Dyess begins migration to AFNet Published Aug. 6, 2013 By Airman 1st Class Peter Thompson 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The aggravation of having to setup e-mail services after a permanent change of station or temporary duty will soon be coming to an end for Dyess Airmen, as the base transitions to a central Air Force communications network in September. The Air Force Network Integration Center and 24th Air Force have established a user directory and e-mail service for all AFNet users. The goal of the migration is to collapse stand-alone environments into a single, integrated network structure under the control of a single commander and managed by a group of communications professionals. "Dyess will join several other bases that have already made the switch to the integrated network," said Master Sgt. Daniel Siratt, 7th Communications Squadron. "While it seems simple, the migration will significantly improve network security, standardize the cyber environment and reduce costs by eliminating redundant systems and services." In the past, unique mission requirements and operational concerns drove major commands and various organizations to create individual e-mail and network services. The stand-alone structures lacked standardization and adequate security, and were expensive to operate and maintain. With the new arrangement will come an "enterprise of situational awareness" and a single organization under a single commander, responsible for the network. "This is just like the original 13 colonies of America," said 1st Lt. Anthony Tipton, 7th Communications Squadron. "When the colonies were separate, they had different ways of doing almost everything. After they combined under one governed body, they became stronger." All Dyess organizations will take part in the transition with the most significant change being the format of e-mail addresses. Once complete, e-mail addresses for Dyess users will no longer be first.last@dyess.af.mil, they will be adjusted to the standard first.last@us.af.mil. As additional bases shift, Airmen will be capable of logging into any connected Air Force computer without having to re-register for computer access, also eliminating the need to deactivate previous accounts. With the transition date dawning closer, AFNIC and 7th CS technicians are preparing equipment and resources to facilitate the migration of more than 5,000 local users. Furthermore, information assurance officers, client support administrators and functional system administrators will be trained to assist their units, to complete the transition as smoothly as possible. However, they will still need the cooperation of Team Dyess to make the conversion easier, Siratt said. The 7th CS asks the base as a whole, to immediately begin taking the following steps to ensure a successful change-over: Ensure your mailbox is under the allowable size limit. Make sure all new personnel are in-processing through the Comm Focal Point to be added to the local domain, so they have access until the migration is complete. Make sure you are current on your Information Assurance training through this calendar year. Everyone must be current no later than Aug. 30. Begin notifying your contacts outside the Air Force, as your dyess.af.mil address will no longer receive mail by 2014. You will receive e-mails at the Air Force address immediately, but your outbound address will stay your local e-mail address until your account migrates. Ensure mail does not deliver to a Personal Folder/ .pst. Turn-off all rules that auto-forward your e-mails to another e-mail address. Be prepared to leave your computer on and ready to test your e-mail, sharepoint access and other permissions when your unit is scheduled for your part of the migration. Understand there will be some changes with help desk procedures following migration. "This advancement is going to revolutionize the system," Siratt said. "It behooves all of us to get this done quickly and correctly. Once it is complete, the benefits will be passed on to everyone at Dyess."