FORT JACKSON, S.C. -- The Directorate of Human Resources announced Fort Jackson’s participation in an Army pilot program at Tuesday’s installation town hall meeting at the Solomon Center.
As part of the program, 2,600 Army spouses and retirees will be issued Common Access Cards, similar to the ones issued to Soldiers, DA civilians and contractor.
“We have been selected as one of the five installations to be a test for this program,” said Sharon Jackson, team supervisor for the ID card section with the Directorate of Human Resources. “This is a voluntary program. ... You will have to apply to be selected to this program. Once you apply and are selected, you will receive an email showing that you have been selected. You will get an appointment to come to Fort Jackson to receive your ID card, your card reader and an information packet.”
The card will allow participants to use their home computers to log into AKO and other Army websites that are only accessible via CAC.
Interested spouses and retirees should apply on the AKO website. Participants need to meet certain requirements.
“You can only have one CAC ID card,” Jackson said. “If you have a CAC card in your possession at this time, you are ineligible to volunteer for this program.”
That means that spouses and retirees who work on post and are issued a CAC are ineligible to participate. Volunteers also need to own a personal computer with Windows XP, Vista or 7 operating systems; have an active AKO email account; have Internet Explorer, version 7 or higher; have an open USB port on the computer; and have high-speed Internet service.
Jackson pointed out that the new cards will not show the cardholder’s face and are not designed to replace current retiree and spouse identification cards that are used to access services on post.
“That card is not for the Commissary or the PX,” she said. “That card is only for them to use on their home computer.”
The program will begin in September and run through February.
During the town hall meeting, representatives from numerous organizations also presented information about the upcoming school year. For more back-to-school news, see next week’s Leader.
The next installation town hall meeting is scheduled for February.
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