Annex G (Army Training Digital Library) to OPORD 1-95

UNCLASSIFIED

Annex G (Army Training Digital Library) to OPORD 1-95

1. SITUATION:

a. The ever growing need for digitized data is evidenced by the proliferation of information systems throughout the Army. To date most of these systems have been stove piped to meet the specific and narrowly focused needs of the user. Attempts to provide broader based corporate type databases have met with varied success. Developments in information sharing technologies now give us the unique opportunity to develop seamless, relational databases, and libraries without walls. These technologies will provide leaders and soldiers at all levels with an almost limitless fount of information and the ability to pare it down to only the information desired. A seamless interface, combined with a relational data repository, will provide the required inputs and outputs by the other four WFXXI components.
b. The Army's digital library will satisfy the traditional definition of a library, A collection of information organized for use . Much time and effort has been given already to the collection and organization of digitized manuals, lessons learned, and other reports. The results of these efforts, any number of remote "libraries", will be made available through the Army Training Digital Library (ATDL). The ATDL will further identify, gather, and integrate training information systems data. By accomplishing these objectives, the digital library will maximize the use of information age technology to support Army training.
c. The ATDL will provide a broad range of support to Army training. Support will include fundamental library functions and services. This support will at least include the acquisition, preservation and dissemination of information to train, educate, assist, and inform. Successfully implementing the ATDL will employ an organizational structure to ensure a broad and comprehensive range of library services. The digital library organizational structure will result in the combination of diverse, complex, technologies to achieve a robust library capability.
d. Implementing the ATDL will require much work, including work yet to be defined. The ATDL will implement modern, relational database technology to store and retrieve training information based on the latest available training data. Training and doctrine data to be accessible by, or stored within the ATDL, will be made fully compliant with DOD data element standards.
2. MISSION: To provide a globally accessible, digital repository of training knowledge sets and interactive applications to support training of individuals and units.
3. EXECUTION:
a. Training related data is available through information systems at virtually every Army activity and site. Generally, these information systems are designed and developed to meet a specific need. We refer to these as stove pipe systems because of their vertical focus: little or no information exchange outside of their specific area of interest/concern.
(1) The ATDL will be designed and developed to provide a horizontal latitude to all training information systems and their associated data. Through the appropriate application of commercial technology, it will be an interface to training data, presenting a Corporate view to this data. Technology will be applied that will allow access to standardized training data, both centrally and at remote sites, in a manner transparent to the user.
(2) Technology can be, and has been, applied to facilitate access to training information. Documents have been scanned/digitized, and kept on a computer system. An individual may use the digitized information by establishing a computer connection to the host computer system. The ATDL will implement modern technology that goes beyond conventional library methods, providing access to the latest training data available.
(3) Commercial software will facilitate extending the ATDL, via the Internet, to a worldwide audience. A soldier anywhere in the world may access the ATDL, browse information, and extract as much or as little as necessary. Access will not require any special equipment, other than a PC, a modem, and appropriate software. Any specialized software required will be identified and/or made available through the TRAINER-ON-LINE Home Page and Army Training Support Center's (ATSC) electronic bulletin board system.
(4) The World Wide Web (WWW) and Internet will be the primary means of access to the ATDL. ATSC will provide Internet access through its existing bulletin board system for those activities who do not have Internet access available to them. ATSC will develop and maintain a list of known Internet access sites and addresses on its bulletin board system, and on the TRAINER-ON-LINE Home Page.
(5) Appropriate protocols must be established to support access to, and exchange of information contained within the ATDL. Inter-database connectivity will be based upon Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) standards. This is an industry standard which all major database vendors are already compliant with, or for which they are developing compliant interfaces. Communications between sites will be accomplished through client /server architecture using windows Graphical User Interface (GUI) access through MILNET and Internet protocols. Intent is to make ATDL data available to end users at their individual work stations.
(6) Minimal hardware requirements must be satisfied at each site. Sites will be brought on-line as their information systems are brought into standard consistent with the Army Training Information Management Program (ATIMP). Access to the ATDL will be supported in the Windows environment. Use of Windows capabilities will provide a simple, Graphical User Interface (GUI). Software for initial entry to the ATDL may be commercially purchased or available freeware versions may be used. Free versions of Internet software will be available on the ATSC bulletin board system.
(7) Communication capabilities are essential to effective use of the ATDL. The best design and implementation will fail if communications are slow. Initial implementation will utilize compression routines to reduce file sizes and attempt to improve performance. Performance will be monitored and communication upgrades determined if file compression does not provide an acceptable solution. Efforts will be made to leverage the communications improvements being explored through cooperative efforts between communications companies and the Army. The use of fiber optics and high speed switches will also be explored.
(8) Use of emerging systems and technologies promise to provide data to units in a fashion which will reduce administrative burden and increase efficiency. However, unilateral or stove pipe development is no longer feasible. The Army Training Information Management Program (ATIMP) will be the forum/agency to ensure this does not happen. The ATIMP will establish the overarching architecture for systems feeding or accessing the ATDL. ATIMP will deal with broad automation issues such as communications, documentation, data element definition, interservice integration, and life cycle management. Department of the Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations is the proponent and ATSC is the executive agent for ATIMP. In order to accomplish this mission, the ATIMP will:
(a) Establish an electronic forum to monitor and report a detailed status of legacy, emerging, developed, and dying systems. This forum will use WWW protocols and be conducted through the ATSC Home Page.
(b) Create, in order, a program plan, an Army pamphlet, and an Army regulation that, in total will assist system developers and users to maximize capabilities and reduce system development times by sharing information and agreed to architectures.
(c) Serve as an advocate for Warfighter XXI systems seeking to integrate into the ATDL or share capabilities between systems.
(d) Implement appropriate control mechanisms that will maintain the automation integrity of Warfighter XXI.
The following systems are examples of ATIMP being fielded or developed:

