News 6 Mashup: May 17, 2021

Here is a News 6 mashup of top stories for the week of May 17, 2021, straight from AWN News 6 Correspondent, Jolene McNutt:

DTS Slated for Replacement

The archaic Defense Travel System is being prepared for replacement. The new system, called Defense Travel Modernization, or DTM, is based on a prototype that has been in development since 2018, reported Federal News Network. It is expected to be a simplified system that will “integrate with DoD personnel databases, support types of travel that are unique to the military, and have the system certified with a high-level of authority to operate from the Defense Information Systems Agency.” The new system is expected to save 10 million labor hours per year.

Pentagon preparing sole-source contract to replace Defense Travel System

Military Health System Consolidating Health Information

Last week, 25 additional health systems rolled out MHS GENESIS announced Military Health System. This new program will create a more seamless transition for military members and their families to receive health care across installations.

“The goal for MHS GENESIS is to consolidate health information into single platform and provide a continuum of care from point of injury to definitive treatment at any military treatment facility worldwide,” said Army Col. Garrick Cramer, Commander Munson Army Health Center at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas. “MHS GENESIS will greatly increase efficiencies for both beneficiaries and healthcare professionals through a DOD-wide, unified system that will also continue into the Veterans Affairs medical care system.”

They did caution that there could be a temporary increase in wait times while each location becomes more familiar with the program. However, they report that with each roll out, the transition has gone more quickly.

Women Struggling to Pass ACFT

Recent data shows that almost half of women are failing the new Army Combat Fitness Test, reported Military.com. “Internal Army figures from April show 44% of women failed the ACFT, compared to 7% of men since October 1.” The fitness test is in the beta phase, so results will not count against the soldiers until March 2022. Military.com said that the highest fail rate on individual events for both males and females is the 2-mile run. Males are failing at 5% and females at 22%. The run is the last event in the test, completed after five other events. Full failure rates broken down by event can be found online at Military.com

This Week in History

On May 17, 1979, a record low temperature of 12 degrees F was the coldest temperature ever recorded in Hawaii on top of Mauna Kea. The Hawaiian Islands are home to 11 military installations. If you are stationed there, you can visit Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano, on the Big Island. It is also the highest point in Hawaii and the second-highest peak of an island on earth, according to wikipedia. The Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station shared that it is one of just a handful of places in the world where you can travel from sea level to 14,000 feet in about two hours. Mauna Kea is a sacred place for the people of Hawaii and the dwelling place of Hawiian god, Poli’ahu. “In ancient times [the summit] was forbidden to all but the highest chiefs and priests. Occasionally, Hawaiian ali’i (royalty) would make the long trek to the top. The last royal visitor was Queen Emma in 1881, who led her companions on the arduous 6-hour journey to the top to see the summit and rejuvenate herself in the sacred Lake Waiau.”

Hawaii Military Bases