GI Mail provides secure, reliable e-mail link to loved ones

  • Published
  • By Cynthia Bauer
  • Air Mobility Command Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFPN) --  With airmen deployed away from home, the opportunity to communicate with loved ones takes on greater importance.

"To provide a link back home, Air Force Crossroads, the Air Force's official community Web site, offers a secure and reliable e-mail program through Global Internet Mail to help families keep in touch," said Capt. Greg Whitaker of the Air Mobility Command Network Operations and Security Center here.

"Although there are other nonprofit and commercial e-mail and Internet services available, military members need to understand GI Mail is sponsored and maintained by the Air Force. We can't verify the operational capability or security of other such services," he said.

Registration for GI Mail is free for those eligible through the Air Force Crossroads Web site at www.afcrossroads.com. Airmen can log in to the Web-based system from any computer with Internet access. Eligible users include active duty, Reserve, National Guard, retired or civil service employees and their authorized family members.

Whitaker said there are three great reasons to use GI Mail: security, bandwidth and availability.

"You've probably heard about the various break-ins and hacker attacks at free commercial e-mail providers," he said. "GI Mail is a Department of Defense system, employing the same great security you've grown accustomed to in AMC," he said.

Concerning bandwidth, there is no advertising or "spamming" from junk mail distributors on GI Mail, unlike commercial providers. "Not only will the service remain speedy even in the most remote or forward locations, users will not spend time sifting through mountains of junk mail," Whitaker said. "And GI Mail is a DOD product provided for morale. Unlike civilian services, the system will get the attention and maintenance that our deployed personnel deserve."

Besides GI Mail, the Air Force Crossroads Web site also offers forums and online chat rooms, and has online videoconferencing tools under development. Access the Web site and click on "Communications Center" for additional information.

According to CeCe Medford, chief of AMC's Family Matters Branch, families who do not have computers or Internet access can rely on family support centers for help.

"Our family support centers have gone the extra mile to ensure families can stay in touch, even without a home computer," she said. "The FSCs have computers with connections to Internet service providers available for families to use."

Medford said that family readiness noncommissioned officers can explain videoconferencing, how to borrow digital and video cameras, how to sign up for morale calls, and special family activities.