Are new recruits too addicted to their cell phones? Is this a good thing?

2016-08-10T07:43:00-04:00

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Aug 10 at 2016 7:49 AM

2016-08-10T07:49:04-04:00

Yes, take them away an they're lost.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Aug 10 at 2016 7:51 AM

2016-08-10T07:51:06-04:00

Purpose of basic training is to tear you apart and rebuild you. Losing your phone is part of the process.

Nothing wrong with being addicted to your mobile after training as long as it doesn't interfere with your duty.

Response by SGT David T. made Aug 10 at 2016 8:05 AM

2016-08-10T08:05:41-04:00

I think it is far more systemic than just recruits. I think it is society as a whole. I went out to eat the other day and saw this young couple that were clearly on a date. Both of them were glued to their phones instead of each other.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Aug 10 at 2016 8:07 AM

2016-08-10T08:07:34-04:00

CPT Private RallyPoint Member, starting in OCT69, I went from BCT to AIT (11C), jump school and then to SFTG at Fort Bragg. Three years later, in 1973, I was commissioned a second lieutenant after completing OCS. We didn't even have cell phones back then, and everyone got along just fine. People don't need cell phones, they just want them. Take them away. SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth

Response by SA Jim Arnold made Aug 10 at 2016 8:13 AM

2016-08-10T08:13:29-04:00

The whole world is addicted to them. Everyone walks around staring at their toes.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Aug 10 at 2016 8:52 AM

2016-08-10T08:52:12-04:00

That's actually a quite interesting question...I'd say yeah, I know obv I'll be disagreed with, of course...prob it's a dinosaur perspective, I know, lol...the whole good/bad thing, I know I'd really be taken to task by many on here if said bad...I've got my own thoughts, of course...I just think it detracts from the mind, though the social good they do, in terms of being able to get help, ocsnly, as I'd read of on occasion, for troops in the field, I'd read stories of such things, I suppose more than !makes up for any potential societal ramifications, I guess, hope that was of interest. And, of course, those are just my own thoughts, obv...I know others on here will still likely want to take me to task for such thoughts, of course, I was just being honest...I'd just read of instances where, apart from uses for emergencies, there'd been instances where troops actually had used them in the field, which of course I'd always found interesting...there was, if I recall, a scene in Amer Sniper where he'd apparently been depicted making such a call, at one point, to his wife. If remember the film correctly...I could be wrong, perhaps, I just seem to remember that, I'd also read of other similar instances, where troops found having them handy for similar emergencies, of course, apart from genl populace finding them of use, certainly, in such instances...just some reflections, honest, thought provoking question, truly, got my mental gears turning somewhat, lol.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2016 9:08 AM

2016-08-10T09:08:14-04:00

Young people in general are too addicted to their phones. I worked with a young man in the Reserves, he would take his phone to our weekly Monday morning meeting with the boss, and sit there and tap on that phone during this meeting (note: only a 3 person meeting). Finally after about 3 weeks the boss reached over and took the phone out of his hands and dropped it in a draw, at the end of the meeting he told him to never bring it again.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Aug 10 at 2016 10:13 AM

2016-08-10T10:13:19-04:00

There're two problems with the iPacifier. Distraction and comfort. Remove both and it's easier to get on with your building job.

Response by SSG Drew Cook made Aug 10 at 2016 10:14 AM

2016-08-10T10:14:04-04:00

It's purely millennial culture and the culture of modern society. We used pay phones to call home, the trainees get 15 minutes on their cell phones. Take them away and hand them out during those liberties and make sure to get them all back when over. Not a big deal.

