Sea Warrior Program detailing tool makes life easier for Sailors, reduces Help Desk call volume
1/23/2012
From Sea Warrior Program Public Affairs
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The Sea Warrior Program career management system/interactive detailing (CMS/ID) technical team has streamlined the process that allows new system users access to their applications by utilizing their common access card (CAC).

The system was primarily used on an "as needed" basis, oftentimes only during the orders negotiation process. Previously, users were required to log in using a password and social security number.

"Sailors usually call the CMS/ID help desk an average of 500 calls per month, with 50 percent of those calls for password reset," said Donald Pellinen, CMS/ID project director. "The Sea Warrior Program leadership asked us to see if there was anything we could do to reduce the help desk calls related to password resets."

To address the issue, the technical team created a process that links a Sailor's electronic data interchange personal identifier (EDIPI) within CMS/ID to his or her CAC information. In doing so, CMS/ID users no longer need to establish a system password. The EDIPI field of every active and reserve Sailor is populated so that the CMS/ID can validate the user's CAC, request their personal identification number and then allow access to the system.

"One month after implementing the CAC login, we received only 17 help desk calls requiring assistance in accessing CMS/ID," said Pellinen.

Improving and streamlining information technology to generate business efficiency is a critical goal of the U.S. Navy.

"There's no question that budget pressures are here to stay," said Laura Knight, Sea Warrior program manager. "We are looking at all opportunities to maximize technology in order to make business tasks faster and easier. This will free up Sailors' time to focus on their mission at hand."

CMS/ID has evolved over the years from a basic job advertising website to a core career management tool. Sailors are able to view aspects of their personnel information, search for job opportunities and submit applications for their next duty assignment. Much of the functionality found in the new CMS/ID is a result of input and requests from Sailors and career counselors.

The Sea Warrior Program (PMW 240) manages a complex portfolio of information technology (IT) systems to recruit, train, pay, promote, move, retire and support Navy personnel and deliver distance support IT to the fleet. The PMW 240 Program is part of the Navy Program Executive Office for Enterprise Information Systems (PEO EIS), which develops, acquires and deploys seamless enterprise-wide IT systems with full lifecycle support for the warfighter and business enterprise.

For more information on PEO EIS and the Sea Warrior Program, visit http://www.public.navy.mil/spawar/peoeis/pages/default.aspx