Cell phones for soldiers?

by High Above Texas

We got a plastic bag-like thing in the mail now. On the front it says to mail in your used [[disconnected]] cell phones to the soldiers. It says the phones will be re-furbished so that soldiers can use them to call home to family members.

I thought in Iraq they weren’t allowed to use cellphones due to the security risk?

Answer by twackman4life
last time I checked we weren’t allowed to use cell phones over there. Sounds kind of fishy

Answer by MizHunnyBunny
go to a recruiter. they either know or can find out if its bull or not. i’d stick to recycling my ancient phones through seats like best buy or the cell phone provider

Answer by mikerr83
Ive been hearing about that program on the radio a lot. I can know sending telephone calling cards but not cell phone minutes nor cell phones. They cant use them over there. The soldiers have phones set up at the MWR to use. Cell phones are just not allowed.

Answer by Ollie Oliver
Oh!Oh! Hot Dog! ET call home!

Answer by engineerchick
In Iraq we were never allowed to get cell phones. My busband is now in afghanistan and due to his job he is vital to have one, but the ones that we have here mostlikely wont work over there. He had to get one from there

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

My brother is now deployed in Afghanistan I was thinking of purchasing a cell phone for him and send it to him for Xmas but if it won’t work there then it would be silly to send it

Answer by Erin
Okay, the other person who called you stupid…. Unfair of him. You are asking a genuinely innocent question.

Some American cell phone companies offer special satellite-operated phones that can function in the Middle East. You don’t need a cell tower to use a satellite phone. Though, they are incredibly expensive, and not always reliable. So I would recommend you save your money and just send him lots of letters. Letters are nicer anyway, because you read them any time, and you can save them and re-read them.

Answer by Warmidgetheather
Because of his job, my fiance has a mobile phone, but I believe it’s a Satellite phone, and it’s because of his rank (position) and job that he has it. Not everyone is allowed to have one, its main function is for their command to reach them when they’re out at a COB and the rest of the unit is at the FOB.

Another reason only certain personnel are allowed to have them is when there’s a lockdown on communication shape, they don’t want the other soldiers/marines/airmen/navy personnel to be calling home and telltale their wives who got hurt/killed. Can you imagine being a wife and getting a phone call saying “I’m so sorry for what happened” before Sufferer Notification has told you your husband died in service?

It’s an OPSEC thing. He doesn’t have his own phone because he doesn’t need one. He has the communications center.

Add your own answer in the comments!
Donate cell phones to soldiers at Liberty Tax Service in Vero Beach
There is still time to donate your used cell phone to help soldiers stationed in Iraq or overseas connect with loved ones.
Read more on Indian River Press Journal

AT&T is supporting the troops while keeping military families connected! Donate a used cell phone to show your support at any AT&T owned wireless store. The ancient phones will be collected and recycled, and funds will be used to buy phone cards for the troops! For more info check out: www.att.com
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