Department of Defense
INSTRUCTION
NUMBER 1215.21
October 10, 2014
USD(P&R)
SUBJECT: Reserve Component (RC) Use of Electronic-based Distributed Learning Methods
for Training
References: See Enclosure 1
1. PURPOSE. This instruction:
a. Establishes policy, assigns responsibilities, and provides procedures for members of the
Selected Reserve to use electronic-based distributed learning (DL) methods to conduct training
away from scheduled unit training assemblies or apart from other collective training time in
accordance with the authority in DoD Directive 5124.02 (Reference (a)). DoD Instruction
1322.26 (Reference (b)) outlines the policy for DL.
b. Supports RC readiness by providing the Military Services greater flexibility within
existing statutes and policies to leverage technology and available resources for training.
c. Cancels previous guidance issued by Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and
Readiness (USD(P&R)) Memorandum (Reference (c)).
2. APPLICABILITY. This instruction applies to OSD, the Military Departments (including the
Coast Guard at all times, including when it is a Service in the Department of Homeland Security
by agreement with that Department), the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and
the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Office of the Inspector General of the Department
of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other organizational entities
within the DoD (referred to collectively in this instruction as the “DoD Components”).
3. POLICY. It is DoD policy that:
a. The Secretary of the Military Department concerned may direct members of the Selected
Reserve to accomplish training requirements related to unit readiness or mobilization.
b. To increase available unit training assembly time for hands-on individual military
occupational skill (MOS), military occupational code (MOC), and collective training
