NMCP AVHE Access Instructions v1.0

created by Jacob M. Wessler
contact info in the NMCP Outlook Global
Last Updated: Aug 08, 2018

introduction

This page was created to help users access AVHE medical applications and DEE Webmail from home.

Please follow all these instructions in order.

They are.

Very.

Important.

If, after following the instructions, you find yourself stuck, send me an e-mail. My contact information is in the DEE Outlook Global

Good luck!!
Jacob

what CAC reader should I get?

There are many CAC card readers out there. These are the two that I recommend as I have had the most success with them. (click the links to shop at Amazon)

There is another CAC reader out there - the SCR331. I no longer support this CAC card reader. Please do not buy it.
It looks like this:

will the virtual desktop work on my Mac computer?

PC users click here to continue

That's a good question and the best place to start.

There are two pieces of information you need to find:

1. Does your Mac have an Intel Processor
2. When was your Mac built?

Let's walk through those steps now

enable your CAC reader

Okay, so far so good.

Now we have to make sure your CAC reader and your computer are talking to each other.

Go to this site and find the right CAC enabler for your CAC and your operating system.

To find your operating system, click the Apple in the top left corner of your screen and select "About this Mac." The pop-up will tell you what version is installed.

Remember this version because you will need it when downloading the CAC enabling software.

In general, if your CAC is a Gemalto, download Smart Card Services.
If your CAC is an Oberthur, download CACKey.
PKard has its apostles but you have to buy the software. I have had success with CACKey for the past 8 years. You should not need to pay for PKard, but it is available as a last resort.

Now that you have the software installed, you should make sure it works. Put your CAC in the reader and then open Keychain Access. Above the login item in the top left corner should be your name or PIV_II or something.

Click ONCE on that listing (you cannot unlock your CAC card...nor do you need to) - if you can see a bunch of certificates, some with your name and some without, then you were successful. If not, go back and download a different enabler.

AVHE

AVHE stands for Application Virtual Hosting Environment. It uses the CITRIX Receiver web plugin to allow access to specific applications.

Those applications are AHLTA, CHCS, and Essentris.

It's pretty limited but it works.

setting up AVHE

You should be able to move to the next step now. OCCASIONALLY, some users have had problems getting CITRIX Receiver to work. If that is the case for you (and you have followed ALL of the steps above with no success), select "Legacy Client Software" from the Download Type and click Find. Download the "Online Plug-in..." file and install it. You should uninstall CITRIX Receiver first.

At this point, restart your computer.

Seriously. Do it.

Now.

connect to AVHE

This is the option for clinical applications. This means AHLTA, CHCS, and Essentris.

It is called the Application Virtualization Hosting Environment and it is supplied by DHA.

This system uses CITRIX Receiver to run applications on your desktop.

Connect to AVHE using this link:

• https://avhe.health.mil (There is now one link for all users. There is no site-specific link.)

You will be presented with a drop-down asking you to select your CAC certificate.

Select the DOD EMAIL CA-XX certificate. (the numbers may be different for your CAC card. That's okay.)

This is another step folks forget. It is always the EMAIL certificate when connecting to AVHE.

I know that the DOD ID CA cert works for DTS and MyPay but it WILL NOT WORK WITH AVHE.

Choose the DOD EMAIL certificate.

Every time.

Mac users will be presented with a strange dialog box asking for Keychain access. This is asking for your CAC PIN. Do not enter your computer password here. It is your 6-8 number CAC PIN.

Next you will see the DOD Consent Banner. Click Accept.

If everything worked out, you should see a page wtih two shortcuts: AVHE Support and DHAGSC Remedy Phone number (This is the DHA Global Service Center (GSC) Helpdesk phone number).

My page has additional apps already added in.

This is your Favorites tab. You can see Favorites at the top middle of the page.

Next to Favorites is the Apps tab. Click on Apps to find your site-specific application shortuts.

Type your MTF in the search box to filter the apps.

The site knows which AHLTA application to give you based on your MTF. The name may not match. For example, Langley users will see the Portsmouth AHLTA app when they type in Langley. That's because Langley AFB is on the same CHCS/AHLTA host as Portsmouth.

Click the Details button of the app you want to use.

Click the "Add to Favorites" button to add this app to your Favorites tab.

Click the Open button to launch the app.

Click around. Have fun. You have just successfully set up AVHE at home.

how do i log off?

To log off, close all your open applications. You can select CITRIX then Quit CITRIX for any open Receiver applications.

Make sure you click the Log Off button at the top of the screen.

connect to webmail

In order to access e-mail, you have to use the Defense Enterprise E-mail (DEE) Outlook Webmail.

Unfortunately, you cannot send/read encrypted e-mail or access your personal folders.

Here is the link:

• https://web.mail.mil

Accept the DoD Consent Banner.

Use your DoD E-mail CAC certificate.

The rest is pretty straightforward.

troubleshooting

There are a lot of things that can go wrong with the above process. Software changes frequently and the system can often get confused.

If you find that your system WAS working but now is NOT, think about anything that might have changed.

Did you:

• Get a new CAC?
• Get a new computer?
• Download new software?
• Update your computer software?

Any one of these might change your system.

The first step is to troubleshoot your CAC/reader combination. Try logging on to DTS or MyPay. If you can get in there, your problem is with AVHE. If you can't get in there, then the problem is with your CAC/reader combination. Start at the beginning of these instructions and work through them again.

thanks

I hope you found this useful. If you have any comments or critiques, please send me an e-mail. I'm in the global. If you have any problems, let me know.

Jacob

versions

I'll keep a running list of version changes here so you can come back and see what has changed if you find you are having problems.