Joint Knowledge Online (JKO)

Joint Knowledge Online (JKO) is a Department of Defense online portal crossing classified and unclassified military networks. JKO offers online training resources used by commanders, DoD organizations, combat support agencies and other authorized users. JKO is used to deliver a variety of required training from self-directed learning to more formalized training.

The JKO official site says these training options include video and other media as well as “tailored, immersive scenarios for small group exercises, university-style online classroom sites, area-specific language and culture training.” There are also professional military education classes and other career advancement tools available.

Who Can Use Joint Knowledge Online

Generally, military members and DoD civilians can create and register accounts on JKO. You will be required to use your Common Access Card to access JKO materials across its networks whether you sign into JKO classified or unclassified systems.

Those who do not have a Common Access Card but do possess a military email address or a government email address can sign up for JKO accounts, too. In most cases those who don’t meet either criteria may be denied access; that said there are “sponsored accounts” that can be set up with the cooperation of a sponsor who does meet one of the above requirements.

Some JKO access is permitted from home. Check with your command support staff for current requirements and restrictions which may apply; your ability to access JKO assets from a computer outside your work environment may be dictated by local mission requirements, OPSEC issues, etc.

How To Register For JKO

To register, begin by going to  https://jkodirect.jten.mil , click LOGIN, and look to the bottom of the login window and click on the appropriate link (military/government or Nongovernment/Sponsored application) to create an account using your Common Access Card.

If you do not have a CAC, but do have a government or military email account you can create an account using those credentials.

JKO System Requirements

System requirements become outdated quickly depending on the level of technological development and evolution of computing issues that may affect JKO functionality. What you see below is intended as a reference only–you should view this list as an example of the kind of computing power you will need to run JKO at press time.

There may be updated equivalents or replacements for any or all of the below over time–consider this list to be a rough guide to the kind of computing power, proper tools and software you need that may require the most recent upgrades or replacement software:

• Browser: Internet Explorer 9.0 or Firefox 3.6 or higher
• Screen Properties: 1024 x 768 or better
• Java Enabled: Java 7
• Java Script Windows: Version 1.6 or above
• Virtual Machine: Not required when running Java
• Flash Windows: Flash 8 or higher
• Media Player: Windows Media Player 9 or higher may be required for some JKO courses

Joint Knowledge Online Features

• Round-the-clock access on classified and unclassified networks
• The ability to create courses with HTML5
• Roles-based network access
• The ability to provide interactive and multimedia courses
• Interactive classrooms
• 24/7 customer support
• Support for both web-based courses and classes offered on mobile devices

JKO training can feature a variety of interactivity levels in the course modules or presentations. There are “Special Area Curriculums” (sic) which are described as “sequenced training courses ranging from basic level to advanced level courses” which concentrate on “topical training” requirements.

JKO also features “Communities of Interest” which are specialized groups of “training-specific Communities that are enterprise-wide or organization specific.” Training Coordinators are able to build these communities and create Training Packages, described on the official site as “blended learning exercise support” featuring web-based training that can serve as initial or preliminary instruction before more complex training is required.

JKO Courses

Space does not permit us to comprehensively list the full range of JKO classes available online. Look at this very partial list of course providers/participating agencies alone to get an idea of the vastness of information available via JKO:

• Army Cyber Command
• Joint Training Strategic Level Information
• US Africa Command
• Joint Deployment Training Center
• US Army North
• Joint Force Command
• US Central Command
• Joint Force Headquarters-DoD Information Networks
• Commander Navy Installations Command
• Joint IED Defeat Organization
• DHA Defense Health Agency
• Defense Manpower Data Center
• Joint Medical Executive Skills Institute
• Defense Medical Readiness Training Institute
• Joint Personnel Recovery Agency DoD US Department of Defense JS Joint Staff
• US Department of Justice MCSD
• US Army Europe
• Mission Command Support Division DOMEX
• US Army DOMEX Program
• US Army Medical Command
• Defense Suicide Prevention

We mentioned above that there are far too many courses to list here, but as an example here is a VERY small selection of JKO training courses offered–this is from the “A” section of the alphabetized list, and as you can see there are many options and subject matter areas to choose from:

Annual Security Refresher Training: The purpose of this course is to “provide a general overview of the policies and procedures concerning security requirements for classified documents.”

Anthrax Course: Provides a “comprehensive overview of anthrax and the vaccine to prevent it”.

Applied Radiological Response Techniques: Provides a “foundation for first responders to address radiological incidents including all DoD and other federal, state, or local personnel engaged in technical orientation for ARRT.”

Applying Mission Command Principles to Maritime Access Challenges: “To enable joint staff and joint leaders, including combatant command action officers to use mission command principles in today’s multi-national, coalition, and commercial maritime security environments.”

Are You Ready: Being Prepared for Deployment: Trains military members on how to “balance obligations and maximize time with family and friends before deployment. By the end of this lesson, participants should be able to: recall legal, financial, employment, family care, and other deployment considerations.”

Aribex NOMAD Pro Dental X-Ray Apparatus Maintainer’s Course: “…One in a series of medical equipment courses designed either for operators or maintainers that are responsible for employing specific types of equipment to treat patients or for ensuring that the equipment is functional at the time of need.”

Army Workload Performance System (AWPS): This course is designed “to provide an overview of selected reports available in the Strategic Planning and Forecasting Module (SPF) of the Army Workload and Performance System.”

Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter for Air Force Television News