Soldier Blog Posts Rss

  • The Cost of Freedom

    December 2, 2010

    By: Major Sheldon Smith


    Below links and an excerpt from Veterans Day 2010 remarks I delivered in the town of Gaithersburg, Md. ------------------------------- For more information on the event, visit the following link: http://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/poi/default.asp?POI_ID=309&TOC=309;&id=4698 For a video from the event, visit the following link: http://gaithersburg.patch.com/articles/video-gaithersburg-veterans-day-ceremony The Gaithersburg Patch also ran an article on the event at the follwing link:...read more

  • AKO/DKO Game Room

    September 9, 2010

    By: Major Sheldon Smith


    Did you know AKO/DKO features a Game Room that contains online games, interactive programs, wallpaper downloads, cut-out model equipment and more? For details, visit the following link (AKO/DKO logon required): https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/612696.

  • Finding friends, colleagues in AKO

    August 11, 2010

    By: Major Sheldon Smith


    Did you know AKO can help you find anyone in the Army? AKO’s People directory enables Soldiers, Civilians, Army contractors and even family members to find anyone in the total Army workforce, anywhere in the world. The advanced search function, combined with My Profiles, enables repaid and relevant searches for Soldiers with special skills or abilities. How can this help you? Here is an example. You may have just been assigned to Fort Hood, Texas, and want to find...read more

  • Did you know AKO/DKO e-mail may be available through your smartphone?

    July 1, 2010

    By: Major Sheldon Smith


    Many Soldiers or civilians who are just entering the Army may not be aware they can use certain hand-held devices or smartphones to check their Army Knowledge Online/Defense Knowledge Online e-mail. From the AKO/DKO Frequently-Asked Questions, I’d like to provide you with the below information. ---------------------- Configuration and troubleshooting support for handheld devices is not currently available from the AKO/DKO Customer Support Center; however, these devices may...read more

  • How can AKO help Soldiers when they deploy?

    June 23, 2010

    By: Major Sheldon Smith


    Nearly 18 months ago, I found myself at Fort Bragg, N.C., preparing to deploy to Afghanistan for a year. My unit was taking part in a couple of exercises, and I was busy creating templates for products I would use once I reached my final destination. By the time the exercises ended, I had accumulated a useful body of information that would be helpful to my section when we arrived in theater. Many of my colleagues chose to save their information on a shared drive that would be...read more

  • Soldiers get new, improved webmail

    June 8, 2010

    By: Major Sheldon Smith


    If you have an Army Knowledge Online account, you have probably used webmail. The Army is in the process of upgrading its webmail, giving it more and better features. Here are some quick facts about AKO Webmail: - It provides Soldiers one e-mail address, which is used throughout his or her time in the Army. - AKO Webmail is accessible virtually anywhere there’s an internet connection. - Webmail 2 gives you the same types of capabilities popular desktop clients...read more

  • Reflections from a Kandahar PAO

    June 4, 2010

    By: Major Sheldon Smith


    I was finishing up my work in Kandahar, Afghanistan, Dec. 9, 2009, when I decided to write down some of my thoughts concerning the ten months I spent there. Below are my reflections: ------------- Tonight, after ten months on the ground in Afghanistan, I can finally say that my work here is done. My replacement is up and running. I’ve introduced him to all of the key players here on base – people he will form professional relationships with and collaborate in the...read more

  • AKO training available online for new users

    June 3, 2010

    By: Major Sheldon Smith


    Those of you who are who are in the process of becoming Soldiers may be interested in learning more about Army Knowledge Online. AKO is the Army portal, and it gives you access to a variety of services ranging from a secure e-mail account to areas to store your files, a secure instant messenger, and access to medical, training and personnel information, and much more. To insure that you are up to speed with AKO by the time you reach your unit, we recommend that you take advantage of training...read more

  • What is the relationship between Army Knowledge Online and Defense cloud computing?

    May 27, 2010

    By: Major Sheldon Smith


    Most experts might tell you that the cloud computing concept is based on granting users within a certain community of organizations access to a collection of shared resources, including information, software or other services. These resources exist within a virtual realm to which access is granted through a set of credentials that are accepted throughout the cloud. In cloud computing, the common denominator is the Internet. This is a departure from the traditional way of doing business...read more