Understanding Army Knowledge Online
The responsibility of a country’s security vests in the hands of its Army and Police department. A country can be safe only when it has its Army troop and Police department is in place. Setting up the army setup and police department is not an easy task. As it is something related to the country’s security it is very essential that an army set up is made fool proof and done in a highly confidential way.
One such initiative to keep the army well connected and available AKO was initiated. Army Knowledge Online was started by the US government in the late 1990’s. AKO is the US government’s army intranet. Handled in a corporate intranet style, Army Knowledge Online is accessed by its army existing officials and ex officials. AKO is used for army recruitment and for public information.
Once you get listed into the army, every individual is required 
to register on Army Knowledge Online. In other words it is mandatory for all army officials to register with this intranet system. This intranet was established with a motive of connecting all the army officials all around the world.
Some of the features and functions of this intranet is as follows:
- One of the most important feature of this online tool is its email and collaboration facilities
- Its online training modules, helps the army officials spread all over to get trained and this training also adds to credits when the officials are appraised for promotion
- This online intranet also allows the registered army officials to keep a track of their finances like salary, various allowances, leave record etc
- The access to this site is restricted only to army officials and that to through a password authentication.
- It is not accessed by the existing army officials but can be accessed by retired officials as well.
- Registering with AKO is mandatory for all army officials. The registration process includes a DoD security policy and the registration is complete by a password or by a combination of a Common Access card and pin
Though the initiative was welcomed with open arms, it also faced its share of criticism. This online facility was criticized for its speed, defects in various other functions, complex security requirement, and its inability to work with various web browsers and also the password requirements of this network is very stringent. Dissatisfaction and problems accessing personal accounts by the officials added to the criticism of AOK.
With all the criticisms and benefits, it must be understood that setting up a common network for all army officials is not a cake walk. So, at the end of the day, all initiatives face criticism and the only way available way is improvise and proceed.
