CACs and Personal Computers

Want to use your Common Access Card (CAC) to log onto AKO/DKO from your personal computer?

You need four things:

• Have a CAC reader (hardware)
• Install the DoD Certificates (software)
• Install ActivClient (software)
• CAC registered with AKO 

Where can you find this information?

MilitaryCAC Public site developed and maintained by CW3 (Chief Warrant Officer Three) Michael J. Danberry

Additional resources from the Military CAC site and on Facebook

AKO log in needed for the following links:

From the AKO/DKO CAC Reference Center

Resources for Apple users

Resources for Linux users

Don't want to do a total install or do not have the requirement to sign documents or use DTS?

Try LPS (Lightweight Portable Security) which allows you to use your CAC to log on to CAC enabled sites. Lightweight Portable Security (LPS) creates a secure end node from trusted media on almost any Intel-based computer (PC or Mac). LPS boots a thin Linux operating system from a CD without mounting a local hard drive.

The MilitaryCAC.com website was developed and is maintained by CW3 (Chief Warrant Officer Three) Michael J. Danberry. MilitaryCAC.com has been online since 9 November 2007 and has grown into a large website for CAC related information and support. CW3 Danberry is the content provider for the AKO CAC Reference Center.

Have you installed a CAC reader on your PC? Do you have recommendations and lessons learned for others?

Links used (for those whose cannot access links to click through):

CAC Readers http://militarycac.com/usbreaders.htm

AKO/DKO CAC Reference Center https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/241504
AKO/DKO CAC resources for Apple users  https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/610909
AKO/DKO CAC resources for Linux users https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/610911
MilitaryCAC.com Many resources https://militarycac.com/
Military CAC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=54695915978
Lightweight Portable Security (LPS) http://spi.dod.mil/lipose.htm
About CW3 Danberry https://militarycac.com/aboutme.htm

What is milSuite?

Update: milSuite Enterprise Edition launched February 19, 2011: https://www.milsuite.mil
Links are updated in the blog post.

The 30 second YouTube commercial about milSuite

milSuite is a collection of online tools designed to promote collaboration and information sharing, in a secure, online environment and was launched in October 2009. The milSuite portfolio currently includes milBook, milBlog, and milWiki.


milSuite provides these capabilities by focusing on three main objectives:  locating information, sharing knowledge and connecting people. CAC (Common Access Card) must be registered with valid AKO/DKO account to access the milSuite components.

milSuite has a presence on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, and YouTube.

milBook is an initiative to connect people across the AKO/DKO community.  milBook acts as a central hub for networking workforce professionals with others of similar interests, much like the popular social media sites Facebook™ and LinkedIn™.  Users have the ability to share information through group blogs, discussions, and private wiki documents allowing secure communities of interest to grow and connect with others across the greater Military community.


milWiki is a collaboration tool used by the AKO/DKO community.  It is a powerful tool and a living knowledge bank where experts are encouraged to contribute their experience and knowledge and update the information as it happens.  It allows users to integrate and interlink knowledge into topical-based articles and collaborate on issues up to and including UNCLASSIFIED/FOUO documentation.  milWiki's goal is to capture the intellectual property of the AKO/DKO community and allow users to easily locate and expand upon that knowledge through community updates.


milBlog is a place to find and share the latest news, insider articles, comments, and posts from the community.  It is designed to invite collaboration through discussion and comments on news, events, and announcements that impact the greater AKO/DKO community.  Readers can comment and ask questions that really get the discussion started.  milBlog provides quick easy access and a secure awareness to mission related knowledge and information.


milTube is a platform to capture the numerous internal videos being created across the Department of Defense.

*Clicking on the links for milBook, milBlog, and milWiki will direct you to the milSuite page unless you are logged in with AKO/DKO credentials. The milSuite components, milBook, milBlog, milWiki, and milTube can be accessed from the My Training page through AKO/DKO.


Supplemental articles:
PEO C3T Catapults Army into Social Media Arena December 2009
milBook harnesses social media behind DOD firewalls January 2010
milSuite is the new water cooler Feb 2010 
Collaboration Tools for the Federal Government March 2010
A Case of Social Military April 2010


milSuite has a presence on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, and YouTube.