Kadena begins using AtHoc mass notification system Published Jan. 9, 2014 By Airman 1st Class Zade C. Vadnais 18th Wing Public Affairs KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- The 18th Wing has recently launched AtHoc, a system that will reduce the amount of time it takes to alert personnel to situations requiring special action. "AtHoc is a mass notification system that allows controllers to utilize the computer to instantly make notifications to everyone who is registered," said Master Sgt. Michael C. Stutlien, 18th Wing Command Post NCO in charge of command post operations. "Any information affecting the wing, whether it's an emergency or safety information will be sent out using the AtHoc system." Registered users will be notified of emergencies such as natural disasters and recalls at their work stations and can choose to register their cell phone numbers and personal emails if they would like to receive alerts through those avenues as well. "For example, if there was an active shooter on the base a notification could be sent out through the system," Stutlien said. "If you were working on your computer an alert message would pop up or if you registered your phone number you would receive an automated recording explaining the situation." The AtHoc system is expected to cut down emergency notification time and is a much-needed upgrade to a potentially lifesaving process. "When I first arrived on Kadena we had a very antiquated system," said Stutlien. "It crashed too much, it cost too much money to fix and its use was very limited. This new system is a lot easier." Stutlien said training for those who will operate the system is scheduled to begin mid-January and the system will start being used as soon as 80 percent of personnel on Kadena have registered with AtHoc. To register simply right-click the purple globe icon in the systems tray, located on the far right of your computer's taskbar, and select "Update My Info." After the web browser window opens, update your information in the "My Info" and "Devices" tabs. In addition to limited use of the system during exercises, Stutlien said the wing plans on taking steps to ensure personnel are familiar with AtHoc. "The system is going to be very new to Kadena," said Stutlien. "People won't be used to it at first, so we're going to take a 'crawl, walk, run' approach by testing the system to get everyone familiar with it. Once the system is up and running it's going to be so much better for the base, a lot easier than the old school way of doing things where seven-digit phone numbers would have to be dialed individually."