Taking e-care of soldiers: AR-PERSCOM launches new self-service Web portal - AR-PERSCOM News - Brief Article

WASHINGTON--The U.S. Army Reserve Personnel Command (AR-PERSCOM) joins the ranks of progressive Fortune 500 companies with its online, self-service, personnel management Web site, www.2xCitizen.usar.army.mil, commonly referred to as "Twice the Citizen." Army Reservists can volunteer online for current operations such as Enduring Freedom, while also utilizing the portal My2xCitizen as a personalized human resource tool.

AR-PERSCOM continues to enhance the recently launched My2xCitizen. The portal provides Army Reserve soldiers with a comprehensive view of their career information and enables them to uniquely customize and manage their Reserve career. The site also is designed to allow those Active Army and National Guard soldiers who have served in the Army Reserve to view historical retirement and promotion information.

"The Army Reserve is proud to be in the vanguard," said the Commander of the U.S. Army Reserve Personnel Command Col. W. Bruce Pittman. "We are using cutting edge technology to provide important up-to-date information to our large, geographically dispersed Reserve population." According to Col. Pittman, more than 32,000 Reservists have registered for My2xCitizen. The site has received more than 258,000 visits since it was launched. "We are committed to doing all we can to improve personnel readiness," Col. Pittman said.

Accessing the portal is easy. Reserve soldiers must obtain a valid Army Knowledge Online (AKO) login and password. Soldiers can then log into the portal directly from the 2xCitizen Web site home page at www.2xCitizen.usar.army.mil.

To register for an AKO account, soldiers should go to www.us.army.mil. Soldiers who do not have access to the Internet can maintain their military records and obtain information that is listed on My2xCitizen by calling the AR-PERSOM Customer Contact office at 800- 318-5298.

According to AR-PERSCOM officials, there are more than 500,000 Army Reservists available to log onto the portal. As of January 7, approximately 12,000 soldiers (units and individuals) have mobilized for operations Enduring Freedom and Noble Eagle.

"Recent military operations make access to timely information such as that provided by My2xCitizen especially important," said Anita Washington, portal business team leader. "Regardless of where they are, this service allows Reserve soldiers to verify their current contact information, update their address and telephone numbers, and obtain information on retirement points," Washington said.

Key features of My2xCitizen include:

* Integrated secure Army Knowledge Online (AKO) login;

* Personal information, such as contact date and service data;

* Mobilization instructions such as Retention and Readiness Information, including security clearance, physical, expiration term of service (ETS) and other important dates;

* Electronic military personnel documents and retirement information;

* Alerts that flag key expiration dates pertaining to the soldier's career;

* Customizable windows and components for personalization; and

* Contact information update capability (some Current Organization [CURORG] restrictions apply).

Pittman said AR-PERSCOM is continuing to seek ways to improve customer service to soldiers. He said, based on feedback from soldiers worldwide, he anticipates that additional enhancements and interactive tools will be released in the coming months.

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