Cell phones in boot camp?

Question

I am a screenwriter writing a scene in which a marine needs to keep in touch with somebody during basic training. He keeps his phone hidden on him at all times and gets in trouble for taking calls during training manuevers.

I'm wondering if this is a realistic scenario. Would marines be allowed to cary a phone on them at all times during basic? Are they allowed to make calls only at certain times? What kind of trouble would they get in for taking calls when they shouldn't be?

Please only answer if you have real knowledge and experience. I want to be as acurate as possible.

Answer 1

Why don't you enlist and come back and tell us what you found out?

If you want to be accurate, perhaps you better contact the Marine Corp Training Units at Paris Island and Camp Pendleton. I am sure they would be happy to share the do's and don'ts of Basic Training.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

LOL no thats totally unbelevable. Anyone that has ever been through basic would tell you it is impossible to have a cell phone on you. Even if you somehow did how would you charge it? You dont exactly have access to electrical outlets everywhere (well not when i was in basic) and you would have to charge it for several hours the CC's or drill instructors are very good at noticing if anything is out of place and they would definantly notice a cell phone charger and of course take it and just wait patently for someone to claim it. Drop them and have them push the deck untill there arms fell off then maybe even set them back a week in training because they obviosly dont have respect and are not being honest and doing the right thing when not watched.
During training i was allowed to make ONE phone call when i was held back a week in trainig and that phone call was only long enough to tell my parents i was being held back a week and what my new mailing address would be so they could write to me. I was also allowed to call during week 6 and week 7 None of those times was i allowed to get my cell phone i used a calling card i had (i think i was advized to bring one to boot camp with me by my recruiter) so the calls didnt cost me a arm and a leg to make. The most communication to the outside world during boot is via letters and even then the amount of time given to write a letter is minimal. Constant communication while in boot camp is impossible. If something tragic happens then the family has to get in touch with the red cross once the red cross is in on it they can get in touch with the recruit in minutes and things can happen in a BLUR.

Answer 4

Anything is possible but that would verge on the unbelievable. When you arrive everything is taken away from you and out in storage-receiving a package means it is opened in front of the Drill instructor and checked for contraband (which a cell phone would be). The best chance to get one would be immediately prior to graduation when the family visits and at that point it would not be necessary. You are controlled at all times during boot camp and the opportunity to "sneak" a phone call would be practically non-existent.

Answer 5

no... this would not be possible... the phone would be confiscated if he was caught with it. He can get in a lot of trouble for having contraband and he would probably get sent back in boot camp, which would make him be in boot camp for longer. They are allowed to make calls but not from a personal cell phone... the phone calls depends on when their training instructor allows them too and the phone calls are short. Also you are made to empty your bags when come to boot camp so they can see if you haven't anything that you are not supposed to have.

But yeah maybe you can make it realistic if he had the charger and the cell phone hidden somewhere. and no one ever saw him use it...

Answer 6

There is no way a recruit could have a cell phone on him, ever, during boot camp. They are allowed to call home for MINUTES when they earn the privelege to do so. Calls are allowed at the TI's discretion. When you arrive , they take everything you came with and put it away until you leave bootcamp. You are issued everything you need.

A recruit has no where to "hide" a cell phone on his/her person during training. Unless it's going where the sun don't sun :0)

Answer 7

You would be better off having him being caught using a pay phone. There are several around base that recruits can use with a drill instructors permission. Also call the Marine Corps Publicity Officer for any other help.

Answer 8

yes is very unlikely to bring a cell phone to boot camp but before i went to boot camp i heard that you could bring a cell phone into boot camp because they don't pad you down they just tell you to give them all your stuff and put them on a bag. they issue you uniforms and all your civilian attire goes in another bag. so is possible to hide for the first couple of days.

now with that said there was a guy in a different platoon than mine that had to got to the hospital for whatever reason i think it was a stress fracture on his leg. because he was in a civilian hospital somehow he actually manage to make a phone call home and is smart**s talk to other recruits about it and either someone told on him or the DI overheard him but they found out. stress fracture or not he was IT(intensive training) in all six squad bays of all six platoons with his rifle by the time he got in our squad bay he couldn't even lift his arms and that was prolly just the beginning. on the usual they would spend days on you giving you special attention and on top of the the whole platton would pay for it also.

if someone would actually bring a cell phone into boot camp they would probably not make it in 3 months

Euri M
Lcpl USMC

if you want more input just let me know and ill help you and give you more ideas as to what would happend

Answer 9

PLEASE READ!!

I have used my cellphone during BCT. And that's at Ft. Benning, INFANTRY TRAINING. lol.

You CAN (meaning = possible) use your cell phone during basic. I have. If you're writing a scene, you're looking for possibilities of using cellphones, not if it's against the rules, right?

In my bay and probably all other bays... Your personal belongings are kept in a room right next to the drill sergeant. It is a very small room, and usually have things stacked up to about chest height with bags/luggage other people's shat.

I have charged a service charge of $20 for 5 minutes in that room. That room is super easy to break into. In BCT they give you this yellow card with the Army values on it (Ironic? hehe). This yellow card works perfect to jimmy the lock open, and you're actually instructed to keep it on you at all times.
I did not even know how to break into that room until someone from another platoon showed me and taught me.
So yes, it is possible to use your cellphone during BCT. If you get caught, you will be severely punished. Probably under UCMJ as well. It will be more than an Article 15. hehe.
But... it IS possible.

Answer 10

no cell phones allowed during BCT.in the Army before you can put your stuff in a locker they put all soldiers in a room and tell them to empty there bags the Drill Sergeants come around and check to see who has contraband such as electronics cellphones,CD players,I Pods,MP3 Players,Laptops etc...if this stuff is found especially a cell phone the soldier is handed a yellow envelope he/she must take the battery and the Sim card out of the cell phone and put it in the envelope which is sealed the rest of the cell phone i s put in the duffel bag.Any contraband found gets put in the soldiers duffel bag when finished it is locked away until they either graduate or get discharged from BCT