Posted on 06/10/2022 4:08:26 AM PDT by where's_the_Outrage?
The commanding general of the 10th Mountain Division wants late-night texts from leaders to subordinates to stop.
“The overuse and reliance on cell phones causes unforeseen stress on soldiers and families,” reads a policy letter recently shared on Twitter by Gen. Milford H. Beagle Jr., who said it was the official cell phone policy for the division and was designed to “prevent soldiers from being led by text.”
“Change is a constant around us, but not all change needs to be communicated via text, chat groups, or other messaging applications,” Beagle wrote in the letter he posted Tuesday. “The constant need to be tethered to one’s phone for work-related information serves to keep soldiers and leaders on edge, unable to function without the fear of missing something.”
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
It’s a good start. But it doesn’t go far enough. The thing about basketball and tickets bothers me. There is still no reason that needs to be on personal phones and will still be used by an overbearing supervisor against lower ranks.
The bigger problem is this soldiers with a government phone. I have one from DoD. They expect you to have it always at the ready. I’d wager more BS text and emails get sent on that one Va personal.
Good idea, but I get calls all day and night in private industry
Good move by this general.
I'd hate for such capability in the hands of an American enemy.
Far from being considered part of a soldier's kit, cell phones should be left on base prior to deployment.
I'm surprised that General Beagle issued a policy letter instead of just texting his subordinates about over-texting.
Additionally, cellphone technology is not reliable, and can be intercepted by bad guys.
Reasons enough right there to not use it for MIL purposes.
Right. Imagine the enemy, posing as leaders, giving false text orders in battle.
Perfect name for a M*A*S*H character.
Are our military members now issued cell phones? If not, are they required to own one?
The more you sweat in traing, the less you bleed in battle.
You must train for battle at all times. If you communicate by cellphone (radio) then you do not develop the necessary personalized and face to face communications you WILL use in battle.
Where I worked in the State Department, we had to leave our phones outside the sciff. The Russians are learning, with the loss of their leaders in the field, that cellar com’s are not secure. Even the State Department Blackberry Secure program was contingent upon the end user not being Hillary Clinton.
My guess is officers and senior enlisted are given cell phones if they need it for their job. A private phone isn't going to be allowed access to a secure network...
I wish good luck to the CG, but I doubt that it improves. Back before cell phones, I came back from my assumption of command to find the post signal guys installing my “bat phone” in our bedroom. I asked them to install it in my little study (really a closet), but they told me, sorry, the CG wants it to be next to your bed. At another post with a different CG, I got out of the shuttle from the airport and my wife shouted from the house telling me that the CG was on the phone. I had attended a meeting in the Pentagon and he expected an immediate report. I failed to meet his expectations. I imagine that things have only gotten worse over time.
...something that even in plain text we have some procedures to prevent. (”Authentication Tables.” Stone age, but workable.)
The larger problem is intel gained from intercept and analysis.
“AC” is having trouble with their water plant.
Revealed who “AC” was. (Pacific WW2)
Nothing worse than getting a text that says: “Duck!” or “Incoming!”
OPSEC always...
Such as "We are at war, report to your duty station at once" not "everybody remember the raffle tomorrow".
The problem is that vital communication can be lost when the majority of it is pure noise.
There should be no cell phones allowed while on-duty. Period. Let the REMF’s play with their phones all day, I would not want my squadmates playing doodlejump or texting their GF while theres deadly serious business to do
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.