Can the Army force you to use your own gadgets such as smartphone, tablet or laptops for work?

2020-04-09T04:51:57-04:00

My unit wants me to download certain apps on my phone or my personal laptop to conduct remote online training because of the pandemic(interpretation trainings). However these apps are not authorized on government laptops which we have. What regulation covers use of personal gadgets and can they force me to use my gadgets if I don't want to?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2020 9:07 AM

2020-04-09T09:07:21-04:00

I knew a guy with that mentality about not having a cell phone, so they gave him a radio. He had to check in every two hours after work, 4 on the weekend, with first and last checks at 0600 and 2200. He put up with it for 2 weeks. Sometimes it's just easier to not play the game.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2020 9:46 AM

2020-04-09T09:46:24-04:00

If you have a government computer you shouldn’t need to download anything to access training.
You will need to download somethings on personal computers to access military sites - such as CAC readers.
You cannot be forced to download to your personal devices, but as others have said it may be easier. In addition, if you cannot comply with the training/assigned duty the Army doesn’t have to pay you.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2020 10:41 AM

2020-04-09T10:41:53-04:00

The Army policy is that the Army cannot force you to download specific apps on your personal devices. If you have the government laptops as you said, there are other platforms to conduct training on, such as Slack or Microsoft teams, available for use on there

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2020 12:57 PM

2020-04-09T12:57:30-04:00

No, they cannot make you. However, there are many more inconvenient ways that they can ensure you receive the training.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2020 2:00 PM

2020-04-09T14:00:09-04:00

Nobody can force you to download anything on your personal devices as it violate AR 600-20, BUT, if you refuse, you are going to make your life harder. As a PV2, if you refuse, I can almost guarantee you will not be given any waviers for promotion and will be looked at as the sbag who tried to get out of doing work from home. And remember, Telework is not a given, you can be deemed mission essential personnel and go into your normal place of duty every day.

Response by SPC Louis Kennedy made Apr 9 at 2020 3:38 PM

2020-04-09T15:38:29-04:00

As others have stated, the Military can't force you to do it...but you have to pick as chose which battles are worth fighting.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2020 7:05 PM

2020-04-09T19:05:38-04:00

No you don't "have" to download those things to your personal phone. But you are required to be successful in the army. And your CoC "has" to ensure that you have every opportunity available to you. Tell me why Soldiers complain about sitting around and doing nothing all the time, then when asked or pressed about it they say they desire more training? (Yes, I used to be one of them) But now that I see it from the top down it was my fault. But government computers aren't always available. But you have one. So now that we know that, how many correspondence hours do you have? How much time have you spent getting a certification or time spent towards college? Soldiers' most common complaint is that their CoC doesn't take care of them, yet here you are complaining that your CoC is looking out for your success.
Don't be like some of us and wait till later in your career to make something of yourself, cause then before you know it, it's time for you to get out, and you didn't do jack for yourself. I'm glad some great NCOs stepped in early enough in my career.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2020 10:00 PM

2020-04-09T22:00:18-04:00

Unfortunately the military picks and chooses which REGS it wants to follow and which Army Values mean what at specific times. Is it worth the battle? Depends on what you're willing to lose.. Should you fight it?? Depends how hard you want to fight???

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2020 10:07 PM

2020-04-09T22:07:42-04:00

Short answer, no the Army cannot force you to do anything.
But the Army can make you wish like hell that you just did it, all day, every day until your ETS.
Create your burner email account, download the app, continue to train, I'm sure their reason is that not everyone really has a gov laptop, even if it seems like most of you do.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2020 10:56 AM

2020-04-10T10:56:34-04:00

They Kant 4ce u. But they Kan b a hole. And council j 4 not doin it. Sum way sum how

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2020 2:34 PM

2020-04-10T14:34:14-04:00

Hey everyone, I'm a Signal Chief Warrant Officer (255A). If this soldier has government furnished equipment, that should be good enough. What they're wanting him to do is wrong, period. It's lazy leadership!

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2020 2:47 PM

2020-04-10T14:47:53-04:00

In life nobody can make you do anything, but they can sure as hell make you wish you had.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2020 4:13 PM

2020-04-11T16:13:09-04:00

Not everyone has my skills, or even access to someone with my skills. I seriously doubt that 'The Army' wants PV2 Sakic to do this. I think her unit is exhibiting lazy leadership, and they don't have anyone to tell them what's available and provided by DISA. Why is there no access to DCS?

Seriously, anyone arguing that the PV2 is wrong in not wanting to download insecure applications to her personal laptop and/or cell phone is obviously not in my line of work, and doesn't understand the risks. The unit needs to find a better way of doing its business.