E-mail reduction is next step in AFNet implementation

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Travis Edwards
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  Airmen checking their e-mail after Aug. 22 might be surprised to see their e-mail boxes at full capacity as the 86th Communication Squadron lines itself up with the Air Force Network.

Currently, e-mail boxes that exceed 1.5 GB in size will now be reduced to 1 GB, 500 MB and 100MB categories, which are determined by the individual or group's organizational level.

"This reduction in e-mail size is necessary to be in line with the rest of the Air Force," said Senior Airman Weston Lepak, 86th CS network operations specialist. "There is a storage space requirement for us to enter AFNet and this conforms to those standards."

AFNet, when implemented in 2013, will be a one-time account creation that allows users to utilize Air Force networks and log in, from any Air Force computer on any base around the world.

"Users shouldn't worry," said Lepak. "You don't have to delete your e-mail because your 'mailbox is full.' (Microsoft) Outlook has a personal storage folder called a PST file, which can be used to store e-mails."

He added that only e-mails critical to daily operations should be maintained on the exchange server e-mail inbox when the update goes live.

E-mails stored in a user's .pst file will not count against a user's new allotted network mailbox size limit.

"We ask that Airmen ensure their current mailboxes are ready before the 22 August deadline," said Tech. Sgt. Jeremiah McDonald, 86th CS NCOIC of network operations. "If users have any questions, concerns or need assistance creating a PST file, they should contact their unit information assurance officers."

Ramstein is the last base in U.S. Air Forces in Europe to make the change to the e-mail size, which is due to the sheer size of the base and complexity of its operations, said McDonald.

The next step is in summer 2012 when Team Ramstein crosses over into the AFNet.

"There is a storage space requirement for us to enter AFNet and this conforms to those standards," said Lepak.

AFNet, when implemented in 2013, will be a one-time account creation that allows users to utilize Air Force networks and log in, from any Air Force computer on any base around the world.

"Being proactive is key," said Senior Master Sgt. Vegas Clark, 86th Communications Squadron superintendent of cyber and knowledge operations. "Users should get ahead of the deadline now and start taking steps to reduce their mailbox sizes; once 22 August comes around, there should be minimal to no impact on current ops."