TRADOC Regulation 350-70, Chapter VI-9 Army Correspondence Course Program (ACCP), 9 Mar 99

Chapter VI-9

Army Correspondence Course Program (ACCP)

VI-9-1. Chapter Overview

Introduction	a. This chapter describes and provides policy and guidance for development of Army Correspondence Course Program (ACCP) products, including correspondence courses, course phases, and subcourses (modules). ACCP is part of the Total Army Distance Learning Program (TADLP) and is a viable component of the Total Army Training System (TATS) Course. The intent is for all ACCPs to be produced in paperless formats for delivery via the Internet or other electronic distance learning means.
	Note 1:	See Chapter VI-6, Training Course Design, for policy on lesson design.
	Note 2:	See Chapter I-1, Training Product Classification, Foreign Disclosure (FD) Restriction Statements, and Copyright/Proprietary Materials, for foreign disclosure and copyright guidance.

Chapter Index

b. This chapter covers the following:

Content	Paragraph
Administrative Information	VI-9-2
Correspondence Course Program Description and Requirements	VI-9-3
Correspondence Course Uses	VI-9-4
ACCP Implementation and Management	VI-9-5

VI-9-2. Administrative Information

Purpose	a. The Army Correspondence Course Program provides the means to develop, produce, and distribute (implement) the following formal nonresident Army training products.
		(1)	TATS Course/Module. Courseware designed to support specific critical tasks and supporting skills and knowledge identified as a phase(s) or module(s) to be completed before, during, or after a resident training phase or module portion of a TATS course.
		(2)	Self-development programs. Specific courseware made available to support the career model recommendations.

References	b. Required references and Internet addresses for developing correspondence and distance learning printed materials are as follows:
	Regulatory:
		(1)	AR 25-30, The Army Integrated Publishing and Printing Program
		(2)	Other chapters this regulation:
			(a)	Chapter I-1, Training Product Classification and Foreign Disclosure (FD) Restriction Statements
			(b)	Chapter II-10, Training and Training Development (TD) Automation
			(c)	Chapter III-3, Product/Material Validation
			(d)	Chapter VI-4, Individual Training Design: Individual Training Strategies and Course/Product Design
			(e)	Chapter VI-6, Training Course Design
			(f)	Chapter VI-7, Student Performance Measurement/Testing
			(g)	Chapter VI-8, Training Course Development
	Procedural:
		(1)	DA Pam 351-20, The Army Correspondence Course Program (ACCP) Catalog
		(2)	TRADOC Reg 25-30, Preparation, Production, and Processing of Armywide Doctrinal and Training Literature (ADTL)
	Internet: Army Doctrine and Training Digital Library: http://www.adtdl.army.mil

Definitions	c. See Acronyms/Glossary for TD-related terms. Terms specific to this program:
	Consolidated ACCP. That part of the Army Correspondence Course Program which is administered by the Army Institute for Professional Development, consisting of distance learning courseware developed by TRADOC, DA, and DoD schools and agencies as described in DA Pam 351-20, The Army Correspondence Course Program (ACCP) Catalog, Chapters 2, 3, and 5.
	Correspondence subcourse. The basic element of an Army correspondence course. A subcourse is a self-paced, self-contained module of nonresident instruction consisting of one or more lessons that teach a part of a critical individual task, a single critical task, or a group of related tasks. It includes a practice exercise with feedback for each lesson and an end-of-subcourse test. The subcourse may contain material extracted from Armed Forces publications or other adjunctive materials to support the training.
	Nonconsolidated ACCP. That part of the Army Correspondence Course Program which is administered by the proponent school or agency. The proponent has sole responsibility for development, management, and administration of correspondence materials. These courses, phases, and subcourses are described in DA Pam 351-20, Army Correspondence Course Program (ACCP) Catalog, Chapter 4.

Responsibilities

d. See Appendix B, Responsibilities, for top-level responsibilities. Specific responsibilities for the ACCP are as follows:

Organizations	Responsibilities
(1) HQ TRADOC, Deputy Chief of Staff for Training (DCST)	(a) Establishes policy and guidance for correspondence course and distance learning printed material requirements. (b) Directs development and use of Army correspondence course material and curricula as modules of TATS Courses. (c) Coordinates correspondence material efforts of Training/TD (Task) Proponents with other DA agencies in developing and producing ACCP materials needed for task training. (d) Designates the Army Training Support Center (ATSC) to centrally manage and administer the consolidated ACCP through the ATSC, Distance Learning Directorate (DLD), Army Institute for Professional Development (AIPD).
(2) Commander, Army Training Support Center (ATSC)	(a) Publishes and updates DA Pam 351-20, Army Correspondence Course Program (ACCP) Catalog. Provides and maintains on-line version. (b) Provides pertinent information to Army Reserve Personnel Command (AR-PERSCOM), National Guard Bureau (NGB), and TRADOC service schools/colleges, as needed. (c) Reports individual completions of distance learning components of resident courses and nonresident courses for which American Council on Education (ACE) recommends college credit to the Army/American Council on Education Registry Transcript System. (d) Compiles selected end-of-course tests IAW Chapter VI-7, Student Performance Measurement/Testing, for those courses recommended for college credit. *Note:* A proctored end-of-course test is an ACE accreditation requirement. (e) Serves as the Army's representative on the Executive Steering Committee of the Armed Forces Distance Learning Council (AFDLC). (f) Coordinates correspondence course accreditation for Training/TD (Task) Proponents with Distance Education and Training Council and ACE. (g) Provides Distance Learning Marketing Plan. (h) Coordinates action with the proponent to waive the requirement to complete specific courseware when stocks are not available. *Note:* ATSC, DLD (AIPD) reserves the right to waive ten percent of the credit hours in a course if course does NOT include resident training.
(3) Commanders/ Commandants, Training/TD (Task) Proponents	(a) Design and develop correspondence course material as part of TATS courses as identified by the short-range training strategies. (b) Answer student test and/or course/phase/module (subcourse) content inquiries. (c) Apply appropriate classification markings and foreign disclosure (FD) restriction statements on distance learning materials containing classified military information (CMI) and controlled unclassified information (CUI).

VI-9-3. Correspondence Course Program Description and Requirements

Description

a. The ACCP is the formal, nonresident training program for proponent schools and certain DoD/DA schools and agencies. The ATSC, DLD (AIPD) administers the consolidated portion of the program. The AIPD is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council. Certain individual proponents administer their own programs. DA Pam 351-20, The Army Correspondence Course Program (ACCP) Catalog, Chapter 4, lists these nonconsolidated activities.

ACCP and its products possess some inherent advantages, as follows:

Distance Learning Courseware ---
(1) Is	(a) Self-contained, self-paced, and portable. (b) Distributed world-wide via U.S. Postal Service (mailed directly to student's home or unit) and electronically via the internet. (c) Relatively easy to revise and update.
(2) Can be	(a) Developed inexpensively, rapidly, and with minimum resources. (b) Used either in individual or group study. (c) Used as formal non-resident phases to resident courses.
(3) Helps	(a) Bridge training gap between resident courses, aiding in sustaining skills/knowledge. (b) Students become more proficient in their MOS/AOC and career management field. (c) Prepare students for additional duties/assignments.
(4) Provides	(a) Certification training for soldiers and civilians in selected jobs/duty positions, when linked with resident training. (b) Capabilities to satisfy --- 1 Career model requirement. 2 TATS Course requirements. 3 Self-development recommendations. 4 College degree requirements. (c) Prerequisite competencies for other training programs. (d) Proof of training and maintenance of nonresident student training records.
(5) Currently earns	(a) Promotion points for enlisted personnel in pay grades E4 and E5. (b) Retirement points for RC soldiers.
(6) Supplements the training identified on DoD/DA civilian individual development plans.

Outputs

b. ACCP courses/subcourses are minimum essential requirements if identified during needs analysis or short-range training strategy development.

Eligibility	c. Enrollment into ACCP is open to ---
		(1)	All members of the US. Armed Forces, both active and reserve components.
		(2)	Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets.
		(3)	Authorized federal civilian employees.
		(4)	Foreign military.
		(5)	Non-U.S. citizens who are employed by DoD.

Start Point

d. Distance learning material development starts when the needs analysis or the individual training strategy determines such materials are required.

Distance Learning Format

e. Follow the checklist in Appendix K, Total Army Training System (TATS) Course Checklist, for automation requirements of ACCPs used as distance learning TATS Course modules. Structured writing is the preferred format for all course materials and is required for lesson plans.

Product Completion	f. Distance learning courseware reach different stages of completion.
		(1)	Training/TD (Task) Proponent completes its TD work when ATSC (DLD) accepts the product for reproduction and distribution.
		(2)	ATSC (DLD) responsibility is complete when product is ready for fielding.
		*Note:* Until standup of Digital Training Access Centers (DTACs), ATSC uploads approved distance learning courseware/products into the Army Doctrine and Training Digital Library (ADTDL). Upon standup of DTAC, proponent uploads the products into the DTAC.

