FORT EUSTIS, Va. –
Throughout its 237-year history, the U.S. Army has trained and developed premier warfighters and leaders.
Now, thanks to the Army Career Tracker, Soldiers have the opportunity to take complete ownership of their individual development plan, and subsequently - their careers.
"The ACT provides an easy-to-use interface that assists the user and supervisor with the creation, approval and tracking of the IDP," said Khadijah Sellers, Training and Doctrine Command's Institute for Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development, who primarily focuses on streamlining the IDP process within ACT.
Sellers said the plan is focused through the lens of lifelong learning, and provides a cross-functional approach to integrating a Soldier's personal and professional development.
Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth Williams, career management noncommissioned officer for the Chief of Transportation Office at Fort Lee, Va. said it's important for leaders to motivate their Soldiers to use the ACT and develop their IDPs.
"It's not enough to dream about promotions, schools and desired positions, you have to plan a course of action to achieve those goals," Williams said. "I tell Soldiers the ACT can help them succeed, and their IDP will give them the necessary steps to excel."
Not only does Williams encourage his Soldiers to develop their IDPs, he also uses the ACT for his personal development.
"One of the best things about my IDP is that it is tailored to my personal goals," he said. "I can always refer back to my IDP to learn and develop new ways to be more effective in my job."
Williams said creating a plan is simple.
"I used resources that are available on the ACT site for career development such as the Professional Development Model, the Army Training Requirements and Resources System, and Credentialing Opportunities On-Line," he said. "If I had a question about a school or a position, the answers are hyperlinked and the site gives thorough explanations."
IDPs are formed by setting long- and short-term goals in ACT where the information is automatically populated by selecting recommendations based upon the Professional Development Model. These goals can be populated from recommendations for assignment, institutional training, structured self-development, guided self-development, certifications, credentialing and a host of other training resources provided within ACT.
"IDPs can be win-win strategies because they benefit both the Soldier and the organization," Sellers said. "Soldiers benefit because implementing an IDP helps them to enhance their knowledge, skills and experiences. Improved competencies help them achieve personal and career goals both inside and outside the organization, and the organization benefits from developing improved Soldier knowledge and abilities."
Sellers said the most significant impact for Soldiers is the access to the wealth of information.
For new Soldiers, the process allows them to outline their career from their first permanent duty station and chart a course establishing the qualifications needed for careers in the civilian sector.
Individuals are able to select degree programs and certifications to add to their IDPs. A Soldier who would like to start their own business when transitioning to civilian life can select a bachelor's degree program for management studies offered by a university.
So, where can a Soldier start creating an IDP?
Here are a couple of steps to success provided by the Institute for Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development:
1. Visit the Army Career Tracker website,
https://actnow.army.mil and click on the IDP tab.
2. To create a new IDP, click on the "Create New IDP" button located under the IDP portlet.
3. To set the IDP time frame, select a "Start Date" for the IDP and the end date will automatically populate.
4. The IDP will automatically be populated with some established goals; however a Soldier can create more by visiting the "IDP Goals" section in ACT. Their IDP will also include "Institutional Training" and "Civilian Education History" data.
5. Finally, submit the IDP for approval, and print a copy for the Soldier and their supervisor to sign.