iPhone

gdesena

10-Year Member
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I know Plebes aren't allowed to have music players, but they can have cell phones. What about iPhones? I thought I remembered a Plebe having an iPhone when I was on my CVW. Would an iPhone be taken away because it is a music player in it?

Thanks,
Geoff
 
I was wondering this question as well...since iPhones have access to media and music. Should we buy son a new phone before Iday?
 
During plebe summer, no. Cell phones are taken away on I-Day and returned for the 2 five-minute calls home.

After PPW, I believe use of "electronics" is now based on individual company rules. However, your plebe can leave such things at his/her sponsor's house to use on Saturday afternoons, etc.

The reason the plebe had one during CVW could be either that his/her company allowed them (with music) at that time, especially if you had a CVW in the spring, or that plebes were allowed to use them on their honor not to use the musical features. I'd have to defer to a current/recent mid on this one to be sure.
 
I think you're right, USNA1985, on a company to company basis, of course. I think some plebes in some companies had iphones, but were not to use the music players.

Plebes were issued computers, obviously, that were capable of playing videos and music that they don't "rate" as well. They are not to use those features (and not getting speakers with the computers increased the likelihood that they wouldnt!).

Getting fried for listening to music on an iphone is not worth the 3 minutes of fun it would bring. By second semester, some companies, though certainly not all, backed off of the "no media for plebes" rule. My son's company was NOT one of those.

That's probably as specific as we can get. A current mid may clarify further, but I think it's going to vary from company to company.

I think a parent could GET their plebe-to-be an iphone, with full knowledge (on the part of parent and plebe) that they may be forbidden to use the music features while not on liberty or leave. JMHO.
 
If you already have an iphone, do not go out and get a different one. We did that and didn't need to. Son had an iphone and loved it. He was concerned about ipod functions as well. He took the iphone with him on Iday and used it to call home for the prescribed calls home. At PPW he went to Verizon and bought a different phone. Early into AC year he realized that he could have kept the iphone and it was up to the honor system as to whether he would use the media function. He went most of the year with verizon plan because GF had Verizon and he could call her daily without using any minutes and not worry about ipod. As the year progressed, he realized that he could have made it work with the iphone. Fortunately for him, he was able to sell Verizon phone on ebay for almost as much as he had paid and bought out his contract. He is back on iphone and loves being able to receive his emails. It came in handy during commissioning week. As the mids were packing everything up, including computers, he was able to receive emails with updates about formations and training.
No matter what phone you take, be sure to pack charger for Plebe summer. The cadre will charge phones before calls home.
 
I went to Camp Tecumseh without a cell phone and had no issues. It might have been better because I wasn't worried about the cadre losing it every time we called home. Shipmates are very willing to let you use their phone to call momma for 5 minutes. I got a new one at the mall during PPW. As for the iPhone, I would probably steer away from it. Most people don't care, but all it takes is one sly MidRegs supporter or an overly motivated roomate to put a damper on the iPhone experience. At $85 a month, that would be a waste. Get a cheapo phone that won't break if it falls out of the rack and hits the floor when you wake up late for formation. As the year progresses, each person should be better able to judge their "ability" to use an iPhone as a plebe and whether or not it is worth the cost.
 
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