TOP STORY >>Officials release new annual training plan details

By Staff Sgt. J.G. Buzanowski
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (AFPN) — Air Force leaders have released the details about the new annual training requirements program for the Total Force.

As of Oct. 15, all Airmen will use the new “block instruction” plan that combines nine ancillary training courses into three 30-minute blocks of training, saving more than 6 million man hours every year.

“This is a huge win for the entire Air Force,” said Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley. “By tightening up our ancillary training requirements, we’ve returned vital time to all Airmen. Airmen’s time is a critical commodity as we reduce end strength while continuing to focus on our warfighting efforts.”


The new training blocks satisfy all requirements for the following subjects:

Information Protection covers information security, NATO security, information assurance, records management, as well as the Privacy and Freedom of Information Acts

Force Protection deals with protection from terrorism Level 1 training

Human Relations entails combating human trafficking, suicide awareness and violence prevention

The three training blocks must be completed once per year in order to meet minimum training requirements. Timing will depend on when previous training was taken, or as directed by local commanders, according to Maj. Joel Elsbury, Air Force deputy chief of training policy and development.

“For example, an Airman who took information awareness training in January this year and all other Information Protection (training) in April would take the new information protection block in January next year,” the major explained. “The Airman becomes “non-current” in information protection in January of 2008. By retaking the complete block in January, the Airman would become current in all six subjects for one full year.”

Airmen who wish to synchronize all of their annual training are encouraged to take all three blocks at one time, accomplishing in just 90 minutes what once took more than eight hours to do, Major Elsbury said.

Airmen can access the training through the Advanced Distributed Learning Service Web site directly or through the link on the Air Force Portal.

Although the ADLS is the preferred method for completing this training, units will have the option to download and deliver the training blocks “off-line” as needed. This approach is designed especially for Guard and Reserve units, as well as deployed Airmen, Major Elsbury said.

Airmen who complete the training using ADLS will have their record updated automatically. If the off-line delivery method is used, unit training managers will manually upload course completion data into ADLS to ensure full credit. Reserve units also will have the option of tracking completions through ReserveNet.

“We’ve purposefully designed this training to satisfy the basic requirements for ‘awareness,’” said Lt. Gen. Roger Brady, deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services.

While this effort is intended to maximize unit effectiveness, intelligent and sensible training remains an indispensable responsibility of the Air Force, General Brady said.

“When local conditions or mission requirements demand additional or different training, commanders retain their discretion to provide that training as needed,” General Brady said.

Annual training requirements can be found at the ADLS Web site https://golearn.csd.disa.mil.