Posted on Dec 29, 2013
Interesting way to keep soldier informed using Google. What do you do?
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In my last unit my Arms Room NCOIC and I had a lot of time to figure out the unit's various issues. We were "peers" at one point, him being a SGT and I a CPL (before failing to get promoted and being brought back to SPC), we were both very open and had no problem discussing topics of importance even if we may have crossed the line either way.
The biggest issue was keeping a soldier informed, and time off.
We found that a product as simple as Google Drive did two things. Kept a soldier informed, and let him keep his days off. How?
Well if annual training has a suspense date of "OH MY GOD RIGHT NOW!" and your soldier is off, but has it completed however he is three towns over and you call him he may not make it to the "RIGHT NOW" portion. But the Google Drive app on his phone, and access to it on NIPR made it easy for anyone in the office that day to print, provided they had access. That soldier then doesn't have to make the trek back to the unit in civilian clothes to suffer through some class and can do the class at home, so long as it gets done "RIGHT NOW!"
If you are interested in Google Drive and how things like that may help check it out. Think of it as a shared drive that isn't isolated to NIPR only, and you can make it just as secure.
EDIT: After posting this I realize that some things may be out of regulation and otherwise not allowed, understand the chain of command never endorsed it or said that this was the standard, this was just our way to take care of a minor issue using technology.
The biggest issue was keeping a soldier informed, and time off.
We found that a product as simple as Google Drive did two things. Kept a soldier informed, and let him keep his days off. How?
Well if annual training has a suspense date of "OH MY GOD RIGHT NOW!" and your soldier is off, but has it completed however he is three towns over and you call him he may not make it to the "RIGHT NOW" portion. But the Google Drive app on his phone, and access to it on NIPR made it easy for anyone in the office that day to print, provided they had access. That soldier then doesn't have to make the trek back to the unit in civilian clothes to suffer through some class and can do the class at home, so long as it gets done "RIGHT NOW!"
If you are interested in Google Drive and how things like that may help check it out. Think of it as a shared drive that isn't isolated to NIPR only, and you can make it just as secure.
EDIT: After posting this I realize that some things may be out of regulation and otherwise not allowed, understand the chain of command never endorsed it or said that this was the standard, this was just our way to take care of a minor issue using technology.
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Edited 11 y ago
Posted 11 y ago
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Sounds like a viable concept, but we all know the reality of having a body count, you have to have bodies in seats and physically accounted for the credit of "Right Now" to be counted by the higher echelons.
It all sounds good, but would never fly at least right now for functionality.
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As an INFOSEC/ OPSEC guy, I would say "never put anything on Google Drive that you do not mind sharing with a Chinese or Russian soldier". Assuming the data did not include PII or Critical Information, I would stick with DISA-approved information sharing products that are CAC enabled. I understand that not all members have CACs or computers configured for such access, so it becomes a risk management issue. If you do not have a communications officer or help desk to assist, then my suggestion is to at least use MS Office products that are password protected.
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I currently use Google Drive. I have made a platoon folder for my leadership in my platoon to. You also have an option of using GKO. You have use a unit page and have info stored there. But once again you will have to have the CAC. You will have to careful to what you post there. But being realistic in the Guard some soldiers don't have CAC readers and will not be able to get into AKO and drill letters are usually sent to soldiers on their civilian email. It is a tool that you can use but it it must be maintained carefully. I will ensure nothing there is sensitive. I am not to worried about if the people in the area know if we have drill the first weekend of the month. They will figure it out because it is always on the first weekend of the month. If it is something that I wouldn't want someone to see I use the GKO site that is secure.
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