Platoon Sergeant
Platoon Sergeant
Posted on Mar 21, 2019
Why would a Chain of Command be against helmet mounted GoPro cameras?
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Hopefully there is a CSM or LTC or above that can help answer this question, I would love some assistance understanding this. Why would a Chain of Command be against helmet mounted GoPro cameras? I asked mine if it was okay to use one during our upcoming PLFX and Company LFX during daylight hours. The intent is for AAR purposes, like football game film. I was told no. I know it isn't because how we train is classified, our manuals can be found and accessed all over the internet....
Is it CYA? Are they scared of Army WTF moments on Facebook? Is it some off the wall liability issue? There is nothing in the division standards on Gopros, so what's the problem?
Is it CYA? Are they scared of Army WTF moments on Facebook? Is it some off the wall liability issue? There is nothing in the division standards on Gopros, so what's the problem?
Platoon Sergeant
CSM
Battalion Commander
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 30
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A lot of units purchase them for AAR's. The 82nd makes them mandatory on jumps. The issue is who owns the footage. If you use your own camera, the footage is yours to distribute as you please. While "you" may handle that in a responsible manner, others do not. All it takes is one new Private to get filmed in a shoot house saying, "I shot that fucking rag head" to get accidentally uploaded, and it will become an international incident with a Congressional inquiry. As any NCO can attest, it will absolutely happen. Or something even worse.
If you want cameras get your unit to purchase them. There's plenty of precedence for it already, so it's an easy sell if your unit has the funds.
Also, the unit has the funds. I'll ask CSM Paquin about it tomorrow.
If you want cameras get your unit to purchase them. There's plenty of precedence for it already, so it's an easy sell if your unit has the funds.
Also, the unit has the funds. I'll ask CSM Paquin about it tomorrow.
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SFC (Join to see)
SSG (Join to see) fair enough. He's very approachable and I honestly think he would be completely behind it.
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LTC Jason Mackay
SFC (Join to see) - DA PAM 25-91 in Chapter 5 (believe it is Para 5-7 and 5-8) that if you use private equipment, the media belongs to the Army.
If you use yours or Army equipment you de facto become a VI manager. I think it becomes more official and regulated, which will help get the command on board, if it is a Army equipment.
If you use yours or Army equipment you de facto become a VI manager. I think it becomes more official and regulated, which will help get the command on board, if it is a Army equipment.
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SSG (Join to see)
LTC Jason Mackay
Sir, its privately owned. I will look at that regulation, and get familiar with it. Thanks so very much.
Sir, its privately owned. I will look at that regulation, and get familiar with it. Thanks so very much.
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1SG (Join to see)
The likelihood of Soldiers being Soldiers, and the risk of it begin captured on video is exactly why I ditched my embedded media in Kuwait just before we crossed into Iraq. It's not "if" it will happen, it's only a matter of when.
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I used unit funds to purchase some for my unit for exactly the reason you mention. I would encourage it as long as we keep it internal for AAR. As a future CSM, I will prob wear one as well.
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Honest answer SSG - When I had a platoon I had a standing directive, no phones , no cameras on missions, Not because I feared that someone would do something illegal, but more the fact that trying to control 30 people from uploading footage and photo's to their social media, which have location, date/time stamps, and a host of other intelligence that could be utilized against us. The second reason is, these things can and often are used by pundits and activists, usually cherry picked scenes and photo's, to discredit the military.
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MAJ Mark Wilson
Back in '96 while training away from base in CONUS a tank driver had his head crushed and killed in an accident, one that was his fault. Because of a cell phone word got back to his wife and family almost instantly. The command had done zero investigation and no one above the company level had even arrived on the scene. All this CYA stuff here is BS. If your soldiers don't know how to behave you have larger issues. Everyone has the potential to screw up, but if your number one concern is soldier conduct, then remove the soldier(s) from the equation. If it's more than one or two then I revert back to my earlier comment that you have larger issues. NCOs can fix this type of behavior, just take a little time and a good group of NCOs that are both able and allowed to do their jobs.
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