When our soldiers are in basic what is the deal with phones and texting?

When soldiers arrive at reception cell phones are taken away.. its considered contraband, just as candy, magazines, knives, ****, ect. are. Most places now allow the soldier to use their cell for a VERY short time on Sundays to call hime. Most of the time it is around 5 mintues, so never expect to have a really good conversation.. and texting- yeah its pretty pointless given the short amount of time you're given to use your cell phone. However, as the time gets closer to graduating BCT soldiers are allowed more time on Sundays to call him... it ranges depending on the Drill Sergeants.. The calls i recieved from my husband ranged from 30min to 2 hours during the last 3 weeks. But really not to let you connect with your soldier as much as its the fact that they need a ruff estimate of how many soldiers have family coming to family day and graduation.. and if the family is going to take the soldier to AIT or is the Military flying them there..

The reasoning for this is that when the recruit gets there, they are broken down and built back up to the standards of that branch of the military. I went through this back in '90 when I went through bootcamp for the Marine Corps. They want no distractions, no complications. You are there to be molded and reconstructed. You talk on the phone when they say. It is the idea that you are being taught to live a military life. You do what you are told, when you are told, and nothing else.

Your cell phones, ipods, etc., are taken from you and put into storage and should they not get stolen while you're in basic they will be given to you after you've graduated. They suggest that you don't bring electronics with you because you won't get to use them and they could get stolen and the Army or any military branch will not be held responsible.