Walking/Talking on the phone IN and OUT of uniform.

2014-02-05T23:45:16-05:00

I ask this question because I know about not being able to walk and talk on the phone while on duty in uniform, but I was corrected, in a very sarcastic, rude way, while off duty and out of uniform for walking and talking on my phone. Am I wrong?<div><br></div><div><br></div>

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2014 12:27 AM

2014-02-06T00:27:10-05:00

While I am not confrontational I can see the point of the criticism.   I also believe tact is a strong leadership skill and will garner more acceptance than brow-beating and hectoring.

Response by SFC Victor Serrano made Feb 6 at 2014 12:57 AM

2014-02-06T00:57:15-05:00

If you're off duty and out of uniform there is no need to be corrected for talking and walking on the phone!  

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2014 1:18 AM

2014-02-06T01:18:51-05:00

While there aren't any actual regulations against walking and talking on a cell phone while out of uniform (to my knowledge), some Commander's have policy letters prohibiting it. I know that in my earlier years I actually had cars stop on a few occasions and tell me that I was wrong for doing it. I was on post so it's possible that I was. Now I just play it safe and don't do it at all.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2014 1:38 AM

2014-02-06T01:38:36-05:00

I remember when I was in Korea that was a big deal, especially at Osan (I was staioned at Humphreys).  You need to look at your local policies such as your 2ID handbook, 8th Army Policy letters, etc.  If its not in there, then they have no regulatory guidance to say you cant.

Response by SSG Christopher Freeman made Feb 6 at 2014 6:56 AM

2014-02-06T06:56:44-05:00

In this scenario, take it with a grain of salt. Don't get too caught up on the way they "corrected" you. Instead, put your nose into local policies and inform yourself. Once you have an answer, share the wealth.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2014 7:00 AM

2014-02-06T07:00:56-05:00

In uniform wrong, out of uniform off duty, none of my damn business.

Response by 1SG Eric Rice made Feb 6 at 2014 8:39 AM

2014-02-06T08:39:03-05:00

In no way shape or form is it currently stated in any Army Regulation that walking or talking on a cell phone is prohibitied. That being said many installations have policy letters that dictate local procedures and guidance for such activities. Be sure to check local policy letters to see what the guidance is for your location. As Army Regulations are updated ,such as AR 670-1, regulatory guidance might change to reflect what most installation policy letters have in place.

SFC Rice

Response by SSG Zachery Mitchell made Feb 6 at 2014 8:59 PM

2014-02-06T20:59:34-05:00

Walking and talking on the phone is not in any regulation. It is a command driven policy. You will need to check your local command policies and handbooks in order to determine if you can do this while in uniform.(my guess is no, you can't) However, trying to correct you in uniform is a bit beyond ridiculous unless your command has a policy on that as well which would also be a bit ridiculous.

Response by SSgt George Brown made Feb 6 at 2014 11:27 PM

2014-02-06T23:27:56-05:00

It is dangerous.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2014 1:35 AM

2014-02-07T01:35:35-05:00

Was he correcting you because you were walking and talking on the cell phone and you were not paying attention? What actually happened? I am at Camp Humphreys and I see people walking around on there phones all the time. Maybe he was just being an ass or just looking out for your safety. Just pay attention to were you are going and enjoy Korea (volunteer and tour Korea).

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2014 3:24 AM

2014-02-08T03:24:28-05:00

SPC Toombes,<div><br></div><div>I am sure you were corrected because -</div><div><br></div><div>1) Military member in civilian clothes but we can all pick each other out even out of uniform.</div><div>2) Talking on a cell phone while walking.</div><div><br></div><div>--WAIT FOR IT--</div><div><br></div><div>3) You were not wearing your PT belt while doing it!</div><div><br></div><div>Ok all joking aside - unless it is in a local policy letter you did nothing wrong. One thing I like to do it quote regulation when correcting a Soldier. That way they know it isn't one of my "isms" but an actual rule in a regulation or policy.</div>

Response by SSgt Gregory Guina made Jun 7 at 2014 9:44 PM

2014-06-07T21:44:14-04:00

Not a problem out of uniform as far as the military is concerned. However if you are on the phone in a public area and it is taking so much of your attention that you are getting in the way of others then I will say something to you. Too many people let their phone dictate their lives and have no common courtesy for others while they are on them/using them.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 7 at 2014 9:51 PM

2014-06-07T21:51:17-04:00

I managed to walk and talk on a radio in uniform while in contact and still manage to direct fire. I assume you can manage to walk and talk while wearing a polo shirt without ending western civilization.