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Aug 10 at 2016 11:48 AM

2016-08-10T11:48:28-04:00

Its not just recruits, its everyone under the age of 25. Cell phones have become an addiction, but like any addiction you can break away from it. I like some of the ideas in other comments. Especially in the military, it's easy to take someone away from their cell phone and have them go cold turkey. Allowing cell phone use only under certain conditions or at certain times makes sense in the military. Unfortunately that isn't as easy to do in the civilian world. Company policy and rules have no effect on limiting an employees cell phone use while working. Add to that the fact that supervisors in the 25 - 35 year old group see no problem using a cell phone to text instructions to their subordinates, so you can't even tell employees to lock their cell phones away while they are working. Guess it is just a sad fact of todays connected lifestyle that people become addicted to a cell phone.

Response by ENS Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2016 12:27 PM

2016-08-10T12:27:57-04:00

CPT Private RallyPoint Member absolutely they are. In fact, I had a horrible Facebook addiction prior to this military. It was so bad it was causing my anxiety, but I couldn't seem to break free. I just HAD to be on Facebook. After 2 months of no technology and seeing the outside world maybe a couple minutes a day, after I got out, I had no desire to touch technology. I remember my parents giving me my phone and computer, having the TV on, and trying to talk to me. I had to turn the TV off, but the phone and computer away, and focus on one thing at a time. Boot camp has a way of making you learn how to focus. The younger generation is attached to technology. I think a 2-3 month break away from it is a good thing. It helped me tremendously.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2016 12:58 PM

2016-08-10T12:58:03-04:00

CPT Private RallyPoint Member Sir, everywhere you go, folks are looking at their phones except some of us dinosaurs. For Marine recruits, it provides a lesson that life goes on without any distractions. Being addicted to anything is not good.

the definitive list of what to bring to Marine Corps recruit training:

1. The clothes on your back.
2. A government issued picture ID.

That’s it! No really, everything else will be taken from you and locked up until you earn the title. Many recruits brought cell phones, hygiene gear like a shaving kit, shampoo, etc. But everything you need will be issued to you. The Marines want you to not have anything that was a part of your civilian identity, so you can break all those bonds and develop yourself into a new person, a United States Marine.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2016 1:15 PM

2016-08-10T13:15:57-04:00

New recruits are too addicted to their electronics. Even though it could be useful for contacts and researches, too much of it could lead to soldiers being detached from reality. Too much of anything is not good for you.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2016 2:24 PM

2016-08-10T14:24:28-04:00

In the future, we will have computers and displays embedded inside of us via nano-technology. It will be a BIG part of everyone's lives. Some of the military sci-fi I read covers this quite well: strip the recruit, bring them to only the real world, teach them they can survive and succeed without ANY external aids and brand that into their Mark-I brains!

When you get to battle, you will probably not have the luxury of connectivity. If your habits are to check there first and NOT on how to conduct battle, you will be toast.

Response by CPL Anthony Slaughter made Aug 10 at 2016 4:48 PM

2016-08-10T16:48:46-04:00

When I went to Basic Training, I wasn't even allowed to have a watch. But seriously, new recruits shouldn't have cell phones because they are there to train, and getting a bunch of drama from the home front will only distract them from their main purpose.

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Aug 10 at 2016 7:16 PM

2016-08-10T19:16:12-04:00

Everybody is too addicted to their cell phones. The cell phone may well be the worst thing that was ever invented,

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Aug 10 at 2016 7:16 PM

2016-08-10T19:16:49-04:00

CPT Private RallyPoint Member Are citizens addicted to their cell phones? Is this a good thing? How much of that usage is productive and causes something to occur?

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2016 7:28 PM

2016-08-10T19:28:25-04:00

I had my cell phone on me the entire time while I was in boot camp. My drill instructor didn't knew that.

Response by Maj William W. 'Bill' Price made Aug 10 at 2016 8:05 PM

2016-08-10T20:05:43-04:00

I think most people today are, CPT Private RallyPoint Member. And no, it is not a good thing.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2016 4:34 PM

2016-08-12T16:34:33-04:00

The whole country is too addicted to our cell phones.

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Aug 12 at 2016 9:21 PM

2016-08-12T21:21:16-04:00

Humans are too addicted to their cell phones.