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Air Force threatens Article 15 for proxy log-on

Surfing the Web while deployed could land you an Article 15, the Air Force is warning airmen.

The Air Force is concerned that deployed airmen are using government computers to visit Internet sites that would otherwise be blocked. A common practice to reach the banned sits is using a “proxy server” that links an airman’s computer with banned sites.

Last year, nine airmen deployed to U.S. Central Command areas of operations — all enlisted — were given Articles 15 for proxy server violations, an Air Force release said. The four staff sergeants and five senior airmen were handed punishments resulting in the loss of six stripes, four suspended reductions and $4,960 in forfeited pay.

Use of proxy sites hurts network performance, avoids network security measures and puts sensitive data at risk by allowing spyware to be downloaded onto government computers, the Air Force warned. These proxy sites store address information that links the Air Force to the sites that were visited.

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