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Jun 7 at 2014 9:59 PM

2014-06-07T21:59:40-04:00

Out of uniform, no worries.

On base however, one may not drive and talk, lest Base Safety revoke your driving privileges! And this does not change based upon lack of a uniform.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2014 12:19 AM

2014-06-08T00:19:18-04:00

Texting can be scarier!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXYY_ep5Nh0

Texting Fail: Woman Falls in Fountain

"The Early Show" anchors discuss a mall surveillance video of a woman who falls in a fountain while texting.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2014 8:37 AM

2014-06-08T08:37:42-04:00

The new AR 670-1 clearly dictates no walking and talking on phone while in uniform.
(d) Soldiers will not walk while engaged in activities that would interfere with the hand salute and greeting of the day or detract from a professional image. Examples include, but are not limited to, walking while eating, using electronic devices, or smoking cigarettes, cigars, or pipes.

That being said it is left open for interpretation because it does not stipulate in that one sentence whether that is in or out of uniform. That is where common sense comes in.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Jun 8 at 2014 5:21 PM

2014-06-08T17:21:22-04:00

Were you butt-nekkid walking in traffic? Then you would have been wrong, unless your post has some sort of policy posted saying you can not, then ummm no you were G-2-G.

Response by SSG Mark Ives made Jun 8 at 2014 5:32 PM

2014-06-08T17:32:36-04:00

Being from the pre-cell phone era, I can just say it is wrong. Definitely IN uniform and if OUT of uniform on post, I think it's wrong. I still think people who talk loud around other people obvious are rude. Who wants to know about their dirty laundry, etc.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 1 at 2014 1:21 AM

2014-08-01T01:21:00-04:00

OKay....

Here's my take on this...

I'm sure everyone THINKS they are prefectly capable of walking and talking at the same time. Most of us manage it quite well. Based on my research there's a mix of regs - all depending on the service. Some of the regs make sense - some...not so much. I don't even want to discuss the vague ones......

What I have a concern about is the fact that there are a lot of people that don't realize how little they are actually paying attention to traffic (foot and vehicle) around them while they're talking on the phone. It doesn't matter whether you're holding the phone up to your ear or using bluetooth - for some reason we just can't walk and talk on the phone and still manage our situational awareness. The statistics get worse when you add texting to the mix. Just last week I watched not one, not two, but over 25 officers (I quit counting after 25) on a major joint base walking around with a phone attached to their ears and every single one of them was so engrossed in their extremely important conversations they could not watch the vehicle traffic around them - 8 of them either hit a traffic cone or had to make some sort of dramatic manuever to avoid.

Now, I'm not a safety nazi - but stupid is as stupid does. Trust me, there was not one conversation those 25 officers had that was life threatening or end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it. NOT one. So for me, it just doesn't make sense - unless it's a life or death situation.

Now as for being off duty, out of uniform, hell, I still can't think of any conversation (other than life or death) that we NEED to walk and talk on the phone at the same time...just can't think of one that is that important. I know I'm being picky but the statistics between walking/talking on the phone and walking/texting on the phone and the accidents caused by same are just not impressive at all. Oh the numbers are impressive, but as far as showing that we, as humans, are truely good at multitasking - not so much......

Response by SGT Richard H. made Sep 11 at 2014 10:31 PM

2014-09-11T22:31:46-04:00

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member Sounds like you met an NCO or Officer who had WAY too much time on their hands.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Sep 12 at 2014 1:39 AM

2014-09-12T01:39:52-04:00

Next time SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member, I suggest you say....