Standard Army Training System (SATS) - Version 4 will provide units from squad through Department of the Army (DA) with the ability to implement the training management doctrine contained in Field Manual (FM) 25-100, FM 25-101, and FM 100-5. In addition, SATS, through its interface with the ATDL, will allow the accurate roll up of resources planned and expended in support of training. The use of relational database technology will allow the trainer to tailor the training program to meet the specific Mission Essential Task List (METL) of the unit. The ability to accept evaluation and lessons learned data back into the system will also be available.

Automated Systems Approach to Training (ASAT) - ASAT is a fielded software application which supports total Army training development, management, and support requirements. The principal user of ASAT is the TRADOC proponent. The ASAT capabilities include total task management and production of battle focused training and training products. ASAT provides outputs to SATS and will receive feedback from SATS Version 4.0. ASAT supports the electronic and print publications of extension training products including Mission Training Plans and Soldier Training Publications. The software will also support the creation of the proponent initiated CATS and Warfighter XXI TSPs. The system provides for the development, standardization, and management of training information that is tasked-based from a link to TOE/SRC through Major End Items, to all Occupational Speciality linkages and linkages to all doctrine and references. ASAT 4.0 will support the production of doctrine.

Automated Instructional Management System Redesign (AIMS-R) - AIMS-R is designed as an interactive training information management system to provide Army schools, training centers, and Non Commissioned Officer (NCO) Academies the capability to develop, administer and monitor resident and nonresident (correspondence and self-development) individual training during peacetime and mobilization. AIMS-R automates course development, student management, grade book management, testing and evaluation of students, inventory management, worldwide distribution and printing of instructional and testing materials, scheduling of classes, events, and resources, to include impact analysis of "what if", and archival of historical records. To facilitate use of the automated information AIMS-R interfaces with ASAT, Army Training Resource Requirements System (ATRRS), Army Civilian Personnel System (ACPERS), Total Army Personnel Data Base (TAPDB) and other various training support systems.

