The following information was pulled from the ASR welcome packet produced by the ASR Managers (See Attachment below for a detailed explanation with pictures).
I. ARMY KNOWLEDGE ONLINE (AKO) ACCOUNT
As an ASR /new officer in the Army National Guard, you will need to go ahead and set up certain accounts. One of those accounts is an Army Knowledge Online (AKO) account. This account will give you a military email address, contact information and general information on what is going on in the Army and Army National Guard. Like all things in the Army, there is a process for setting up an AKO account/CAC Card.
1. After your state swears you in and you sign your Oath of Office (NGB 327), your packet is sent to the State G-1, which is the administrative center for your State’s Army National Guard. That is where you are uploaded into the Army system. The system is called SIDPERS (Standard Installation/Division Personnel System). Once you are in SIDPERS (it could take anywhere from 7-10 days from the day your packet is submitted to G-1 for you to be loaded into the system), you are able to set up your AKO account.
2. Go to www.us.army.mil , click on “I Accept”.
3. Once you get the login page, there is a section called “New User”. Click on “Register for AKO”.
4. It will take you to an Account Registration page. Click on “Create Army Account”.
5. From there, follow the steps needed to set up your AKO account.
II.GUARD KNOWLEDGE ONLINE (GKO) ACCOUNTS
Another important website that you will need to access is GKO (Guard Knowledge Online). Like AKO, you will need to register your CAC card with this site before you can access it. Go to https://gko.ngb.army.mil/Login/welcome.aspx. Below where it says “Log in to GKO”, click on “New User: Register for GKO Account”. Follow the steps to create an account and register your CAC card. GKO is a great site for information on ASR information. Once you are at the home page of GKO, on the left, click on “ARNG (Army National Guard)”. The next page, scroll down to the “Special Staff” section and click on “Office of the Chief Surgeon”. From that webpage, you can get information on everything AMEDD. The best link is the AMEDD Recruiting Resource. That’s the link you will be using the most.
III. CAC CARDS AND CAC READER
Once you have your AKO account set up and you are in SIDPERS, you now are able to get your CAC Card. (Common Access Card). Your CAC card will act as your military ID card and you will be able to access Army websites without logging on using your username and password like AKO, MyPay and GKO. You will need to go to a military ID card office. Every State’s National Guard will have an ID card office. You will need to bring two forms of ID (one a picture ID) and a copy of your State’s orders stating that you are an officer in the National Guard. If you are not close to a National Guard’s ID office, you can go to any active duty station (Army, Air Force, Marines and Navy) and get your CAC Card there. They have ID offices.
To be able to use your CAC card on your personal computer, you will need to get a CAC Reader. A CAC Reader will able you to sign on to all Army websites using your CAC. You can purchase a CAC Reader for the AKO website, best buy, www.aafes.com or anywhere computer hardware to sold. Once you have a CAC Reader and a CAC card, you will need to install DoD (Department of Defense) certificates. “You will need to install the certificates on you CAC Card before you can log on to AKO using your CAC Card” Log on to AKO using your AKO username and password. When you get to the main page, click on “Quick Links”. Scroll down and highlight “CAC” and click it; then click on “CAC Resource Center”. The CAC Resource Center will have everything you need to install DoD certificates, help you load software for you CAC Reader and register your CAC card. You can also contact the CAC Resource Center Help Desk directly from the webpage.