Combined Arms Center tests wikis to update tactics, techniques and procedures
What is it'
The Combined Arms Doctrine Directorate and Battle Command Knowledge System, part of the Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., have launched a test allowing Soldiers and leaders to make real-time updates to the Army's tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP) via a wiki environment. The intent is to accelerate the creation and sharing of knowledge, as compared to typical time frames for staffing revisions to field manuals (FMs).
What has the Army done'
With this test, the Army is exploring the possibility to share and revise TTP using a milWiki platform available on Army Knowledge Online (AKO). Seven FMs that currently describe TTPs have been selected for the test, which will include updates to these TTPs, as well as allow the Army to learn how to rapidly expand this capability to more than 200 other FMs that also describe TTP. Soldiers and leaders are encouraged to make contributions to revisions for the following FMs, by signing on to AKO, selecting the Self Service Tab, select My Doctrine and then select ATTP Pilot, or use the URL: <a href="https://wiki.kc.us.army.mil/wiki/Portal:Army_Doctrine" target="_blank">https://wiki.kc.us.army.mil/wiki/Portal:Army_Doctrine</a>
The seven FMs available for the pilot are:
- FM 3-04.155 Army Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations
- FM 3-07.20 Modular Brigade Augmented for Security Force Assistance
- FM 3-21.9 The SBCT Infantry Rifle Platoon and Squad
- FM 3-90.15 Site Exploitation
- FM 3-97.11 Cold Weather Operations
- FM 5-19 Composite Risk Management
- FM 6.01-1 Knowledge Management Section
While the Army is hopeful to attract a large volume of Soldiers and leaders to contribute to the ATTPs revision via the wiki test, it will also be exploring how to provide some governance over how TTPs are shared via the wiki, with editing rules for submissions requiring authentication and expertise, similar to that used by the commercial tool Wikipedia.
What efforts does the Army plan to continue in the future'
After the 90-day trial period, the Army will assess the pilot, make any required adjustments to the program and begin converting more than 200 FMs into the wiki format for comment.
Why is this important to the Army'
The process under review shapes the future of the Army's learning processes that ultimately will be led by the digital natives in today's Army. Additionally, this method of revising ATTPs could fill some of the knowledge gap between what students learn at Army schools and the practical application in a fast-changing field environment.
Resources:
<a href="https://wiki.kc.us.army.mil/wiki/Portal:Army_Doctrine" target="_blank">Army ATTP</a>
<a href="http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/" target="_blank">Combined Arms Center</a>
<a href="http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/06/army_manuals_062909w/" target="_blank">Army Times Story</a>
<a href="http://www.federalnewsradio.com/index.php'nid=35&sid=1708683" target="_blank">Federal News Story</a>
<a href="http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2009/jul/03/manualwiki/" target="_blank">A.P. Story</a>
<a href="http://www.army.mil/-newsreleases/2009/06/30/23722-army-announces-test-of-wikis-to-revise-ttps/" target="_blank">ARMY Story</a>
<a href="http://usacac.leavenworth.army.mil/BLOG/blogs/why_i_serve/archive/2009/07/01/want-to-change-army-doctrine-do-something.aspx" target="_blank">CAC Commander Wiki Blog</a>
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