{"id":24270,"date":"2024-05-07T12:36:51","date_gmt":"2024-05-07T12:36:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/uncategorized\/2024\/05\/07\/marine-corps-tightens-rules-on-personal-cellphone-use-in-training\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T21:01:50","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T21:01:50","slug":"marine-corps-tightens-rules-on-personal-cellphone-use-in-training","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/cyber\/2024\/05\/07\/marine-corps-tightens-rules-on-personal-cellphone-use-in-training\/","title":{"rendered":"Marine Corps tightens rules on personal cellphone use in training"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Marine Corps has banned Marines from using personal cellphones and other devices during training exercises, armed duty, high-risk training and aviation operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Previous guidance on personal portable electronic devices \u2014 a category that includes cellphones, laptops, tablets, smart watches, portable gaming systems, digital cameras and Bluetooth headphones \u2014 had given unit commanders more leeway to set their own policies. But a Marine Corps order dated March 26, signed by Commandant Gen. Eric Smith, tightens the service-wide rules<\/a> about the devices, citing a host of risks the technology can cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The order comes as part of a broader effort by the Marine Corps to rein in Marines\u2019 use of personal electronic devices at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Personal portable electronic device use \u201ccan reduce situational awareness, compromise privacy, and threaten operations security,\u201d the order states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The order tells commanders to issue unit-specific policies that align with the Marine Corps\u2019 new restrictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the new rules, Marines conducting training exercises in the field \u201cshould not\u201d carry personal devices. Commanders may authorize \u201climited\u201d use of the devices in the areas where Marines have set up their temporary camps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marines who are standing armed duty can\u2019t carry personal devices, the order states. Nor can Marines carry them during \u201chigh-risk training events\u201d \u2014 such as live-fire training, water survival training, obstacle courses or rappel training \u2014 regardless of whether they are receiving or administering the training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Operators and crew members of government-owned vehicles and equipment are barred from device use \u201cthat creates unreasonable risks to mission or good order and discipline while operating such vehicle\/equipment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Personal devices are prohibited from areas \u201cactively involved with Marine Corps aviation operations,\u201d meaning hangars, flightlines, aircraft maintenance spaces, briefing areas and aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ban on device use during aviation operations comes with some exceptions. Aircraft passengers who aren\u2019t members of the crew may use their devices with approval from the aircraft commander. Aircrew members who don\u2019t have government-issued devices may carry powered-off personal devices as a last-resort form of communication for emergencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The order allows commanders of battalions or larger organizations to set temporary, situation-dependent exceptions to the rules, but commanders can\u2019t make permanent exceptions based on billet, rank or seniority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Marine Corps wants a \u201ccultural shift\u201d in how Marines use devices, according to the order. Leaders are expected to teach their Marines about the risks posed by devices and use tools to monitor device emissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Marines break the new rules, commanders are required to report the violations and deal with them as they see fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet the order urges a gentle approach to enforcement: \u201cWhere applicable, commanders are encouraged to use PPED violations as learning\/training opportunities to both educate on the operational risks of PPEDs, while providing Marines the opportunity to learn from their mistakes without derailing their future career.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The order does not apply to Marines\u2019 official government-issued devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Corps\u2019 previous guidance on personal devices, a 2016 white letter from then-Commandant Gen. Robert Neller, had restricted device use during live-fire training, swim training, and vehicle and aircraft operations but otherwise had left it up to commanders to make their own rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No texting for official business<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The order from March is the second time in recent months the Corps has restricted Marines\u2019 use of personal devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The service announced in a Marine administrative message<\/a> in December 2023 and reiterated in a Marine Corps bulletin<\/a> in February that Marines had to use their Microsoft Teams accounts or government emails for official business. That means Marines aren\u2019t allowed to transmit official information via text, even on their government-issued devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Marines \u201cinadvertently\u201d do business on their personal devices, they must screenshot the content and send it to their own government email accounts with the subject line \u201cOfficial Record of Text Messages,\u201d the bulletin states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Official business includes \u201cAny contact with a media outlet by any member of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) acting in an official capacity,\u201d according to the bulletin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February, Marine Corps Times asked the office of Deputy Commandant for Information Lt. Gen. Matthew Glavy if that meant Marine public affairs officers providing information on background or junior Marines discussing the dire conditions of their barracks<\/a> would have to disclose their communications with journalists to records officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than a month after receiving that query, Capt. Karen Jensen, a spokeswoman for the office, responded via email, \u201cUnfortunately, I cannot speculate on the various ways records could be created in the future. Marines are expected to abide by policy regarding records retention in all cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRecords serve as evidence and documentation of an agency\u2019s operations, decisions, policies, procedures, functions, and other activities and will be maintained in accordance with guidance issued by the National Archives and Records Administration,\u201d Jensen said in the emailed statement. \u201cThe Marine Corps is committed to upholding these standards.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018You will be attacked\u2019<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Since many of the younger Marines in the force have grown up with smartphones, it is a challenge to limit use of the devices, Marine leaders have said in recent years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2016, Neller recounted a training exercise<\/a> in which the electromagnetic signature from Marines\u2019 personal cellphones made it easy to identify the location of a particular area in the headquarters, CNN reported. He cautioned Marines to leave their devices behind before going to the field: \u201cBecause if you can be seen, you will be attacked.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2022, then-Commandant Gen. David Berger said one lesson from Russia\u2019s war in Ukraine is personal cellphones can get troops tracked<\/a> \u2014 and killed.<\/p>\n\n\n\t