Wiki See, Wiki Do

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is not the only governmental entity that is turning to the wiki as a means of communication (see previous Carolina Curator post on NIH & Wikipedia). The U.S. Army is now beginning a three-month pilot program to rewrite seven of its field manuals with a wiki, but anonymous contributions will not be allowed. According to a recent New York Times article, "Care To Write Army Doctrine? With ID, Log On," Army officials hope that "by embracing technology, the Army can break down barriers, save money, streamline processes and build a bright future."

The Army's field manual system comprises over 500 manuals and not all would be subject to "wikification," although some 200 practical manuals are slated as candidates, and will be renamed as "Army Tactics, Techniques and Procedures, or ATTP." Christopher Paparone, of the Army Command and General Staff College's Department of Logistics and Resources Operations, states: "My view (not an official view) is that we have been much too rigid in our doctrine. By using wiki, we begin to challenge dogmatic thinking," and that wikis made rank "immaterial."