Quality Control	g. All personnel involved in development of distance learning courseware must ensure---
		(1)	Technically and doctrinally correct training material content.
		(2)	Timely, accurate responses to each field inquiry.
		(3)	Action on validation outcomes.
		(4)	Deletion of obsolete distance learning courseware.
		(5)	Currency of distance learning courseware.

VI-9-4. Correspondence Course Uses

ACCP Course Uses	a. Training/TD (Task) Proponents develop DL courseware for use as follows:
		(1)	Professional development.
		(2)	Refresher training.
		(3)	Self development.
		(4)	General purpose.
		(5)	Functional.

Professional Development	b. Professional development courses are those courses required by DA for branch/ MOS qualification. For the consolidated ACCP, these usually include resident training.
		*Examples:*
		(1)	RC Quartermaster Officer Advanced Course.
		(2)	RC Warrant Officer Advanced Course: Military Personnel Technician (MOS 420A).
		(3)	RC Counter-Signals Intelligence Specialist Course (MOS 97G10).

Functional Courses	c. Functional courses are designed to prepare leaders, soldiers, and civilians for a particular duty assignment or position which requires specific functional skills and knowledge.
		Examples:
		(1)	Combat Lifesaver Course.
		(2)	Aviation Safety Officer Course.

Self Development	d. Self development courses provide refresher/sustainment training to officers, warrant officers, and noncommissioned officers. They provide technical, supervisory, teaching skills required for individual critical task performance. Their purpose is to prepare individuals to perform effectively in assignments of progressively greater responsibility. Army Corresponding Education and Training System (ACETS) satisfies Noncommissioned Officer Education System (NCOES) career map recommendations.
		*Examples:*
		(1)	Senior Officer Field Artillery Refresher Course.
		(2)	Field Artillery Cannon Advanced Studies (MOS 13B).
		(3)	Principles of Management Course.

Refresher Training	e. MOS refresher/sustainment courses provide either refresher training or sustainment training when a specific level of proficiency is required. Courses are designed for a specific MOS skill level.
		*Examples:*
		(1)	Combat Engineer Course (MOS 12B).
		(2)	Small Arms Repairer Course (MOS 45B).

General Purpose	f. General purpose courses provide training on shared tasks and supporting skills or knowledge derived from tasks related to a number of MOSs or career management fields (CMF). These courses provide generic training (i.e., generic skill and knowledge training) as the foundation for instructing specific tasks in other courses.
		*Examples:*
		(1)	Circuit Conditioning Course.
		(2)	Infantry Weapons Specialist Course.

VI-9-5. ACCP Implementation and Management

ACCP Implemen- tation	a. ATSC manages the implementation of distance learning courseware. The actions ATSC performs are as follows:
		(1)	Print course/subcourse (module)/distance learning printed materials.
		(2)	Announce courses/subcourses.
		(3)	Enroll students in course/subcourses.
		(4)	Distribute (field) course/subcourse (module) materials.
		(5)	Deliver tests to students or proctors.
		(6)	Score test answer sheets.
		(7)	Provide feedback/grades to students.
		(8)	Counsel students enrolled.
		(9)	Maintain student records.
		(10)	Provide certification of training.
		(11)	Provide copy of student's record upon request.
		(12)	Provide feedback to proponent schools.
			(a)	Training/training product and material evaluation feedback.
			(b)	Product usage data.
		(13)	Maintain distance learning courseware management records.
		(14)	Implement the procedures for electronic delivery of distance learning courseware via the internet.
		(15)	Store student data files compatible for electronic transfer to ATRRS, NGB, and AR-PERSCOM.

Proponent Distance Learning Courseware Manager	b. An effective way for the training proponent to manage the ACCP program is to assign a proponent Distance Learning Program Manager who ---
		(1)	Establishes/Maintains a distance learning courseware review cycle.
		(2)	Establishes/Maintains listings and files for each distance learning product in proponent's curriculum.
		(3)	Coordinates distance learning courseware-related matters with the appropriate activities.
		(4)	Coordinates for the use and/or development of correspondence material for which the school is NOT the proponent.
		(5)	Coordinates changes and updates of DA Pam 351-20, Army Correspondence Course Program (ACCP) Catalog.
		(6)	Notifies ATSC (DLD) of curriculum changes, including new or revised distance learning courseware development.
		(7)	Furnishes ATSC (DLD) with updated academic information on approved exemptions, equivalent credits, course prerequisites, and waivers.
		(8)	Ensures the timely delivery (120 days prior to need for material) of the CRC to ATSC (DLD).
		(9)	Receives new copies of distance learning courseware from TMSD for Training/TD (Task) Proponent review and use.
		(10)	Serves as point of contact for distance learning courseware accreditation.

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