DTMS is the Army's future for training

By Staff Sgt. John JohnsonMarch 5, 2014

DTMS is the Army's future for training
Capt. Andre Williams, S-3 assistant officer in charge, STB, 1st Sustainment Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, at Fort Riley, Feb. 18-20 (bottom left) listens at the Unit Training Management course. Williams is going to be a training OIC one day, so he... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT RILEY, Kan. (March 5, 2014) -- A team of four instructors from Fort Leavenworth Combined Arms Center for Training came to teach 35 senior non-commissioned officers and officers the Army's Digital Training Management System at the Unit Training Management, or UTM, course, which outlines the way the Army manages its training, Feb 18-20.

According to William H. Riester, Army Training Network Team, Northrop Grumman, Training Management Directorate, in 2012 the chief of staff of the Army, directed the Training Management Directorate to form a Military Transition Team, or MTT, and visit various Army installations.

"The 2012 versions of Army Doctrine Publications 7-0, Army Doctrine Reference Publications 7-0 and the Leader's Guide to UTM have several new key doctrinal concepts," Riester said. "The new doctrine makes the unit commander the primary training manager. It has key collective tasks as the focus for unit training. The doctrine also makes Military Decision Making Process and Troop Leading Procedures the processes for units to plan their training."

The course solidifies a foundation of doctrine and tools in the course so students can become teachers in order to train their units on managing training as it applies to the individual units.

"The course is designed as a train-the-trainer course," Lt. Col. Damon Pfaltzgraff, Training Management MTT team chief, said. "The intent is to provide the doctrine, tools and references to training management coupled with a professional discussion on how these apply to units like the 'Big Red One' and the challenges every unit faces."

During the period of heightened deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, units were given a list of required training. Today, the Army is moving towards a different approach.

"Our leaders need to develop their own training plans based on their understanding of their units," Pfaltzgraff said.

The Combined Arms Center for Training provides training services with an Army Training Network team that provides tailored training events for company through brigade-level leaders and staff.

Training and readiness is the core of the Army's readiness for Brig. Gen. Sean P. Swindell, 1st Infantry Division deputy commanding general of maneuver.

"Training management is the center of gravity for everything we are trying to do with the Big Red One," Swindell said. "We got to become experts at training management. That's why we are bringing the MTT here to refocus on our training management skills; some of it has collapsed since we've gone to Iraq and Afghanistan, but we are back and we need to regroup on all those skills sets."

Swindell spoke about areas where Digital Training Management System, or DTMS, could be improved.

"I know that DTMS has its setbacks, but I know as we get more familiar with it, it will get easier," Swindell said. "Plus, we get feedback from our partners at Fort Leavenworth to fix it."

Swindell talked about ways the Army is looking at improving DTMS in the future, making it an even more effective training tool.

One day, Soldiers may be able to use smart phone apps to input mass amounts of data wirelessly while still at a range, Swindell said.

Capt. Andre Williams, S-3 assistant officer in charge, Special Troops Battalion, 1st Sustainment Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, a student of the class, said he was surprised at the new path the Army is moving towards.

He also said this course made him a more effective trainer.

"I feel training management is significantly important because everything in the Army is driven by combat readiness, which is driven by training," Williams said. "This course is teaching us all the techniques to proficiently execute training."

Related Links:

Unit Training Management handbook gets update

Army.mil: Inside the Army News

STAND-TO!: Army Training Network