Army Programs and Administrative Systems
Command programs
Most programs are commander-owned, with a program manager handling day-to-day execution. The NCO's job is to know the entry point, the reporting rules, and the record. Know SHARP, equal opportunity, the Family Advocacy Program, the Army Substance Abuse Program, and suicide prevention. Restricted reporting for sexual assault protects confidentiality but is not available to every category of person; unrestricted reporting starts an official investigation. Do not guess on a reporting question - a wrong answer is a safety failure.
Soldier systems
Know what each system answers: IPPS-A for personnel and talent management, MEDPROS for medical readiness, DTMS for training, ATRRS for school quotas, DEERS for eligibility and ID cards, Army Career Tracker and ArmyIgnitED for education. Know the maximum Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance coverage level, how the Thrift Savings Plan works, and that Army Emergency Relief provides loans and grants - it is not a unit fundraiser.
Traps
- Confusing a program with a policy; the regulation is the authority.
- Promising confidentiality outside the rules that actually allow it.
- Assuming SGLI elections, TSP contributions, or beneficiary updates happen automatically.
Rule of thumb
For any program question, name three things: who owns it, where the Soldier enters it, and what record proves it happened.