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Everyone has had one issue or another with cell phones in a deployed environment, but it's a reality of everyday life right now. There is benefit in "unplugging" and focusing on training without the distraction of the internet. All CTC's ban cell phones in the "box" since it poses a security threat and it becomes the go-to communication method versus using our MTOE equipment. Should we generally ban cell phone usage in the field for those reasons or are we just tilting at windmills?
Posted in these groups: 
Cell Phones
Training
Cell Phones Training
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 54
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Yes Cell phones should be banned while in the field. The purpose of you being out their is to train as a unit and accomplish the units METAL. Cell phones poses a distraction and could lead to Soldier's getting injured, maimed or killed because of it. It only takes one incident of someone losing their life to make it too many. there is no benefit for Soldier's having their cell phones in the field except for family emergencies that's it.
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I don't know how bad it is in the military, but as a plant supervisor if you have employees under 30. You can't keep them off of their phones. No matter what you threaten them with, even termination they will not stay off their phones. Who the hell can they be texting at 0600.
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Nope! Too distracting, plus we did just fine and never had them. Not a necessity!
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COL (Join to see)
We did just fine without a lot of stuff that we have now. Like computers and satelite technology. Doesn't mean it's bad.
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SSG (Join to see)
That's true, to an extent. The difference is that people aren't walking around or driving with a computer or satellite.
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I believe phones can be a valuable asset in the field, I personally have a wrist mounted iPhone 6 which has a gps app and I use it for commes within the section. I also carry an iPad mini which also helps out a lot.
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COL (Join to see)
Tell me you don't use a iPhone for communications in the field. I just heard every tactical commander and NCO scream simultaneously as if some great tragedy had befallen them. You must be joking.
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NO! I can sum it up in one word: Target. The backlight alone is enough reason that these things should not be on the field and not the only reason. For a gamer like me, it is hard enough to pull away from the phone with rounds flying about, but for the social butterfly, discipline would be forgotten about. As a signal soldier, especially with a security clearance, I wouldn't use one because just carrying one is a security risk, especially if it were ever to get lost and our post was overrun... just saying.
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Back to basics - Train Like You Fight. Are you going to call you significant other in the middle of a firefight or mission? If so, ok, use your cellphone at all times. Otherwise, keep it in your possession, keep it off and use it as an emergency backup only.
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COL (Join to see)
That's my general opinion. No issue with having cell phones. Keep it put away and charged just in case. It would be easier to call in a 911 with a cell phone and stay on the line if necessary. As the absolute last resort kind of thing.
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I've been in the Army long enough to remember when having a cell phone in the field was an Article 15 offense. That wasn't such a bad policy.
Having a cell phone in the field is a distractor, and it detracts from a training environment. And, while it is convenient, it prevents us from exercising our FRG rosters and alert rosters, as well as circumventing the function of a Tactical Operations Center, and prevents us from understanding our own tactical communications capabilities.
Having a cell phone in the field is a distractor, and it detracts from a training environment. And, while it is convenient, it prevents us from exercising our FRG rosters and alert rosters, as well as circumventing the function of a Tactical Operations Center, and prevents us from understanding our own tactical communications capabilities.
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SSG (Join to see)
Could it not be used to enhance our tactical communications capabilities? Sometimes the best solution to a problem is to figure out how to make the problem work to your advantage. If personal electronic devices are going to continue becoming more and more integrated into the lives of soldiers, I believe we should be trying to figure out how to turn this to our advantage instead of fighting it.
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COL (Join to see)
4 years ago, there was a BN CDR who issued an edict like that one. Any cell phones in the field was an ART-15. Unfortunately, the first person violating it was one of his Commanders. He had 20 people lined up in the field ready to give them ART-15's. Dumb and dumber.
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I always fly with mine. It's the primary signaling device should the plane go down. Do I want dudes looking Twitter and FB while in the field? No. Do I want them to have an immediate, working line of communication for emergencies when it turns out someone programmed the radios incorrectly or they lack the ability to send a runner? Absolutely.
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CMDCM Gene Treants
Totally agree Lt Col (Join to see) as an emergency backup you have to have one! Plane, car, boat, or anything else.
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I don't know why there is such vitrol against cell phones. Do I want to use them in the field or deployed? No, I don't even want to have one for work while I am in garrison. That's life now. I also believe that until higher commands stop issuing phones to leaders and expect them to answer them at all times of the night or day then there is no recourse but to allow soldiers to have them. But usage should be limited.
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