Checking Email from off base
 

Has anyone been able to check their email from offbase? If so, how do you do it. I am in the USAFR at an active duty base and have not been able to access my acct since Xmas.

I know in AMC they locked us out. We're required to use our CAC card for access, even from offbase. So we're supposed to go out and get a SmartCard reader (which some units are providing), and install the special software. I already have a reader as my wife is a Realtor. But AMC's security software makes it so her reader doesn't work for her purposes anymore, so I gave up on checking email from home. I figure if it's that important, they can call me.

DAMN CACK!!!

Where do you get one of those readers at?

This CAC $hit must have been implemented by people who sit in their cubicles and never go TDY. When I was on active duty, my AMC base had all the aircrew on waivers so that we didn't have to use our CAC's to get our email while we were away from home, but I think that has changed since I have left.

SHOE CLERKS!!!! We have to take our Air Force BACK!!!!

I think it might be too late. Pilots are outnumbered in the officer corps and UAVs are all the rage.

http://search.ebay.com/activcard-car...QQfkrZ1QQfnuZ1

This looks like the one she has. The AF software is ActiveCard Gold, available from your friendly, helpful (NOT!) unit IT rep. Or in our case, the contractor IT rep at the Group that you can't actually talk to without leaving a message first.

If they wanted you to check your email they'd provide you with the equipment, right? Guess not.

Here's what I've heard, don't know how accurate it is. You shouldn't have to buy the software, DOD has already purchase an "enterprise license."

Litronic USB card readers are available at a price of $16.75 per reader and
can be purchased by contacting:
Matthew Conlan
Senior Account Executive
Saflink
11490 Commerce Park Dr.
Suite 520
Reston, VA 20191
Tel: 703-547-0379
Fax: 801-838-2375
[email protected]
>
ActivCard USB readers can be purchased with a 16% discount for DoD users.
They can be purchased via SEWP, GSA, or directly from ActivCard.

Patty Arcano
Federal Account Manager
ActivCard, Inc.
Office: 703-988-8738
Cell: 703-627-6815
Fax: 703-988-9636
[email protected] <[email protected]
<[email protected]> >

All unavailable for Mac...

Not sure if it is different for each command, but USAFE has the software available for download on there webpage. Or atleast that is what the comm folks say. I am not going to spend money on a reader so I have not tried the software.

YMMV

I'm AETC, using a CAC reader on home computer with the software still doesn't work. You've gotta be on a PC / laptop that's been set up with a .mil domain.

I hate not being able to get to webmail or something, especially with all these TDYs.

Oh well, like it was said earlier, if it's that important, they can call me.

This CAC thing is a blessing in disguise. Now when I am on leave or TDY, you can't say I should have checked my webmail!

BINGO!!!!!

Navy used to allow you to install a software PKI key on your personal computer which eliminated the need for the reader & CAC card. They just announced they are doing away with that, so no more email on the road (I'm not going to carry a reader around with my laptop :rolleyes: )

I have the software and CAC reader installed on my home PC (serial, not USB)...it works as is, so I don't ******* with it.

Actually the benefit of doing this is that you get the FREE symantec antivirus and firewall package for any computer that connects to the .mil stuff :D

pay me to check my email.....and, I'll take the time to get the CAC card. If I'm working the official email, then I should be on the clock.
My unit (and many others) keeps trying to do more with less....which leads to doing more and more with less and less.
one of the ARTs in my unit actually told me i could be more productive if i didn't insist on doing two periods of IDT to work my 10 hour day.

And no one will ever stand up and say, "We've done all we can with the 'less' you've given us. Either give us more to do it with, or we'll just DO less." Cause that'd be the end of their career, and they'd never make general/admiral.

I likewise have decided to "drop out of the loop" with this rule. OPSEC/COMSEC is the reason they give, but at the same time there has to be a way to have some kind of non-secure commercial email access. My Guard unit has always been great about paying you for the days your work, but if I had a situation like alluded to above where an ART implied you should work a full day for a 4 hour pay period then I would completely ditch checking email at home. We don't solve budget issues by taking it out of the hide of the guys who are still trying to serve the team...

i say screw it..

like it was said earlier, if they REALLY want something, they will call you...or better yet, find you and tell you what they need..

FOR A HUGE EXAMPLE...i was on leave for 2 weeks... only got emails for the first week i was gone (more on that in a sec)...but some of the first emails i got were people asking for stuff....fast forward to the end of the emails and those people were saying, "nevermind, i got what i needed"...hmmmm, sounds like the system will take care of itself.....ha.ha.

ok, for the reason i only got a week of emails....just forward yourself a 7-10 meg file and it will lock up your incontainer so bad by oversizing your limit, that you just dont GET anymore emails.....man, i wish i would have thought about that YEARS ago...ha.ha.ha.

i tell you, this company is BROKE!!!!!!!!!!

just my $.02 worth...............