I support the AF. The AF is known for doing everything in Powerpoint. So apparently, when the AF upgraded to office365, they declared that documents saved in office 97-2003 would no longer be able to be opened. They told users to upgrade their documents. Ha Ha Ha Ha. There are millions of documents on shared folders that were never upgraded. So now that some of those documents are needed, IT is taking the position of oh well.
So now we have to brief chain of command and it will probably require a ruling from a General to allow these documents to be opened.
Anyway, thanks for letting me rant.

Update: IT talked to their chain of command and they granted me permission to view such files. I asked if they were going to give everyone permission and they said they will do it individually if asked to do so. Ok then, but at least I can view files.

Doesn't Office365 support opening 97-2003 .ppt files?
Don't you just scroll down a little bit on the "Open" menu?
I don't get it.
I just opened a .ppt file from 1997 created on Windows 95, on my Mac. In Russian.

^ There is a setting in "Trust Center" where you can prevent opening those files. Only admin had the power to change the setting on my machine.