Cell Phones

jonafox94

5-Year Member
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Jul 29, 2011
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I know that cell phones are not allowed during CBT, however my parents are not able to attend neither R Day nor A Day. My question is, should I bring my phone with me on R Day and let USMA staff hold it until after CBT, should i leave it at home and have my parents mail it after CBT, or should I mail it to myself before hand?
 
Either way would work, but my thought is that if they mail it to you, it could arrive charged and ready to use. If they use a small Priority box, it will fit right in your mailbox and you won't have to wait for a package slip to be left.

I don't think the USMA staff will keep your phone for you----it is left in your civilian bag and put in the storage area. You should plan to put it in a protective box so it doesn't get crushed.
 
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I was wondering the same thing! I think I will bring it with me and leave it in my bag. I am asking some plebe frinds this week about it though. My other question (not to hijack your question) is, are ipads allowed at USMA? Because I cant find any info about that and I have one and am curiouse. Thanks!
 
I was wondering the same thing! I think I will bring it with me and leave it in my bag. I am asking some plebe frinds this week about it though. My other question (not to hijack your question) is, are ipads allowed at USMA? Because I cant find any info about that and I have one and am curiouse. Thanks!

It's my understanding that only "authorized" devices are allowed to access the network. I wouldn't think an iPad would be very useful without network access, unless you need a paperweight.
 
It's my understanding that only "authorized" devices are allowed to access the network. I wouldn't think an iPad would be very useful without network access, unless you need a paperweight.

So no iPhone 4 to use FaceTime?
 
So no iPhone 4 to use FaceTime?

Only on the cell network, no attach to the USMA wireless. And hope your coverage is good enough, all three of the major networks have good spots and bad spots in the barracks. Supposedly ATT has repeaters in some.

Skype is not currently allowed on the USMA network, so most use OOVOO. One of the goldcoat managers told me that they are revisiting the skype policy as it's really no different than oovoo now. (Somehow it was categorized as a peer-to-peer client)

As to bringing a cellphone to R-day, DS did not... we brought it at A-day. We regretted that a bit, as nearly all companies allowed cadets to get them out of the trunk room and start using them after marchback. But last year they got their room phones on Tuesday, so they could make calls so it was not a big deal.

But to the OP's question- if you bring it you will just put it in your civvy bag to be stored in the trunk room until reorgy. No problem with doing so, just can't access it during CBT.

Several other things to realize:
- You cannot use your cell phone much outside of your room anyway as a plebe
- The pocket situation in W/G or AFC does not make it easy to carry a cell
- Coverage varies widely due to the granite barracks.

Most of the plebes I knew would only carry them on the weekend when out of the restricted areas. (Essentially on walking privs)

If they stop providing (and charging for) desk phones this may all change. And your company/platoon/squad may have different policies.
 
I would suggest bringing your phone w/ you, but before you begin processing, pack it into something sturdy so that when it is under the weight of other bags, or whatever, it doesn't get crushed - perhaps some sort of a box that is lightweight enough to carry until they separate you from your bag? We brought our son's phone on A-Day, and mail only works if a plebe has a yuk leader during reorgy week that will take him to the post office to pick up a package (during reorgy week, plebes can't go anywhere on their own) - so I'd bring it - but protect it from possible damage/theft while it is stored during beast.
 
I would suggest bringing your phone w/ you, but before you begin processing, pack it into something sturdy so that when it is under the weight of other bags, or whatever, it doesn't get crushed - perhaps some sort of a box that is lightweight enough to carry until they separate you from your bag?

Very good input. DS's phone was broken in his bag in transit to his MIAD. No screen, he has to call using voice input.
 
I recommend bringing it. Only because, as has been mentioned, you will almost certainly be able to use it during Re-Orgy week before A-day.

Also, the rumor on the street is that the landlines are going away. So whereas you would normally get issued your landline on the Tuesday of Re-orgy week, this year you may not, in which case having your cell phone may be of use.

Anything you bring that you're not allowed to have will go into storage somewhere. That being said, things do get broken/lost in transit from time to time. It's not too common, but it's common enough to make it a consideration.
 
I wouldn't be too surprised. I never touched my landline the entiriey of last academic year.

I think it really depends on the cadet. I used mine a lot. I know a lot of people who use theirs a lot. It's a convenient way to get in touch with other Cadets, and was great back in the days before there was cell phone service in the barracks.

I know many who never used it, many who used it a lot. I guess those who never did outnumbered those of us who did.

I have this hunch that the infrastructure that was used for the landline phones will be used for the purpose of having a civilian (IE Not-on-the-DREN) internet connection in the barracks. Because almost everyone agrees that there's no reason for us to be on the DREN all the time.

True - no more landline phones.

Meh, I'll miss using mine, but oh well.
 
Yup, just put your phone, protected, in storage for CBT. But also remove the battery. Just in case it would leak, it won't ruin your phone.


Either way would work, but my thought is that if they mail it to you, it could arrive charged and ready to use. If they use a small Priority box, it will fit right in your mailbox and you won't have to wait for a package slip to be left.

I don't think the USMA staff will keep your phone for you----it is left in your civilian bag and put in the storage area. You should plan to put it in a protective box so it doesn't get crushed.
 
Oh goodness YES! Bringing my phone was WORTH the chance that it could be broken, honestly. The first day you get back from the march back you get to have your civilian bag back. The first thing you're going to want to do is text everyone, call mom and dad, go on facebook, etc. And it feels AMAZING to do so. What I did was pack EVERYTHING I wanted after beast in to a ziploc bag. (girls- bring makeup, straighteners, perfume, earrings etc. in this bag)-- I brought my Ipod, cell phone, camera, CHARGERS for all of these items, and a few other things I wanted with me during my first semester including a pair of civilian clothes. Everyone is super careful about not bringing these things to beast, but about a week after reorgy week you will need just about ALL of these things- even the civilian clothes!! If you decide to take pass labor day weekend, you will be the only one prepared, so you're welcome. Just be sure to label it for "AFTER BEAST ITEMS" in a plastic bag and just leave it in your civilian bag for the cadre to put away in your own specific luggage room during beast.

On a side note, when choosing civilian clothes to bring, just know you may need khakis eventually at the academy- but at first you should bring jeans and a nice shirt and shoes like sperry's or something casual you could, say, get away with wearing to the city or a club event. This will hold you over to Thanksgiving where you will have a better idea of what you can/want to bring back to the academy like comfy sweats or something. Upperclassmen will be able to pick you out in a crowd if you wear khakis, a polo shirt, and running sneakers- OR WORSE- low quarters.... They wont say anything directly to you, but in my experience they will say something like "look at those sweet shoes dude- he must be some kinda war hero from that military academy on the hudson!!!" just loud enough for you to hear... they're real sarcastic, so I'm just giving some advice to help out the incoming class! Any specific questions though (i know I had tons, especially about what to bring) just feel free to PM me!
 
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