Use of cellphone/smartphone

mumsyto3

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I understand that during plebe summer the plebes won't be able to use cell phones. When will they be able to start using a cell phone? Will they be allowed to use a smartphone?
 
I understand that during plebe summer the plebes won't be able to use cell phones. When will they be able to start using a cell phone? Will they be allowed to use a smartphone?

Plebes will be able to use their cellphones at very specific, designated times during Plebe Summer. This past Plebe Summer (for the Class of 2013), they were allowed to call home (or anywhere they want) on three different occasions. They were permitted to talk for nearly 30 minutes for each call.

The firsties take their cellphones and hold on to them throughout the summer. Once Plebe Summer is over, they are given back their cellphones to use pretty much any time they want. However, they are not permitted to use any media features of the phone. They cannot use it as an mp3 player or to watch movies.

You should know that Bancroft Hall is notorious for poor cellphone reception. It's like a nuclear bunker. I have two sons currently at the Naval Academy. One lives on 5-0 (5th wing, zero deck) and has virtually no reception in his room. My other son lives on 8-2 (8th wing, 2nd deck), facing the Chesapeake and gets decent reception from his room.

Ironically, I talked to my sons the most during Plebe Summer. Three 30-minute calls! Once the academic year started, I was lucky if I got a text message from them. :smile:
 
Just a question to clarify. They are not allowed to use the internet on the smartphone?
 
I wouldn't think so. I have an iPhone, it would be so easy to access the media and entertainment features. It's probably expected that we adhere to the rule of not using such.
 
Just a question to clarify. They are not allowed to use the internet on the smartphone?

Once the academic year begins - you will have computers in the rooms connected to the internet. So, the internet is not banned. However, there are certain websites that are "blocked" by the academy's watchdog program - mostly inappropriate websites.

I'll allow one of the midshipmen to respond to this, but I do not think they are prohibited from using the internet on their cellphones. They simply cannot use it as a media device.

Again, this is nearly impossible to monitor.

Another regulation is that you cannot be walking and talking on a cellphone.
 
Lots of mids use iPhones to access the internet. They're especially helpful when the internet is reduced to a crawl because the entire brigade is checking their emails.

Not accessing music and movies with an iPhone is on each plebe's own honor, as the phones' history will pretty much never be checked like the desktop PC's.
 
Not accessing music and movies with an iPhone is on each plebe's own honor, as the phones' history will pretty much never be checked like the desktop PC's.

Are you saying that the history on your desktop computers does get checked?
 
Yes, it's politely called a "Health and Wellness Inspection." The training staff in my company did this at two random times last semester when they suspected a lot of us were using media (which many were, including myself, so we paid dearly for it).
 
I live in first wing and I get pretty decent reception- by a window. But the thing is that the newer wings get better reception from my understanding. We've never had our computer histories checked in my company- I guess it's all up to training staff.

And using your cell phone isn't a really big deal. You can use whatever feature on it except for the media part- blabh blah blah. It's all on your honor of course.
 
What if one was to conceal illicit devices such as iPods or mP3 players? Will this go before a tribunal contemplating dismissal fromthe academy?
 
What if one was to conceal illicit devices such as iPods or mP3 players? Will this go before a tribunal contemplating dismissal fromthe academy?

During the summer? They'll yell at you and maybe scare you with an "honor board" (plebe summer-style joke), but you'll probably just end up at reg tables. You have to do something really really stupid to get kicked out during Plebe Summer. (like going to DC)

During the Ac-year? Depends on the company. In a joe-company you'd probably get a company level honor offense some remediation and what not. In my company we had a health and wellness inspection around 6 weeks and I left iPod on my desk...the firstie checked what music was on it then checked to make sure I didn't hide a george foreman in my ceiling and left.

You're allowed to have an iPhone. It is useful even if your company doesn't let you use some of the features. If you have one, keep it. If you want one but are worried about whether it would be worth it...I was in the same situation and now realize I should have gotten it.

Also I have a feeling 2014's Plebe Summer will be less summer-campy than 2013's.
 
"Also I have a feeling 2014's Plebe Summer will be less summer-campy than 2013's.
__________________
Midshipman Class of 2013
Formerly wannabe2013"

Curious why you say this?
 
The George Foreman is a necessity. Keep that baby under the sink covered with cleaning supplies and a bucket. Navy regs allow for walking and talking, so long as it doesn't interfere with saluting. Any joebag loser who checks a plebes computer history needs to get King Hall leftovers dumped on his bed while hes at class.
 
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