New Electronic Information Systems Open a Virtual Library On-Line

As the Army moves into the rapidly changing world of digital technology, it can no longer afford to rely on paper-based training materials. Unit commanders must be able to tailor generic training materials to address their specific organizational structure, mission-essential task list (METL), training schedules, and resource constraints. Similarly, “schoolhouse” training and doctrine developers must be able to revise materials rapidly so that training programs can be fielded concurrently with new systems and procedures. To facilitate these requirements, the Army has developed several systems that provide users the latest updates on the tasks they train and the equipment they use. Each of these systems interfaces with the others, either directly or through another, to allow instant transfer of information between databases.

Standard Army Training System (SATS)

SATS gives unit commanders and training managers a user-friendly, computer-based, automated training system to enhance the planning, resourcing, and assessing of unit training. SATS automates the training management doctrine found in FM 25- 100, Training the Force, FM 25-101, Battle Focused Training, and FM 100-5, Operations. It provides unit commanders with the tools to: (1) Develop training plans, METLs, calendars (three-dimensional), and schedules; (2) Tailor ARTEP Mission Training Plan training and evaluation outlines (T&EOs) to fit the unit METL; (3) Design training exercises and calculate resource costs; and (4) Assess training and generate readiness reports. The Army Training Support Center at Fort Eustis, Va., fields SATS and provides training and technical support. To learn more about SATS, go to its web site at http://www. satsbbs.com.

Automated Systems Approach to Training (ASAT)

ASAT is a training development database used by proponent schools to develop doctrine, ARTEP Mission Training Plans, Soldier’s Manuals, training support packages, and Combined Arms Training Strategies (CATS). Each proponent school maintains its own ASAT database where local training data (e.g., specific to resident courses) and proposed training products are stored. When training products are approved for Army - wide distribution, they are uploaded to another database called TEXMIS (see below). The Army Training Support Center provides training and technical support for ASAT. For more information about ASAT, check out its web site at http://www. atimp.army.mil/asat/.

Army Doctrinal and Training Digital Library

(ADTDL)

The ADTDL is an Internet web site containing hundreds of approved doctrinal and training publications. It contains field manuals, training circulars, ARTEP Mission Training Plans, training support packages, and much more, although it does not contain technical manuals. Users can view publications on the Internet or download and print them. The ADTDL offers searching capabilities, so that one could find all publications that address a topic such as cavalry security operations. You must register on-line to receive a user ID and password to access publications with limited distributions. The Army Training Support Center manages the ADTDL. To learn more about the “Library Without Walls,” go to the ADTDL web site at http://155. 217.58.58/.

TRAMOD Executive Management Information System

(TEXMIS)

TEXMIS is an Army-wide database that serves two major purposes: (1) It contains doctrinal and training information that can be downloaded and imported into ASAT or SATS; (2) It functions as a “warehouse” for proponent schools who want their doctrinal and training products to be available on the ADTDL. There are several significant differences between TEXMIS and the ADTDL. Refer to the table below to determine when to use which one. You must register on-line to receive a user ID and password in order to use TEXMIS, which is managed by the Army Training Support Center. To learn more about TEXMIS, go to its web site at http://155.217.35.201.

U.S. Army Publishing Agency (USAPA)

Some publications are not yet available in TEXMIS and the ADTDL. The only way to acquire those publications is by ordering them through the USAPA web site at http://www-usappc.hoffman.army.mil/. This site also contains an extract of DA Pam 25-30, which lists the latest dates and change numbers for all doctrinal, training, and technical publications. The Army continues to produce upgraded equipment, devices, and procedures during its move towards digitization. Training developers continue to update TSPs and MTPs faster than the printed manuals reach the units in the field, but all changes are available through these present databases. By utilizing these systems, either independently or in conjunction with each other, the Army’s trainers can streamline their planning process, increase efficiency, update their training methods, and share breakthrough ideas. Combat units can take advantage of the technology provided to modernize their training, ensuring they afford their troops with the most current training available. To learn about how these automation tools are employed at the U.S. Army Center, go to the web site for the Analysis & Training Development Automation Branch, Directorate of Training and Doctrine Development, at http://147.238.100.101/dtdd/ atda1/home.htm. Action

TEXMIS

ADTDL

You want to look at the contents of an MTP, Soldier’s Manual, or other training product. You cannot view the content of a training product without downloading it first. Use the ADTDL; you can view the contents directly on the Internet. You want to download an MTP into SATS so you can tailor the T&EOs. Use TEXMIS because you can import the T&EOs directly into SATS without any typing. You could use the ADTDL, but you would have to cut-and-paste the T&EO, piece by piece, into SATS. You want to find all training products that address a specific task or topic. You could use TEXMIS if you want to find a task and download into SATS or ASAT. However, you cannot search TEXMIS for specific topics. Use the ADTDL if you want to search for a topic or do not want to download task data into SATS or ASAT. ARMOR — January-February 1999 57