New DTMS improves training management, tracking Soldiers' training records

By Mike Casey Combined Arms Center - TrainingJanuary 13, 2015

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FORT LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (Jan. 12, 2014) -- Improvements to the Army's premier training management tool make it easier for commanders to plan exercises and keep track of their Soldiers training records. The new version of the Digital Training Management System, or DTMS, launched at the end of 2014.

"Version 7 of DTMS reflects the changes that Soldiers and commanders wanted. DTMS is more powerful and is easier to use," said Maj. Tripp Smith, project manager and help desk lead. "The new version helps commanders at each step of the training management process from plan and prepare to execute and assess. It also maintains a Soldier's training history from hire to retire."

DTMS allows users to communicate and coordinate across the chain of command. It also features calendars to plan and schedule training.

Here are some of the improvements:

• A new calendar drag and drop feature that facilitates the scheduling of training events

• Quick link shortcuts to frequently used functions such as: reports, unit organizational hierarchy tree views and Soldier management

• A job book and leader book function that assists small unit leaders in managing individual Soldier training and small unit collective training. As Soldiers move to other units, their DTMS digital information follows them and is updated digitally through the automated interfaces

• Software updates that improve system performance and reliability, increase training management support to divisions and above, and provide capabilities for future enhancements

• A Course Manager tab that will replace the Resident Individual Training Management System, or RITMS, which Army schools and initial military training use to conduct institutional training management. The course manager tab in DTMS v7 will replace RITMS starting in March 2015 and will assist the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command units with managing testing, individual training records, classes, courses and other topics

DTMS is a resource that impacts Soldiers and commanders throughout the Army.

For unit leaders and trainers down to squads and even team leaders, DTMS provides a digital version of the Soldier's individual training record, job book, and leader book to better inform training management decisions and reduce manual data entry as new Soldiers arrive and Soldiers move to other units.

For commanders and training managers, DTMS provides an easily accessible record of training and replaces the old mission essential task list crosswalk with a digital version, called the Combined Arms Training Strategy. It allows commanders to formulate a training plan and synchronize it with Army doctrine. Commanders and training managers can also quickly query records to track the status of any unit or individual training, to include weapons qualification, physical training, mandatory training and other training completion information.

For all Soldiers, DTMS reduces manual data entry by recording data in a database that communicates with other systems to automatically update records. DTMS populates the DTMS Widget on the "My Training Tab" on AKO and informs the individual user of their training status and provides access to the Soldier's unit training schedule.

To help commanders use DTMS, more than 4,000 trainers and users across the Army have attended courses to learn about DTMS version 7 and its improvements. To familiarize Soldiers with the improvements, the site provides links to videos and manuals. You can also call the help desk at 913-684-2700 or DSN 552-2700.

DTMS is maintained by the Training Management Directorate at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. It is a subordinate organization of the Combined Arms Center -- Training, which manages training support and training development programs.

You can follow CAC-T at: http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/CAC-T/ It's Facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/usacactraining and its Twitter handle is @usacactraining

Related Links:

Combined Arms Center - Training

Training Management Directorate

Unit Training Management handbook gets update

DTMS is the Army's future for training

Army.mil: Inside the Army News

The Leader's Guide to Unit Training Management

Army Training Network

DTMS: Training Videos and Manuels

Digital Training Management System