When on the road with a Highly Secure laptop, how do you communicate with folks back home? Do you bring a personal laptop with you?

I bring my personal computer with me. And the govt laptop never leaves the bag, that is no more than 2 ft from me at all times, until I need it for official business.

I always figured if it was a secure Government computer I only did authorized Government business on it. I did My own things only on My own computer and never mixed the two. Although I have a cell phone I own I can receive Email on, Text etc. I use that to communicate with people at home. When I'm away I tend not to spend any time on any computer I don't have to. I usually had other things to do beside roost on a computer. If I called home my calls were usually short and had a purpose. I never liked blabbing on the phone or sending text messages. I always thought phones were kind of annoying and didn't call people at home if I didn't have to . At work I have to answer the phone, thats fine but at home I prefer the peace and quiet and no ringing phones. That kind of drifted from laptops but I tend to be very careful and except for limited Emails don't often use it to communicate with people at home anyway. When i see people that have got in real trouble with misuse of Government computers I decided long ago to never take any risk.

I believe that so long as your highly secure laptop is locked up and stowed away properly, then you may use your personal laptop. However these two items cannot be packed away in the same container, and your personal laptop should NEVER enter a secure space. I would also consult whatever instruction you use for Information Security or ask a superior as Navy regulations may differ from Army.

Well apparently if you're Secret Service, you just leave the highly secure laptop in plain view in your car while parked at home. Glad I'm retiring because I know this will somehow result in more mandatory training for the Army. On a serious note, if by "Highly Secure" you mean classified, I really hope you are not flying with a hard drive, I have seen who teams disbanded for that. I never heard anything about not being able to use your own laptop while on a trip, only those locations where you couldn't bring your own laptop in.

Govt/classified computer is for Govt/classified business. In my case they (usually 3) stayed bagged up until we arrived at final destination. I couriered them a lot in Iraq, a pain in the butt. :)
Personal computer was for my personal business, never the twain shall meet.

SPC Erich Guenther You would communicate with folks back home on a cell phone or personal laptop. Using a government computer for personal business is not a good idea.

Yes, the classified equipment is just that, a tool, piece of government equipment, my NIPR laptop came along for the ride, and often my personal one as well..depending on what i want to do while away from my base of operations. Basic personal email and Internet browsing on the GOV lap top on the NIPR side is possible ..But if i wanted to use a non CIV connection them it had to me my personal laptop.
So it was common for me to board a Helo with a Pelican case that had three laptops and associated other gear.

SPC Erich Guenther If by highly secure you mean a computer with classified, you would not be able to communicate with anyone unless you and the other end are in the appropriate network, so what's the question again?

Well yeah... or a smart phone... why would you be using government property for personal business.

I don't know what Highly Secure means, but follow the rules according to its classification level. I used to carry a personal laptop everywhere, but shortly before retirement was relying on a tablet and smartphone for just about everything personal.