Cell Phones in the Military

patentesq

Parent
5-Year Member
Joined
Jan 6, 2011
Messages
1,580
Going forward, at least in the Navy, getting caught carrying a cell phone in the right hand (as opposed to the left hand) while in uniform could potentially land the servicemember in hot water. Hmmmmm . . . I wonder whether the JAG Corps is currently mobilizing a "Cell Phone Prosecution Task Force" to enforce these actions.

http://www.navytimes.com/news/2011/02/navy-cell-phones-022311w/

One trick that I found useful over the years to help remember my right hand from the left is to carry a pebble in the right hand. This way, you'll always be sure that the cell phone is being carried in the correct left hand.

Blackberry Users: Note that this policy does NOT appear to allow servicemembers to hold the device with BOTH hands while you text or respond to emails. Be sure to hold the device in your left hand and use the right hand to input characters (this will enable you to react quicker and render a proper salute if a superior officer happens to walk by).
 
Last edited:
Patentesq, you truly find some interesting articles - thanks for a good read.

But I'm curious what is the longest period of time that you have been, not think you could have been, but actually have been away from your Blackberry?
 
Patentesq, you truly find some interesting articles - thanks for a good read.

But I'm curious what is the longest period of time that you have been, not think you could have been, but actually have been away from your Blackberry?

I have been a "crackberry" addict for a very long time, because I represented RIM (maker of blackberry) for a long time (before I left my law firm to join my current company). Several years ago, the blackberry connection was . . . er . . . a bit strained because of a major patent infringement trial loss that happened in Virginia (can't go into more detail, suffice to say that "stuff happens"). But the blackberry is nevertheless a WONDERFUL device. So the answer to your question is "approximately 20 years"!! But I have been eyeballing the iPhone lately at the local VZW store.

Believe it or not, I have a bookmark on my b-berry for SAF!! I expect you do, too!!
 
just like any other uniform regulation it will be driven by the Chief's. Rarely will you see any other group of members in the Navy care what someone is wearing or if they are using the wrong hand to talk on the phone/carry their backpack/etc.

The more provoking articles of that NAVADMIN were the changes to flight suit wear. Oh well at least now I can carry my cover in my bottom pocket with the zipper open :biggrin:
 
I'm all for clarifying policies and reducing admin conflicts, but don't we have a war going on? Is it that hard to flip the phone into your other hand an instant before you render a salute, or do we really need boards to come up with guidance like this?

(No, this isn't a dig at the Navy, because the AF is at least equally guilty of doing this.)
 
I'm all for clarifying policies and reducing admin conflicts, but don't we have a war going on? Is it that hard to flip the phone into your other hand an instant before you render a salute, or do we really need boards to come up with guidance like this?

(No, this isn't a dig at the Navy, because the AF is at least equally guilty of doing this.)

Sounds like some staff person in Washington wants to remind everyone in the sandbox that they're hard at work, too! And relevant. :shake:
 
Going forward, at least in the Navy, getting caught carrying a cell phone in the right hand (as opposed to the left hand) while in uniform could potentially land the servicemember in hot water. Hmmmmm . . . I wonder whether the JAG Corps is currently mobilizing a "Cell Phone Prosecution Task Force" to enforce these actions.

http://www.navytimes.com/news/2011/02/navy-cell-phones-022311w/

One trick that I found useful over the years to help remember my right hand from the left is to carry a pebble in the right hand. This way, you'll always be sure that the cell phone is being carried in the correct left hand.

Blackberry Users: Note that this policy does NOT appear to allow servicemembers to hold the device with BOTH hands while you text or respond to emails. Be sure to hold the device in your left hand and use the right hand to input characters (this will enable you to react quicker and render a proper salute if a superior officer happens to walk by).



That's because the Navy is known for coming up with unreasonable doctrine...
 
I wonder how many EAs and aides will get fired after answering one of their tree blackberrys/treos or smart phones...
 
Everyone does realize that this new NAVADMIN AUTHORIZES the use of cell phones while walking, right?

