PROJECT SUMMARY

                                      

      Automated Catalog of Personnel and Training Data Elements and Codes

 

1.  Need for the Project:  The current and historical manpower, personnel, and training (MPT) data bases developed and maintained for Manpower and Personnel Research Division R&D projects contain hundreds of data elements in detailed coding schemes which have evolved in Air Force and DoD data systems over the past 30 years.  To utilize the MPT data bases, it is essential that the data element and code meanings be maintained and tracked for changes historically.  Consequently, there is an ongoing need for updates and maintenance of a comprehensive catalogue of personnel and training data elements and code meanings which spans the same historical time period as the MPT data bases.

 

2.  How the Project Meets Needs:  Under this project, an automated data element and code meanings catalogue, called File Item Data Overview (FIDO), is updated and maintained.  It consists of a data base containing 1277 data elements and their code definitions from DOD Dictionary 8320 (formerly Air Force Regulation 700-20, Air Force Data Dictionary), earlier code systems, and selected nonstandard data systems.  The data base is augmented with an automated update and inquiry/retrieval system.  As FIDO is currently implemented, scientists may obtain all code values in effect dating back to the establishment of a given data element or may specify inclusive dates and get only those codes in effect during the interval in question.  The data can be displayed on an interactive terminal or a printed report may be obtained showing title, data element name, definition/explanation, code values, effective dates, and explanation of code values.  The FIDO information can also be retrieved by programming personnel in automated form for use in data base development and analyses for specific R&D projects.

 

3.  Products/Interim Products:  The FIDO system is updated twice a year with update information provided by several sources.  The primary source is DOD Dictionary 8320 which comes in automated form and provides information on 1637 data elements.  The other update sources pertain to a much smaller number of data elements which must be done manually from hard copy documentation.  These include Air Force Specialty Codes, accession/separation transition identifier numbers, mandatory selector aptitude scores for enlisted specialties, plus others, as well as some in-house coded data elements that are needed for MPT research projects. 

 

4.  Payoffs:  FIDO directly supports virtually all facets of MPT R&D in the Manpower and Personnel Research Division.  Many R&D efforts involve the use of the current and historical personnel data bases.  The availability of automated Air Force and DOD data elements along with their code meanings over time, combined with extensive usage by programmers/analysts, represents a sizeable savings in work hours.  These hours would otherwise be spent researching hundreds of manuals and/or microfiche by hand to identify the needed codes for a given historical time period.  In addition, the historical information in the FIDO system is a unique Air Force resource which is regularly provided to outside requesters in  the Air Force and DOD MPT community.

 

5.  Users:  AL/HRM, other AL, HQ USAF, HQ AFMPC, AETC, DOD

 

6.  Requirements:  AL/HR Program Objective

 

7.  Program Manager:  James Brazel prior to 1 Oct 93; Laurel Betz as of 1 Oct 93

 

8.  Program Element, Work Unit:  62205F, 77192602 (may be closed and consolidated with 77192601)

 

9.  Milestones:  See attachment 1

 

10.  Last Update to Project Summary:  9 May  4

 

         Automated Catalog of Personnel and Training Data Elements and Codes

 

                                     Milestones

 

  Source                      Data Elements                         Updates

 

DOD Dictionary 8320     Air Force data codes                       March, September

                                                                    (6 weeks)

 

AFR 39-1                Airman AFSC (AI-705 Atch 2)                 April, October

                        AFSC-AMN-DC                                (1 week)

                        AFSC-AMN-From/To                   

 

AFVA 39-1               Airman AFSC Visual Aid                     April, October

                        AFSC-AMN-DC3 (3 char)                       (2-3 days)

                        CAR-FLD-AMN (2 chars)

 

AFR 36-1                Officer AFSC (AI-705 Atch 2)             April, October

                        AFSC-OFF-DC                                (1 week)

                        AFSC-OFF FROM/TO                   

 

AFVA 36-1               Officer AFSC Visual Aid                    April, October

                        AFSC-OFF-DC3 (3 Chars)                     (2-3 days)

                        CAR-FLD-OFF (2 Chars)

 

Prior source obsolete;  Transaction Identifier Number              March, September

pending replacement     SE-602-AMN, SE-602-OFF                     (3-4 weeks)

                        TRA-ID-AMN, TRA-ID-OFF

 

DOD Dictionary 8320,    Colleges and Universities of the World         October

AFR 50-3                IN-752                                              (1 week)

 

AFR 36-1                Officer Experience Identifier              April, October

(Atch 26)               EX-612                                     (2 weeks)

 

AFR 36-1                Activity Codes                             April, October

(Atch 26)               AC-790                                     (1 week)                                             

AFR 36-1                Special Experience Identifier              April, October

(Atch 26)               SP-160                                     (1 week)

 

AFR 39-1                Mandatory Aptitude Entry Level Scores      April, September

                        MAN-APT-SCORES                             (2-3 weeks)

 

AFM 30-3                Personnel Transaction Identifier           July

(Vol. I)                PTI-AMN                                    (2 weeks)

                        PTI-OFF

                        ANG-PTI-AMN

                        ANG-PTI-OFF

                        RES-PTI-AMN

                        RES-PTI-OFF

 

Note:  If requests are received for new data elements to be added to FIDO, all the meanings are researched and manually added.  These requests are received occasionally and are included as additional milestones for team personnel.