2. Drive for the Standard

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2. Drive for the Standard. Understand the METL “Standard” as a Measure with a Criterion. Moreover, tasks should have both process/ procedure-type measures as well as outcome-based measures, and may have more than one standard.

NMETL usage of the term standard differs from ISO 9000 standards. An NMETL standard consists of a "measure" and a "criterion."

STANDARD = MEASURE + CRITERION

The measure reflects the indicator or parameter we want to monitor and collect. The criterion is set by the commander based on the assigned mission. For Navy core missions, standards have been set to ensure successful future task performance. We measure dimensions of performance using parameters such as times of flight, periods between events, numbers of casualties, accuracy of weapons delivered, and “ordnance on target.” Tasks may have more than one standard. To meet NMETL standards, we must demonstrate the ability to satisfy each measure to the specified criterion. Some sample standards broken down into their measures and criteria are demonstrated below.

Sample NMET Standards

Criteria Measures

Less than 10 (Minutes) Minutes to recover a man overboard

30-45 (Seconds) Seconds between aircraft launches

>45 knots Sustained average speed for 1200 NM transit

>95 (%) Percent of planned air operations meet schedule

None Of ordnance delivered caused collateral damage

Yes All procedures followed

The UJTL/UNTL includes the following guidance for setting good METL standards:

1. Employ measures from a variety of categories: Input, Process, Output, and Outcome. All have value in setting goals and evaluating performance.

2. Focus on “Process” and “Outcome” (or Product) measures. (Inputs may add insight.)

3. Keep them “Simple, …”

4. Reflect the commanders’ guidance—their values set criteria!

5. Reflect an understanding of the task and its contribution to mission success.

6. Remain sensitive to impact of changing conditions on the measures—often this helps in narrowing the condition sets to choose for a MET.

7. Refrain from using only “Go-No Go” type measures.

8. Use both absolute and relative scales.

9. Set Criteria by employing “capabilities” inherent in the DOTMLPF-P system design.

And, remember: Standards drive performance!

NMET performance can be evaluated along at least two paths: Process or Procedure-focused measures and Outcome or Product-based measures.

-Process/ Procedure measures attempt to answer questions such as: “Were procedures and processes adequate? Were the procedures/ processes followed? Were the procedures even used?” Many Navy Lessons Learned focus on these issues. Process measures help Commanders monitor mission progress.

-Outcome or Product-based measures attempt to answer questions such as: “What were the results? How well was the task performed according to key performance parameters? Did the task contribute as much value as anticipated to mission success?” Commanders employ product measures to assess mission accomplishment.

-Moreover, Input-based measures answer questions such as “How do we know we can do a good job?” DRRS-N and the enhanced Status of Resources and Training (E-SORTS) work in this arena.

Let’s recall the UNTL discourages the use of binary measures such as Yes/No. Often, the task is repetitive so employ opportunities to record the percent of successful performance or the percent of objectives achieved rather than driving solely to “go/no-go” criteria when evaluating task performance. Good standards drive better performance. As leaders, we want to capture how we can ensure that our operators are employing proper procedures, learning from “Lessons Learned,” and implementing “best practices” in achieving “efficient excellence.”

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