Air Force implements ‘E-mail for Life’ Published July 13, 2007 By Erin Blauvelt 305th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. -- Yes, the e-mails you have gotten about an "E-mail for Life" are legitimate. The Air Force recently entered a new phase of worldwide Airmen communication. Air Force e-mail, also known as E-mail for Life or E4L, allows Airmen and Air Force civilian employees to keep a single e-mail address permanently -- regardless of assignment changes. The e-mail address is made within the guidelines contained in AFI 33-119, Section 5.1, which specifies using one's legal first and last name. The address will appear as firstname.lastname@us.af.mil. While the program is not currently operating at full capability, officials say it should be by mid-summer 2007. The transition to using this universal extension is already well underway. At this time, every senior Air Force official has been provided an account. Airmen and Air Force civilians should be receiving an e-mail this month notifying them their account has been issued. As the account system is in the initial states, Airmen can continue to use their local or major command e-mail accounts as well as their new E4L address, and no changes to current e-mail settings are necessary. The Air Force e-mail address will automatically forward messages to their existing accounts. This new system aims to alleviate the problem many Airmen face as a result of frequent assignment changes. E4L is a combined effort between the Air Force Communications Agency, Air Force Network Operations, software experts at the 754th Electronic Systems Group and Microsoft. This initiative in modernization also intends to step-up the current anti-spam measures. Air Force Directory Services asks that any questions or problems be dealt with by following local trouble ticket procedures for escalation. For more information, along with answers to frequently asked questions, visit https://imp.afds.af.mil/e4ls.