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 12 at 2014 1:56 AM

2014-09-12T01:56:14-04:00

Was it a CSM/SGM or 1SG? If so, yes. In those cases you're always wrong.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 12 at 2014 1:59 AM

2014-09-12T01:59:07-04:00

In all seriousness though, when I've spent an extended period of time on AD for deployments or schools and I've gotten into the no cell phone/smoking while walking things and staying off the grass... then I go back to the civilian world.. I always feel like I'm doing something wrong. There have been times that I've stopped to smoke or tried to go the long way around the grass and people I've been with have been like "WTH are you doing dude?"

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Nov 11 at 2014 1:31 AM

2014-11-11T01:31:17-05:00

I bet that SM who corrected you while using a cell phone, off duty and in civilian attire and walking does exactly what he or she told you not to do. What was your response? Personally, I think you should have said you're civilian attire and kept on walking. What are they going to do, make a big scene and grab you? I think not.

Response by CPT(P) Carlos Dorrejo made Nov 11 at 2014 1:49 AM

2014-11-11T01:49:25-05:00

SPC Toombes,

As several people may have stated, there is no Army regulation that says you cannot talk on your phone while off-duty and out of uniform. There is also no 8th Army regulation on this as well. The current Blue Book states the following: (PARA 10, e, 1)

"Soldiers will not walk and communicate with a cell phone/device while in any uniform. Soldiers will stop walking until the completion of the conversation/texting."

So next time someone comes up to you and tells you that you cannot walk while talking on your cell phone (being out of uniform)... ask him/her what policy or regulation states that and then proceed with correcting the individual regardless of rank what the current 8th Army policy states (which you fall under).

Response by SSG John M. made Jan 16 at 2015 1:11 AM

2015-01-16T01:11:45-05:00

In uniform? You firing them up real quick ?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 16 at 2015 1:24 AM

2015-01-16T01:24:41-05:00

Sounds to me like that individual has a lot of time in his hands.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2015 10:50 AM

2015-01-17T10:50:51-05:00

I think in civilian clothes it's fine, who are they to know you're not a retired soldier on post? To add some flair to the question what about Army soldiers walking and texting/walking and making a phone call on a Joint installation where, for example, the Navy installation Commander has authorized it? Should soldiers follow what I consider the Army standard and refrain from such behavior?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 2 at 2015 8:37 PM

2015-04-02T20:37:23-04:00

Technically your not wrong, but you are taught to always act like a soldier and maintain your professionalism on and off duty, but if it's someone higher ranking who knows who you are or your on post then they may see fit to call you out. I personally do not do anything I would not do in uniform while I'm on post. Off post is a different story as far as that goes.

Response by PO1 Cleve Ikaika Waiwaiole made Apr 2 at 2015 10:01 PM

2015-04-02T22:01:29-04:00

Some military installations have/had base-wide rules stating no walking and talking on cell phone anywhere on base. Only reason why I know this is because this happened to me also. And the person was very rude about it and it's wrong how they go on about it but it must be some power trip or something.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2016 1:23 AM

2016-07-20T01:23:53-04:00

Here's a spin I just had. Order's were tans with APFU, it's past duty hours and I'm inside. I've passed by multiple officers and the two MSGs here whom one put out the order, neither told me I couldn't be on my phone after duty when the one noncivilian clothing item I have here is in the laundry. A temporary team mate of mine calked me a shitbag for walking around with my phone "in a military uniform" (yet he wears PT items not put out in the uniform of the day orders.) So am I wrong for being on my phone while in partial uniform off duty, because I never seen that in AR670, and have read it in full many times over the years?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2018 10:42 AM

2018-02-25T10:42:46-05:00

I know I am a little late to this conversation. This happened to me while in the PX. I was looking for a pair of pants for my son while talking to my wife getting her opinion while using my cell phone. I understand being outside, but in the PX is a little ridiculous. Some people take things to literal and to the exact word. Just imagine if all the MP's did the same, people would be pissed even more when they did not stop completely for a red light while making a right turn or such things that are overlooked.

Response by C/SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 30 at 2021 3:47 AM

2021-11-30T03:47:47-05:00

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