{"id":32749,"date":"2022-08-23T12:50:15","date_gmt":"2022-08-23T12:50:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/uncategorized\/2022\/08\/23\/will-soldiers-get-gmail-us-army-planning-pilots-next-steps\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T18:34:48","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T18:34:48","slug":"will-soldiers-get-gmail-us-army-planning-pilots-next-steps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/battlefield-tech\/it-networks-battlefield-tech\/2022\/08\/23\/will-soldiers-get-gmail-us-army-planning-pilots-next-steps\/","title":{"rendered":"Will soldiers get Gmail? Army considers expanding beta test"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

AUGUSTA, Ga. \u2014 U.S. Army leadership is mulling advancing and expanding its preliminary test of Google Workspace, a suite that could soothe the service\u2019s previous information technology troubles that left thousands without working email.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Senior officials will decide the pilot\u2019s next steps \u201cover the next several weeks,\u201d Lt. Gen. John Morrison<\/a>, deputy chief of staff, G-6, said Aug. 17. He provided few other details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got champions that are in that environment. We are learning about it,\u201d the top uniformed Army IT official said on the sidelines of the AFCEA TechNet Augusta conference. \u201cWe are getting all the tactics, techniques and procedures that we need to.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Army quietly began beta testing Google Workspace<\/a> earlier this year. The ongoing pilot mirrors others under the Army umbrella, including the bring your own device initiative, which lets soldiers and staff connect to government systems using personal electronics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Google platform is a front-running option to serve troops who may have lost access to official email accounts amid a turbulent transition from Defense Enterprise Email and its mail.mil addresses to the Army 365 system, involving Microsoft-based products. The new Army 365 suite includes an Army.mil email, but the Army decided not all soldiers required them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEverybody knows that Defense Enterprise Email is on a path to sunset conditions-based, and I\u2019ve said that before,\u201d Morrison said<\/a>. \u201cSo that\u2019s really what we\u2019re taking a look at.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to documents and briefings obtained by Army Times last year, around 250,000 personnel \u2014 predominantly junior enlisted soldiers \u2014 were not included in the service\u2019s Army 365 licensing plan, with sources describing the decision as cost-driven. The service publicly committed to maintaining official email access for those members by building an \u201calternate email solution\u201d after Army Times reported<\/a> it had considered eliminating their email.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Morrison reiterated that commitment Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat we are committed to,\u201d he said, \u201cis making sure that every one of our soldiers, regardless of [component], all of our DA civilians and the appropriate contractors have access to Army email capabilities and the capabilities they need to do their mission.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t