ALCOAST 119/20 - APR 2020 COMMON ACCESS CARD (CAC) MODERNIZATION – CAC HOLDER GUIDANCE

R 021445 APR 20
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-6//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS//N05500//
ALCOAST 119/20
COMDTNOTE 5500
SUBJ: COMMON ACCESS CARD (CAC) MODERNIZATION – CAC HOLDER GUIDANCE
A. DoD Memorandum Regarding Modernizing the Common Access Card (CAC) –
Streamlining Identity and Improving Operational Interoperability December 2018.
B. DoD Memorandum Relief from Modernizing the Common Access Card - Streamlining Identity
and Improving Operational Interoperability
1. On 15 June 2020, the Coast Guard will begin transitioning to the new CAC certificate
as directed by REFs (A) and (B). The CAC is the Coast Guard’s primary means for
authentication to access Coast Guard workstations, unclassified networks, information
systems, and applications. All Coast Guard personnel who possess a CAC must follow
this guidance for proper authentication to these systems. This guidance also applies
to personnel who possess Auxiliary Logical Access Cards (ALAC) and Volunteer Logical
Access Cards (VoLAC).
2. As of 4 March 2020, approximately 10% of the Coast Guard workforce require the
“authentication” certificate. Those individuals received an email notification with
instructions for adding the certificate to their CAC. It is imperative these individuals
follow the instructions by 31 May 2020 in preparation for this transition.
3. Starting 15 June 2020, Coast Guard user accounts will automatically transition in
a phased approach to enable the usage of the “authentication” certificate for logging
into Coast Guard workstations, unclassified networks, information systems, and
applications. Coast Guard personnel in the geographic regions below will begin using
the “authentication” certificate on this date:
15 June 2020: District 1
17 June 2020: District 5 (last names A-M)
19 June 2020: District 5 (last names N-Z)
22 June 2020: Districts 7 and 8
24 June 2020: Districts 9, 11, and 13
26 June 2020: Districts 14 and 17
4. User accounts could take up to 24 hours to update from the date listed above.
Therefore, users may receive an error message when selecting the “authentication”
certificate while attempting to log into a Coast Guard workstation or accessing
applications on the day of their scheduled transition. If this occurs, select the
“email” certificate (the same certificate used today to log into workstations), and
continue using the “email” certificate until this certificate is no longer accepted.
5. For Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) visit https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/CAC/.
CAC holders experiencing CAC or sign in related issues during this transition period
should submit a CGFIXIT request via the CGFIXIT icon on their desktop and proceed to:
I NEED HELP WITH > MY CAC OR LOGIN > REQUEST NOW > I AM HAVING OTHER CAC ISSUES NOT
IDENTIFIED ABOVE.
6. If unable to log into a Coast Guard workstation to submit a request, contact the
Centralized Service Desk (CSD) at 1-855-CG-FIXIT (1-855-243-4948) (option 1, 1, 3).
7. POC: HQS-SMB-CG-6812-CyberPortfolio or Mr. Gregory Woods, COMDT (CG-6812),
202-475-3585.
8. RADM D. M. Dermanelian, Assistant Commandant for Command, Control, Communications,
Computers and Information Technology (CG-6), sends.
9. Internet release is authorized.