Prior to this in the Navy you could not walk and talk, if you were on the phone you were to be stationary and preferably off the beaten path. Now they have clarified this due to the prevalence of cell phones to allow people to talk while walking provided they are capable of rendering honors (ie talk with the phone in the left hand)

The policy that it shall be worn aft of the elbow has been in place for a while, but is never enforced because it's just plain dumb, especially for those of us in the medical corps who are tethered to a stupid pager all the time.

I would say of all the services the Navy (not including USCG because I simply don't have as much experience with them) is actually the most relaxed when it comes to uniform regulations. Overseas it was always the Army NCO or Air Force COL who was yelling at me about a glow belt or saying I could only go to the gym in "official" Navy PT gear even though we don't have any for non-command directed PT.
 
I personally think that allowing "walking and talking" is a big mistake. I thought this since the first day the initial NAVADMIN was released.

How can one show proper respect for a senior officer if they are carrying on a walking phone conversation while saluting? The emphasis isn't on the salute (respecting the grade), it is on the "more important" phone conversation. I'd like to see someone do this as they pass the CJCS or CNO and see them be perfectly okay with it -- because according to the new policy (when it takes affect), they won't be doing anything wrong.
 
I personally think that allowing "walking and talking" is a big mistake.

I think some of the reasoning may stem from the fact that cell phones are used for official communications very often.

My command when they need to get hold of me doesn't call my office phone or my home phone, they call my cell. Several people in commands are issued command cell phones.

Overall I agree, I think the call can wait the five minutes, but whatever, isn't the first time the uniform board does something that doesn't really make sense.
 
Agreed. I am not saying that carrying cell phones isn't appropriate. There isn't anything preventing someone from stopping when someone calls and talking. If a senior officer walks by then you lower the phone for a quick second and make your salute before carrying on. All of this should be common sense, but apparently isn't.
 
Agreed. I am not saying that carrying cell phones isn't appropriate. There isn't anything preventing someone from stopping when someone calls and talking. If a senior officer walks by then you lower the phone for a quick second and make your salute before carrying on. All of this should be common sense, but apparently isn't.

"(7) WHEN NOT BEING WORN ON THE UNIFORM AND IN USE, COMMUNICATION DEVICES WILL BE PLACED AT THE SIDE OF THE LEG AND IN THE APPROPRIATE HAND WHEN RENDERING SALUTES, GREETINGS AND OTHER MILITARY COURTESIES/HONORS."

You mean like that?
 
Maybe I've been a civilian too long, but I don't get what the big deal is about holding the cell phone in the left hand versus the right hand. I agree that it is important to salute, but "the left hand versus the right hand"??

I suspect that many of you when you separate from the military in 10 years or so will re-read this thread and chuckle to yourself "boy, was I a pinhead in my youth!". I was a total pinhead, but it eventually subsided.
 
"(7) WHEN NOT BEING WORN ON THE UNIFORM AND IN USE, COMMUNICATION DEVICES WILL BE PLACED AT THE SIDE OF THE LEG AND IN THE APPROPRIATE HAND WHEN RENDERING SALUTES, GREETINGS AND OTHER MILITARY COURTESIES/HONORS."

You mean like that?

IMO, that should be the extent of the policy right there...
Leave it to us (DoD types) to make multi-page regs on it. :rolleyes:
 
IMO, that should be the extent of the policy right there...
Leave it to us (DoD types) to make multi-page regs on it. :rolleyes:

Someone got a ribbon or a citation for that 2-year piece of work to tell you how to hold your phone.

Not sure when the millions in the military outside of the Beltway will figure this out, but the REAL military works in cubicles in Washington, D.C. That's where all of the important stuff happens, like cell phone regulations. :wink:
 
Someone got a ribbon or a citation for that 2-year piece of work to tell you how to hold your phone.

Not sure when the millions in the military outside of the Beltway will figure this out, but the REAL military works in cubicles in Washington, D.C. That's where all of the important stuff happens, like cell phone regulations. :wink:

Is there a ribbon for injuries like paper cuts sustained in the line of duty?
 
d.mcknight, exactly....definitely missed that when I was skimming through; thanks for bringing that up. I guarantee that policy line item will be broken countless times.
 
Back
Top