Sailors can now knock out their meet take of their General Military Training courses while waiting in the chowline for chow.
That's courtesy of the Navy's mobile GMT app, the first of many that aims to bolster sailor training via their personal smartphones and tablet computers.
The first installation, on teaches teaching domestic violence awareness, became available Sept. 11 for now available for both iOS and Android devices — and completing the app will fulfill can your Navy requirement. The apps can be downloaded free app became available Sept. 10 for free download from the Apple App Store and Google Play and are optimized for use on phones as well as tablets.
"We know sailors can be constrained for the opportunity to get on an [Navy Marine Corps Intranet] or [Next Generation Enterprise Network computer] terminal in their workspace," said Rear Adm. Mike White, head of Navaly Education and Training Command. "So this gives them another opportunity to complete required training, without having to waste time waiting their turn."
Other Many And more such appslications are in the works, too, White said in a Sept. 11 interview.
"We are now in the pilot process for Operational Security and hope to deliver that one next," he said. "We think that one will deliver in a couple of weeks."
Beyond that, White said he didn’t have a lineup of what is coming next, but added that said that the near-term goal will be to deliver "half a dozen or so by the end of the calendar year," he said.
Ultimately, he said, the Navy would like to ensure every GMT topic that can be completed via online training — as opposed to instructor-led sessions — will have a mobile app. ’s not required to be given by an instructor, face to face, will have a mobile App associated with it.
"That is our goal, but I hesitate to tell you that's our complete plan right now as some topics are linked to Joint Knowledge O," he said. We don't necessarily own them and aren't sure we have ability to move them into an application-based function — but it is certainly our goal and we'll aggressively go after them all." i took out this quote because it's unclear what he's talking about. like what is joint knowledge o?/sf
Getting Navy credit for app completion is relatively simple, White said. The same process will continue in all follow-on apps, too.
"We've been able to link it to a process where you can complete the training on a personal device and still get credit for taking the course in our learning management system," he said.
Sailors enter their Department of Defense identification number from their Common Access Card and the app will then send a completion certificate to the Sailor’s Electronic Training Jacket in about two working days after completing the course.
The U.S. Navy Sea Warrior Program produced the app with software development assistance by Tracen Technologies Inc., a company that specializes in integrated mobile and Web solutions.
Officials have also included in the app emergency contact information, including hotlines for suicide, sexual assault, domestic violence and the American Red Cross. Contact numbers for national suicide, sexual assault, domestic violence, and the American Red Cross are included. Also provided are website links for the Military Crisis Line, which offers immediate assistance to troops, veterans and their families. domestic violence, national suicide, and the Safe Helpline giving sailors immediate access if they find themselves in or witness a crisis situation.
Mark D. Faram is a former reporter for Navy Times. He was a senior writer covering personnel, cultural and historical issues. A nine-year active duty Navy veteran, Faram served from 1978 to 1987 as a Navy Diver and photographer.
