kratz said:
While the hardcopies are easier to read, I do not miss having to do the pub amendments.
I'm with you on that one.
However - ever since the amendments became a PULL system, instead of a PUSH system, IMHO RMS Clks have ceased to be "repositories of information", and more "researchers FOR information".
When I first became an Adm Clk (around 1982), amendments to the CFAOs were issued on a biweekly basis (IE - 26 times a year). It was possible to be an expert in your area of responsibility (rations, or TD for example), and be confident that you knew what you were talking about. The amendment cover sheet would be circulated amongst the staff every two weeks, and if there was an amendment that affected your area, you read it - thus remaining confident in the currency of your knowledge.
When the PULL system of amendments came in (late '90s as I recall), I was a Chief Clerk in a major unit. I began to notice a decline in the expertise of my people - they were CONSTANTLY referring to the online pubs prior to expressing an opinion regarding their area of expertise. Were they stupid? Of course not - it was just that they had NO WAY of being confident in their knowledge without checking the online publication EVERY TIME they were asked a question - they didn't know what had been changed without PHYSICALLY (or electronically, if you prefer) checking the publication EVERY SINGLE TIME they were asked a question.
This fact slowed things down in my Orderly Room - none of my subordinates (or ME, for that matter) were able to CONFIDENTLY carry out their assigned duties without CONSTANTLY checking the online pubs. This became even more onerous with the introduction of DAODs, and the arising of the habit of amending orders via CANFORGEN instead of actually amending the publication in question.
I realize this saved a forest or two in printing overhead - but it lead to a lack of confidence in one's knowledge.
I don't know how to do it, but there needs to be a reliable way to let folks know what has changed without them spending an inordinate amount of time CHECKING, every time a question comes up.
I imagine some similar phenomenon was noticed in other trades (I've dealt with CFTOs in my time) as well.
My little observation, for what it's worth.
Roy