DTMS (Tips, Tricks, and Lessons Learned)

I could probably write a thesis on my issues with DTMS, but one of the things I am working on with my Platoon Leaders and Platoon Sergeants is to not fret about what you cannot control. I have zero control over the implementation of DTMS and instead must focus on how to make it easier for my Troop. Since, that is the case, I will focus this piece on tips, tricks, and lessons learned in regards to implementing DTMS as the true system of record at the Troop level. The first area that a Troop Commander can affect is training schedule and MET assessment.

A Commander assesses the METs, not the training room Trooper who has been to DTMS School. Once a month, you need to go in and assess your METs. It is not that difficult, but it is being tracked. This needs to be a battle rhythm event on your outlook calendar and you should knock it out like you do for any other regular report. I only approach the boss about this is if my assessment are different than his assessment for the Squadron (usually they are not). This one is simple, but it is an easy way to show up on higher’s radar for something that is too easy to accomplish.

I personally control the Troop level calendar. I use this calendar as the basis for planning all training. It is incredibly rough because DTMS is not user friendly, but once I figure out what my T+8 looks like on DTMS I can have the training room update any other products. Additionally, I learned that it is easier to make corrections on slides than it is to make corrections on DTMS when a clerk eventually messes up, so I am saving myself work in the long run. I make things reoccurring events whenever I can. I have PT reoccurring out for years. Specifically, I make weekly training events a reoccurring event and spell out the details for the entire week in the body so that way I am not re-entering administrative information for every single day.

I started making maintenance tasks reflective on the training calendar and it actually helps getting after maintenance in an ABCT. I am constantly thinking about when services, AOAP, and other requirements are due. This is a great area for Troop XOs to update. If you get them access they can input all that data and you do not plan in vacuum forgetting about this vital area. DTMS is a beast, but divide it into chunks and just get after it.

I have failed in getting my subordinate leaders access and only have one clerk who has access. Platoon Leaders and Platoon Sergeants were required in my BCT to attend a week long course prior to getting access and I prioritized other classes like UMO over DTMS school. Recently, that requirement changed and they can now attend a one day course and get access to their Platoons in DTMS. I will have them attend that class and once granted access I will make them update their training plans in DTMS to the correct standard to free me up time. Additionally, I keep pushing Squadron to make events for tasks and Squadron level events so each Troop sees it and six Commanders are not entering the same events. This is still a work in progress. Once I get the process fully established it should make it a bit more streamlined.

Platoon Leaders or their delegates will have to do a massive data upload on all the information required in DTMS. I have the training room enter qualifications and APFTs, but Platoons need to enter all that good information. The best way I can envision accomplishing this by making them a glide path. They have two weeks to enter one specific category. I inspect that it is done and then they move onto something else. I foolishly was struggling with getting my qualification data correct and my trained clerk was not taught about this, but you have to assign people to their weapons for qualification data to count. We now have everyone assigned an individual weapon, crew weapon (as applicable), and vehicle. An easy catch is just check the training statistic page. It usually tells you exactly how good or bad you are.

The training room needs to incorporate DTMS into in-processing. As a Trooper hits our leaves the 162-AAA they are hitting DTMS about a day later, which is great, but the training room needs to assign them to their subordinate element. Once the Platoon Leaders get that initial data upload good, then the training room can enter new information as they in-process Troopers and the Platoons enter new data for their Troopers. The toughest part is getting this off the ground and that is what we are struggling with now. I only have one clerk through the longer DTMS clerk and am trying to get more trained.

DTMS is not particularly nice to work with and is a nightmare when your organization does not have much of a foundation laid yet, but just suck it up and do the work. It has to be done eventually and at a minimum you are helping your eventual replacement. DTMS is actually kind of simple and once you mess around with it and figure out how to properly batch upload it not mentally difficult to accomplish. Just treat it like you treat any other mission and make it priority and carve out time for your subordinates to accomplish the mission.

~CRAZY 6