Force XXI Infonet - The Infonet currently serves as the gateway system for the Army Knowledge Network (AKN) and for accessing selected Army databases. These include the Automated Historical Archives System (AHAS), Combat Training Center's Warrior Information Network (CTC WIN), Center for Army Lessons Learned (CALL) databases, and Force XXI databases. Force XXI Infonet is a combination of hardware and software containing the necessary protocols and a menu system for entering the various associated systems provided to the user.
AKN - This system implements the TRADOC CG's directive to "bring the Army's corporate knowledge through an easy-to-use GUI to every computer in every Army office, research center and Tactical Operations Center (TOC), and equip every user with the capability to retrieve, analyze, tailor and present sets of that knowledge". When fully developed, AKN will become the "library without walls". Building on the base provided by the Force XXI Infonet, it will be a key component of an interactive library which allows multimedia applications, storage and retrieval of doctrine publications, access to training development and training support applications, and access to a relational database.
b. Milestones. The ATDL is a developing system that is currently in the concept formulation stage. It will be developed using an incremental approach and continually be updated and revised to meet the specific needs of the users. Following are the major milestones projected for Increment One.
(1) 3rd Qtr FY 95. Develop and staff draft functional description (FD) of ATDL. The functional description will detail preliminary functions and processes necessary to meet user needs.
(2) 3rd Qtr FY 95. Begin ATDL Life Cycle Management Process IAW AR 25-3.
(3) 3rd Qtr FY 95. Establish a Home Page interface on an Internet Web Server. This interface will be available at all TRADOC schools and learning centers.
(4) 3rd Qtr FY 95. Develop an electronic forum to facilitate discussion/dialogue between the various potential users of ATDL.
(5) 3rd Qtr FY 95. Begin development and staffing of a Mission Needs Statement (MNS). A MNS will be developed to secure long term funding for the ATDL.
(6) 3rd Qtr FY 95. Conduct market survey, evaluate and select search engine for text retrieval.
(7) 4th Qtr FY 95. Finalize Functional Description, for Increment One.
(8) 4th Qtr FY 95. Formation of ATDL Board of Governors. The ATDL Board of Governors will provide oversight and guidance for the development of the system. This board will also perform the configuration control function of the ATDL.
(9) 4th Qtr FY 95. Staff MNS
(10) 4th Qtr FY 95. Produce draft ATDL action plan. This plan will lay out the steps necessary to implement the ATDL.
(11) 4th Qtr FY 95. Identify data elements associated with individual and collective tasks. These data elements will be submitted to DOD for inclusion in the DOD Data Dictionary.
(12) 4th Qtr FY 95. Demonstrate ATDL capabilities using training task data.
(13) 1st Qtr FY 96. Field limited library system containing training task data.
(14) 4th Qtr FY 96. Complete integration of SATS, ASAT, and TEXMIS into ATDL.
(15) 2nd Qtr FY 97. Complete integration of TADSS into ATDL.
(16) 4th Qtr FY 97. Complete integration of TSPs into ATDL.
(17) 2nd Qtr FY 98. Complete integration of STAARS into ATDL.
(18) 3rd Qtr FY 00. Integrate multimedia into the ATDL.
(19) 1st Qtr FY 01. Integrate Multimedia Training Center Data into ATDL.
(20) 4th Qtr FY 02. Continue incremental upgrades of ATDL capabilities.
(21) 4th Qtr FY 03. Continue incremental upgrades of ATDL capabilities.
(22) 4th Qtr FY 04. Integrate desk top conferencing into ATDL.
(23) 4th Qtr FY 05. Complete integration of ATDL into Tactical Communication Systems for use in the TOCs and Tactical vehicles.
4. RESOURCES: See Annex J to OPORD 1-95
5. COMMAND and CONTROL: See Annex H to OPORD 1-95.

Last Update: 12 Feb, 1996