-risk,

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thus making our training very high-risk.

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After completing

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occupational training,
TDOs are typically employed

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at a military training establishment
or school across Canada.

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A training establishment
within the Canadian Armed Forces

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is the frontline of where
Training Development Officers lead

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the institution
with training and education.

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Or you can go to a Headquarters

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where you’re advising on training
doctrine and policy.

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The essential roles
for a TDO include front-end analysis

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to define training requirements
as well as the design, development

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and evaluation of training plans
and instructional lessons.

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They also conduct
staff professional development and help

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to integrate instructional technology
into the classroom setting.

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There are innovations and new ideas
that come up in the training realm

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all the time – for instance, simulation
is a cornerstone of many of the things

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we do, both in the Air
Force, the Navy, and within CANSOFCOM.

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So we do advise on new ways
to teach things, to just make things

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more effective
and more transferable to the job.

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It’s my passion for training and education

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that got me
to being a Training Development Officer.

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I don’t just teach students,

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but I teach the instructors
how to teach their students.

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And it is absolutely amazing
and very rewarding

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to take an instructor
and really instill in them

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the vivaciousness
of a Training Development Officer.

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Seeing them be interactive
with their students and really engaging is

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the highlight of my career.