Fort Drum ACS offers new online class registration option

By Mike Strasser, Fort Drum Garrison Public AffairsJune 11, 2015

FORT DRUM, N.Y. (June 11, 2015) -- A new option for class registration at Army Community Service is now available to Fort Drum patrons.

"ACS has launched a way to register online that makes it convenient for our clients to schedule classes at any time, day or night," said Amy Kilionski, ACS Information and Referral program manager.

By computer, tablet or smartphone, people can now register at drum.armymwr.com or fortdrumacs.checkappointments.com.

Kilionski said sometimes people simply forget to make that call or visit ACS and have to wait the next day or a weekend to sign up. But when normal business hours are no longer an issue, missing registration deadlines can be avoided.

"The great thing about this system is that it sends you an email confirmation with the details of the class," Kilionski said. "It will also send a reminder email 24 hours before the class, and if they choose to, it can send a text reminder in advance as well."

The email provides directions to the class location and indicates what attendees need to bring to class. It will also provide a link for cancellation or rescheduling options, and the system will send a follow-up confirmation email. Online registration is available for most classes, but not appointments.

"It's so convenient because our troops, nowadays, are so technologically savvy," Kilionski said. "So for them, this is easy, and this is the means of communications for a lot of our younger Soldiers and their Families."

People can still opt for the traditional sign-up methods by calling ACS or visiting the facility on Conway Road next to the library.

Fort Drum is only the third installation to offer this service to its ACS customers. Kilionski said while exploring its viability, she contacted her counterparts at Fort Meade, Md., and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., to learn about their application of this system.

"We wanted to make sure this wasn't going to end up being a waste of time for anyone," she said. "A few of our goals were to make it easier for our clients, to free up staff time and to make sure it would cut down on 'no-show' rates for classes."

ACS received its first online registration the day it launched, and Kilionski said the staff encourages clients to use the system by showing them how on tablets available at the front desk.

"We've gotten some really good feedback on it," she said. "If I happen to be walking by the front desk and see people using it, I'll ask them what they think, and it's been good. Hopefully, they'll go out and share the news because we're all excited about this."

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