What are people's thoughts on the change to A365 no longer being accessible unless you are on a .mil network or VPN?

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 May 2024 15:24:49 -0400

NETCOM pushed out guidance that they are removing the capability of being able to access A365 products from home (Webmail, OneDrive, SharePoint, etc.), unless you install and utilize the VPN. Wondering what peoples thoughts are on this, it's long been said that leadership cannot force you to install anything on your personal devices. Since email is a primary means of communication it kind of puts people in a corner.

Out of curiosity, do we have a regulation that governs what can and can't be done as leaders when it comes to stuff like this?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 1 at 2024 3:33 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 May 2024 15:33:19 -0400

As long as I can access my military email from my civilian computer, I'm fine. It's the other capabilities I need but can't get access to because there isn't enough government laptops to go around. I'm not paying out of pocket to do extra work to access Army systems on my civilian computer.

Not to mention that as a Reservist, I can't just simply take a day off from my civilian job to visit a Reserve Center/NG Armory to use a government computer. Nor would I require my Subordinates to do that.

So, higher leaders can get mad all they want when products they want done aren't getting done because Subordinates don't have the tools needed to produce these products.

Sorry, not sorry. Change my mind.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made May 1 at 2024 9:10 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 May 2024 21:10:12 -0400

In the Guard, the first version of remote access from non-GFE was a Citrix app for VPN for a virtual desktop.

For 90% of MDAYs/TPUs, the only real requirement between drills is to read a couple emails, dial into one meeting a month with slides from an email, and for those in leadership positions, completing OERs/NCOERs that they are not getting done at drill all year.

And while we still don't have a reg regarding installation of software on personal devices, it boils down to the same unspoken rule that cropped up during COVID; you don't have to install anything on your personal device, but the alternative method to get these minimum requirements done will sure make you wish like hell you just installed the app instead.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 2 at 2024 3:00 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 May 2024 03:00:03 -0400

Sometimes I think about just stopping all communication subscriptions. Is there a regulation that requires I own a smart phone? If they want to update me on a schedule change they can snail mail it to me.

What was it like in the pre 2000's when the last communication to go out to soldiers in the reserves was the last words in final formation the previous drill?

If you wanted to make a change it had to wait until next month, or it had to be important enough to use the phone chain and expect it to take a week.

The last few months of my command we commanders were required to log into MEDPROS. I lived 400 miles away from the unit and was always behind. I got lucky....... I'm never putting myself in that situation again (where my performance is largely tied to my connectivity to ARNET).

If I can get e-mail I am good to go. If that becomes a problem, welp, the USAR will just have to accept it has hundreds of thousands of soldiers will have the problem as well.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 3 at 2024 1:00 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 03 May 2024 01:00:33 -0400

I am a bit weary of this. I have a personal Surface Go 3 tablet that I use for work. I am able to get into my onedrive and email with it. As long as I can still do that in a similar manner I am fine with it. I used the BYOD and I was not pleased with it. I did not have the same functionality. I worry of the same happening again.