Army Training Resources: ALMS, JKO & Professional Development Guide

## Quick answer Army training is managed primarily through the Army Learning Management System (ALMS) for mandatory requirements and Joint Knowledge Online (JKO) for joint-service and career development courses. Soldiers can earn promotion points, complete MOS-specific training, and access civilian credentialing assistance through ArmyIgnitED to bridge the gap between military service and professional certifications.

*Note: AKO.org is an independent reference site and is not affiliated with the U.S. Army or Department of Defense. For official portals, visit [atc.army.mil](https://atc.army.mil) or [jko.jten.mil](https://jkodirect.jten.mil).*

In detail

Modern Army professional development is a hybrid of classroom instruction and Distributed Learning (dL). As of 2026, the transition to unified platforms has streamlined how soldiers track their DD Form 2875s and training certificates.

### 1. ALMS (Army Learning Management System) ALMS is the primary system for Army-specific training. It tracks individual training records and hosts required annual training (Information Assurance, SHARP, etc.). * **Promotion Points:** Many ALMS courses qualify for administrative promotion points for E-4s and E-5s. * **Integration:** ALMS feeds directly into the Digital Training Management System (DTMS) and follows the soldier's Permanent Record (iPERMS).

### 2. JKO (Joint Knowledge Online) JKO provides training for joint-service operations. It is the go-to platform for Pre-Deployment training and the **SEJPME (Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education)** program. * **VLCs (Virtual Learning Centers):** Soldiers can take interactive courses that count toward civilian college credit or military hours. * **Access:** Requires CAC login, but some courses are available via DS Logon for family members or pre-accession personnel.

### 3. ArmyIgnitED and Credentialing Assistance (CA) For 2026, ArmyIgnitED remains the portal for Tuition Assistance (TA) and Credentialing Assistance (CA). * **Tuition Assistance:** Currently capped at **$250 per semester hour** with a fiscal year ceiling of **$4,000** (2026 rates). * **Credentialing Assistance (CA):** Allows soldiers to use their $4,000 annual limit to pay for civilian certifications (PMP, CDL, CompTIA Security+, etc.) rather than traditional college degrees.

Comparison Table: Training Platforms

| Platform | Primary Use Case | Promotion Points? | Access Required | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **ALMS** | Mandatory Army requirements (IA, Cyber Awareness) | Yes (Select courses) | CAC | | **JKO** | Joint ops, SEJPME, Pre-deployment | Yes (Select courses) | CAC / DS Logon | | **ArmyIgnitED** | College degrees and civilian certs | Indirect (Awards) | CAC | | **ATRRS** | Course registration and formal school catalog | Yes | CAC |

### 4. ATRRS (Army Training Requirements and Resources System) ATRRS is the "registrar" of the Army. While you don't take classes *on* ATRRS, you use it to find course seats for NCOES (Non-Commissioned Officer Education System) and specialty schools like Airborne or Air Assault.

## Who this applies to * **Active Duty Soldiers:** Required to maintain annual training compliance on ALMS and JKO to remain mission-ready. * **National Guard & Reserve:** Must complete DL (Distributed Learning) hours often during non-drill periods to remain eligible for promotion. * **DA Civilians:** Access professional development pathways through the Civilian Expeditionary Workforce portal. * **Veterans:** Can use JKO and ArmyIgnitED transcripts to translate military skills into civilian resumes and college credits.

## Common scenarios * **The Promotion Hunt:** Specialist Miller needs 20 more promotion points for Sergeant. He completes 80 hours of "Correspondence Courses" via ALMS and JKO. At the 2026 rate of 1 point per 5 hours of training, he adds 16 points to his promotion packet for $0 out-of-pocket cost. * **Transitioning Sergeant:** SGT Davis is 12 months from ETS. He uses **$1,800 of his 2026 Credentialing Assistance (CA)** funds to pay for a Six Sigma Green Belt course and exam. The Army pays the provider directly via ArmyIgnitED, leaving him with $2,200 for other certs that year. * **Annual Requirements:** Every October, SSG Lopez logs into ALMS to complete the Cyber Awareness Challenge. Once finished, the system automatically marks him "Green" in DTMS, preventing him from being locked out of his government computer.

## Related terms * **DTMS:** Digital Training Management System; the tool commanders use to see if a unit is "Red" or "Green" on training. * **iPERMS:** The digital repository for a soldier's permanent personnel file, where course certificates are archived. * **NCOES:** Non-Commissioned Officer Education System; the level-based schools (BLC, ALC, SLC) required for NCO promotion. * **ACT (Army Career Tracker):** A leadership tool used to map out a soldier's career path and assign mentors. * **MOS Cross-Training:** Using training resources to learn skills outside of one's primary Military Occupational Specialty.

## Sources * [ArmyIgnitED Official Portal](https://www.armyignited.army.mil/) * [Joint Knowledge Online (JKO)](https://jkodirect.jten.mil/) * [Army Training Network (ATN)](https://atn.army.mil/) * [U.S. Army TRADOC](https://www.tradoc.army.mil/)