FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (June 25, 2009) - As the Army Operational Knowledge Management proponent, the Combined Arms Center is responsible for developing an enduring knowledge management capability across the Army. For the last six months, CAC's Battle Command Knowledge System has been developing the Army Knowledge Management Qualification Course.
The course will produce a knowledge management professional additional skill identifier/skill identifier, which will allow the Army to track trained personnel.
"Knowledge management is one of the things that makes warfare in the future different from warfare in the past," said Gen. Martin Dempsey, Training and Doctrine Command commanding general, at a conference at Fort Leavenworth March 3.
Along with FM 6-01.1, Knowledge Management Section, published in August 2008, and the soon-to-be-published KM Section Handbook (virtual), Soldiers will have both the "what is KM" as well as the "how to do KM" and ready-to-use KM tips and lessons learned.
Although this qualification course was specifically designed for operational KM sections, it is applicable to the entire Army. BCKS is conducting the first of three pilot courses July 13 to Aug. 14. Soldiers in deploying units get first priority for seats in the course, then Soldiers in Forces Command, U.S. Army Pacific, U.S. Army Europe and Special Forces units, and then all others.
"As the Army begins assigning officers and (noncommissioned officers) to the KM sections at the brigades, divisions and corps, commanders in the field will be asking,'Where will these personnel get their KM training''" said BCKS Director Col. Charles J. Burnett. "The AKMQC will provide that training."
Grounded in FM 6-01.1 and FM 3-0, Operations, this course includes separate tracks for officers and NCO content managers. The course will produce KM section Soldiers who can plan, coordinate and synchronize KM, and to train them on various KM processes and technologies, such as the Warfighter Forums and virtual right-seat ride tools.
The five-week course includes a capstone exercise designed to raise the level of training effectiveness with a KM-focused simulated exercise. The curriculum consists of a common core and individual instruction tailored to meet the special requirements of each duty position.
The KM section supports the commander and staff in achieving situational awareness and situational understanding to enhance and speed decision making. The section does this by developing a plan that includes the "how-to" in displaying the common operational picture. That plan details the process on how a unit accesses and filters new information internally and externally, and provides a working KM system that can route content while keeping commanders and staff from being overwhelmed.
Some say knowledge is the Soldier's last competitive advantage, which may be true when realizing that a smart and adaptive enemy is also looking for an edge.
This pilot course is filling up quickly. Contact Carol Parks at BCKS for enrollment information at (913) 684-6351, DSN 552-6351 or carol.parks@us.army.mil.
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