Army using Wiki to update field manuals

Eds: UPDATES with background on manuals, pilot program; ADDS byline, Internet link.

By JOHN MILBURN

Associated Press Writer

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Authors of Army doctrine and field manuals are launching a pilot project to collect reaction from soldiers and officers on a Wiki site.

The goal is to make the manuals living, breathing documents and not let them become stale. It's also a chance for soldiers and officers who have suggestions for improving the Army's tactics, techniques and procedures to weigh in on the revision process.

Clint Anker, director of the Army's Combined Arms Directorate at Fort Leavenworth, says the 90-day pilot program will take comments regarding seven manuals. Eventually, there could be as many as 250 manuals online available for comment.

Commanders have been saying that the Army isn't staying up to speed with what's happening in the field, Anker said, something Gen. Martin Dempsey, head of the Army's Training and Doctrine Command, recognized and led to authorizing the pilot program earlier this spring.

"We hope that they take ownership of this," Anker said.

Anker said it will be interesting to see how many soldiers participate in the program and how the comments are received.

"We've started with manuals that have a broad general interest," he said. "The Army is very busy right now. The question in how many will take the time" to share their thoughts.

Lt. Gen. William Caldwell IV, commander of Fort Leavenworth and the Combined Arms Center, said in his blog touting the program that it will improve traditional military hierarchy that many feel stymies innovation and reforms.

"In other words, by participating and supporting (Army Tactics, Techniques and Procedures), you are helping drive institutional change within our Army," Caldwell wrote Wednesday. "By embracing technology, the Army can save money, break down barriers, streamline processes and build a bright future."

Wiki is a computer program that allows users to add, delete or edit information on an Internet site. Comments can be posted on the site by anyone with an Army identification card, but no anonymous postings are permitted.

"The assumption is we're dealing with professionals. Occasionally we're going to get something we don't want, but it will be self-policing," Anker said. "If we get something we don't like, we can fix it."

Anker said the hope is that as units are coming out of the fight in Iraq and Afghanistan and before they begin training for another tour that soldiers and leaders share their experiences. The Army already does this through its Center for Army Lessons Learned, also located at Fort Leavenworth, but this process would make those suggestions more immediate.

The Army's Battle Command Knowledge System also hosts a number of blogs and forums where soldiers can share information specific to their skills, such as armor, engineers or intelligence, or rank, such as company commanders.

Anker said the Army's doctrine writers didn't have the resources to collect the suggestions on their own in the traditional revision process to the level the Wiki site will allow. Typically a manual is written and is revised every three to five years, depending on the subject area and feedback once it is released.

"I would be delighted if we were overwhelmed with input," he said.

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On the Net:

Fort Leavenworth and the Combined Arms Center: http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/