Training officers assigned to Navy Region Singapore are taking a new approach to General Military Training (GMT) using tailored and locally faciliated training as a part of the Navy's redesigned policy on GMT.

The Navy's approach to GMT was overhauled by Naval Administrative Message (NAVADMIN) 213/15, released Sept. 8. GMTs are now divided into two categories: Standardized Core Training, which are mandatory annual training topics assigned to all Sailors; and Command-Assigned Readiness Enhancement training, which consists of topics selected by each individual command.

The purpose of the shift is to allow commands the ability to choose training topics that are relevant to their individual needs, while reducing the annual mandatory GMT requirements by more than 40 percent.

"We locally devise a schedule based on the operations and unique situation of the command," explained Information Systems Technician 1st Class Micah Hargress, assistant training officer for Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific. "This is a major improvement as it allows us to place emphasis on the subject matter the command deems the most important while also arranging the schedule of the training to fit with our timetables."

Navy Region Singapore will focus on increasing the amount of in-person training while reducing the number of online courses, enhancing the retention of the information provided in the GMTs.

"Face-to-face training adds a personal element to the training," said Hargress. "A lot of people can get bored, staring at the computer screen, clicking next over and over again. Getting them away from the computer and providing an interactive training environment will boost the amount of attention given to the training, which will increase the amount of information learned from the GMT."

The current assigned GMT for January is Privacy and Personally Identifiable Information (PII) (DOD-PII-2.0), which is due Jan. 29. February's GMT is scheduled to be Combating Trafficking in Persons (CTIP) (DOD-CTIP-1.0). Sailors can track their individually completed web-based training in their electronic training jacket. Completed command-delivered training is recorded in Fleet Management and Planning System (FLTMPS) via the learning event completion form.

Hargress said it is vitally important for Sailors to be aware of their training requirements and to complete all assigned GMTs as they are scheduled.

"Staying on top of your GMTs helps to distinguish you from other Sailors who fall behind," said Hargress. "It is a reflection of your work ethic. When the time comes to write evals, make submissions for Sailor of the Quarter or Sailor of the Year, showing that you are always meeting your requirements can be the difference between rising to the top or being lost in the crowd."

For more news from Commander, Task Force 73, visit http://www.navy.mil/.