How many here think AKO is a horrible internet system?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 09:12:58 -0500

I hate AKO, its cumbersome, not user friendly, difficult to navigate and should be scrapped in my humble opinion. It does not work well with a Mac, half the time I cannot even access my email, it sucks!<div><br></div><div>When on a FOB/COP with limited internet access, it eats up a huge amount of bandwidth and you cannot even get on it. </div><div><div><br></div><div>I understand security protocols, but its not even a secure system. </div><div><br></div><div>I have yet to meet anyone who say,"gee, AKO is great!".</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div>

Response by CPT Mike M. made Nov 19 at 2013 3:25 PM

CPT Mike M. — Tue, 19 Nov 2013 15:25:09 -0500

I for one think it's among the most non-user friendly websites I've come across. It tries to be too much. Getting away from broad, open ended complaints and into some specifics I have, here's my top 3:
1) Forms search doesn't ever seem to find anything I'm looking for. Once again, Google is my go-to for real information
2) Design isn't clean, it's so cluttered with links and different sections that it's impossible to find what you're looking for

3) In general, there's nothing that it provides that can't be accessed more easily and/or quicker through Google.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2013 9:41 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 09:41:55 -0500

I would expect everyone who has ever used it would answer "yes".

Response by 1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2013 11:41 AM

1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 11:41:17 -0500

I honestly never had any complaints about AKO until the e-mail migration to Outlook. I think the original AKO web-mail wasn't exactly gmail, but it sufficed. The new OWA has so many accessibility limitations that our guard unit now uses civvie email for distro.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2013 4:20 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 16:20:01 -0500

Don't even get me started -<div><br></div><div>AKO, like most Army computer-related systems, is absolute garbage. The Army is full of different "systems" that don't talk to each other, and are just a jumbled mess of crap.</div><div><br></div><div>AKO always brags about how many searches are done each day and month. Have you ever tried to use the search function? It sucks!!! It's horrible, you can't find anything. It's easier to Google something than to use AKO.</div><div><br></div><div>It's a sensitive subject for me, I can't stand the utter ineptitude of DoD information systems in general. AKO is one of the worst.</div>

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2013 5:11 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 17:11:14 -0500

I do agree with the FOB issue. It almost never worked for us. I think it needs to be lightened up, made simpler and user friendly.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2013 5:30 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 17:30:16 -0500

It's not just AKO either; it's JKO, ALMS, ATRRS, GoArmyEd, Skillport, Medpros... they're all broken. The best thing that ever happened was the e-mail migration.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2013 5:37 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 17:37:10 -0500

Oh, and AKO tells me it's great all the time, every time I log in. That's the only person or thing that has ever said AKO is great.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2013 9:31 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Dec 2013 21:31:06 -0500

I use it for AKO forms, do my PHA part 1, print out my LES, and if needs be, check out Enterprises email, and let's not even touch that hot mess. You can't even open a link anymore, except for endless surveys from TRADOC. So, in response to your first question, I'd rather run a marathon during yellow dust season in Korea than use AKO on a regular basis.

Response by CW3 Michael Danberry made Feb 10 at 2014 8:50 PM

CW3 Michael Danberry — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 20:50:22 -0500

CPT Miller,

1. I hope you are aware that the forms "portion of AKO" is NOT AKO. If you look at the URL, you are being redirected to https://myforms.ecms.army.mil this site is maintained by the Army Publishing Directorate (APD). You can convey your thoughts to them by contacting them: Web: http://www.apd.army.mil/Home/FAQ/PureEdge.asp -
Email: [login to see]
- Phone: [login to see] -
DSN: [login to see]

2. Can't really talk about the cleanliness, remember, most military members want "everything" in one place and not have to look around. This is going to cause clunkines. This will all be converted to SharePoint in the future, so, you'll have your chance to help rebuild your units presense on AKO, and will be 100% CAC only.

3. The biggest benefit to AKO is the ability to get to it from anywhere. Even on a VSAT where you can only access https:.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2014 11:56 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 11:56:05 -0500

I'm sure it was a good idea at the time. Linking all the systems to AKO login was ok, it solved some of the need to maintain multiple username/passwords. However it created a single point of failure. Then when everyone elses budget was cut i'm sure AKO's was as well; this being a prime example of you get what you pay for. AKO actually brags about having minimal staff and operating under low budget.

Response by CW3 Michael Danberry made May 2 at 2014 8:15 PM

CW3 Michael Danberry — Fri, 02 May 2014 20:15:48 -0400

SFC Ross, you are aware that our Enterprise Email is not part of AKO, right? This is now handled by DISA. It is 100% CAC required. The Army CIO/G6 is trying to scrap AKO, so, be careful what you ask for. It is changing from how we know it.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2014 10:48 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 May 2014 22:48:36 -0400

I am with you on that one. Especially for those of us in the Guard and/or Reserves. It a hassle. I miss the days when I would get my AKO to my phone. Now I have to wait til I can get to my CAC reader or to the nearest Armory. It is a nightmare.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 16 at 2014 5:57 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 16 May 2014 05:57:42 -0400

AKO is a snapshot of how bloated and inefficient the Army has become. One minute spent on there with the multiple "programs, applications, or systems", you see that almost every aspect of army life is covered by one of these. Yes, I am saying this has swiftly become a waste of money.

It's a great idea, but if the practicality actually met with its intent it would probably have 1 tab instead of 50. To retrieve even the most useful information, ERB or LES, you are exported to another website. SFC Jones is correct, you'll have better luck using google to find what you're looking for.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made May 16 at 2014 2:41 PM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Fri, 16 May 2014 14:41:28 -0400

AKO is secure only in that it is literally impossible to access and effectively use.

Response by SSgt Gregory Guina made May 16 at 2014 4:29 PM

SSgt Gregory Guina — Fri, 16 May 2014 16:29:06 -0400

No experience with AKO but NKO isn't much better. As a matter of fact I would say that the majority of the websites that I hve to use for work are not the best. Things like this happen when everything is built/designed by the lowest bidder.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2014 6:52 PM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 May 2014 18:52:36 -0400

SFC Ross, had this thread started out with Mail.mil vs AKO, I would have definitely gotten on my soapbox. AKO isnt that bad for what it is. I do like the ability to upload files and share them. Finding people on AKO is a bit easier than elsewhere too, but for the most part I would agree that its a bit over rated.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jul 17 at 2014 8:42 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Thu, 17 Jul 2014 20:42:11 -0400

Like your M16 (or variants there of), it too was built by the lowest bidding contractor.

Response by LCpl Steve Wininger made Jul 17 at 2014 9:29 PM

LCpl Steve Wininger — Thu, 17 Jul 2014 21:29:52 -0400

Sounds like the Healthcare website.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 18 at 2014 12:30 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 00:30:45 -0400

AKO had it's moment. It's basically is what MySpace was before. The system is unusable, bloated, and forces users to avoid the site.

How many people dread checking enterprise email, or MEDPROS and other army sites? AKO needs to hire a user interface manager. If people enjoy the sites, they will be used and the effectiveness of the sites would multiple. Imagine a smart phone app... Anyways thinking to far ahead.

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Jul 18 at 2014 8:44 AM

CW5 Sam R. Baker — Fri, 18 Jul 2014 08:44:34 -0400

and frankly MilSuite is not much better..........

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 30 at 2014 1:54 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Aug 2014 13:54:40 -0400

The only thing worse than the AKO email system is the new Enterprise email system.

As for the rest of the AKO site, it's useful as a collection of links to other sites (iperms, Army Times, etc). The site itself is worthless, and the search function serves only to waste time and increase blood pressure.