Do Privates in Infantry training get their phones on weekend passes?

Kayleigh Abbott — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 20:52:36 -0500

Response by CPT Paul Whitmer made Jan 28 at 2020 8:57 PM

CPT Paul Whitmer — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 20:57:14 -0500

I wish I could help - but I never got a weekend pass during Infantry Basic and AIT (OSUT) at Ft Benning. Didn't have cell phones then either. Damn.....feeling older than old.

Response by CPL Douglas Chrysler made Jan 28 at 2020 8:57 PM

CPL Douglas Chrysler — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 20:57:28 -0500

They didn't exist when I was in, but no one was restricted from using the pay phones.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2020 9:08 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 21:08:19 -0500

Unless they’ve changed a lot with the new 22 week OSUT I doubt they’re going to be getting much time on their phones at all. Family day and turning blue might be the only real time they can actually use them for more than a few minutes.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2020 9:17 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 21:17:00 -0500

I would highly doubt they get weekend passes at all. Turning a bunch of IET privates loose on Georgia? That seems...like a bad idea.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2020 9:34 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 21:34:00 -0500

My information is a little out of date, and of course with basic training, like all things, experiences may vary, also everything is very dependent upon your company. When I went through OSUT (2012) we were allowed to have our cell phones four times: when we initially arrived, to coordinate hotels when we were granted a 36-hour pass for Thanksgiving, our 36-hour pass for Thanksgiving, and finally we recieved them after we turned blue. IF your brother is granted a pass it would be likely that the Drill Sergeants would allow cell phones during that time period, but more than one weekend pass is not likely. I haven’t yet received any Privates that have been through the new 22-week OSUT so the deal with passes may have changed, if so black phase would be the most logical time for these to come into play.

Response by SFC James Cameron made Jan 29 at 2020 8:35 AM

SFC James Cameron — Wed, 29 Jan 2020 08:35:18 -0500

Unless COL Voorhies has changed the Brigade Policy, your Soldier should not have a personal electronic device. Trainees receive a “Turning Blue” and a Family Day Pass.

You may view any policy changes on the 198TH Infantry Brigade Portal through the Maneuver Center of Excellence main site.

Response by SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA made Jan 29 at 2020 10:28 AM

SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA — Wed, 29 Jan 2020 10:28:02 -0500

The only weekend pass I got was for Family Day, and I think I got my phone at that time. Otherwise, we got them for about 10 minutes at a time an average of every two weeks. I heard that another platoon got them every week; their DS was nicer about some things but smoked them worse and taught them extremely well. I still remember DS Peeler even though he wasn't over our platoon because he believed in us and our training. When the others told us we were garbage even as we were graduating, he told us we were "rough, tough, and ready to kill."