Army Basic Training: Phone Call Rules
I remember as a kid riding past one of the Basic training areas on Ft. Knox (back when there was a bootcamp there) and seeing lines of soldiers standing at a series of pay phones. It was a moving image of just how much the soldiers wanted to check in with home. They would stand and stand and stand until they got the chance to say hello–to hear a loved one’s voice. I’ll always remember that picture of love.
Fast-forward 10 years later and my husband became one of those soldiers in need of a chance to use the phone. But in the world of cell phones, long lines of pay phones aren’t really necessary at Basic Training. (Fun fact: I do see phone stations on post still…But they’re always empty).
A quick disclaimer: policies stated in this post can vary depending upon the platoon, as cell phone usage is completely dependent upon the Drill Sergents’ discretion in each platoon. So anything you see here regarding the frequency of calls is DEFINITELY subject to change.
Cell Phones At Drop-off
First off– when you drop your future soldier off with the recruiter, leave his phone with him. You might have heard “he can’t have his phone at Basic” or he can’t have it when he processes.
True, he can’t use it.
But he can bring it with him.
So definitely encourage him to take it. His phone will not get confiscated and thrown away. It will definitely get taken, but it will be held safe and secure until he is allowed to use it. SEND IT WITH HIM.
Cell Phones At In-Processing
Almost nobody talks about in-processing. In fact, I feel like I need to write a whole post on it. (would you read it?) But basically, before your soldier begins his 10 or 14 or 16 weeks of boot camp, he has to process into the Army. For OSUT guys, for instance, this takes 7-10 days. Upon arrival, he should be allowed to call you for 30-seconds (literally) to say he is safe and has arrived. (Yay!) After this, your soldier will turn in his cell phone and it will be stored away. He won’t get to use it at in-processing, but they will give it back to him when he leaves for his official Basic Training area.
Cell Phones At Basic Training
The first day of Basic Training, he will once again turn his phone in. The phones are kept locked up with the Drill Sergeants. They aren’t stored in a huge mass pile in a warehouse where your soldier will never see it again (thank goodness). It’s definitely not like having an item confiscated in an airport, never to be seen again. The Drill Sergeants keep a labeled crate of each platoon’s phones and chargers, and they bring them out at the same time when soldiers are given the chance to use them. Don’t worry about the safety of his phone–it won’t get stolen or lost.
Phone Call Frequency
The first three weeks of Basic Training (Red Phase) are the most strict. While it is extremely unlikely that your soldier will be allowed to call during this time, it is still possible. And onward from Red Phase, the likelihood of your soldier being able to call is increased. (I talk more that in this post). It is all according to the discretion of the Drill Sergeants. They feel under no obligation to let the soldiers call (unlike mail call, which is a regular occurrence), but they might use it as a morale booster or reward for excellent training.
During training, platoons will sometimes earn a perk for finishing the best, and often that reward is a phone call. Sometimes too, the Drill Sergeants are feeling nice and will give the soldiers their phones for a bit on Sunday, to make calls. This is why its KEY for your soldier to have brought his phone. If he doesn’t have it, he will have to ask one of his buddies to share their phone. And while a good battle buddy might do that, both soldiers will get significantly less time to talk on the phone!
Again, phone call frequency varies IMMENSELY depending on the Drill Sergeants, and even the Company’s SOP. While one platoon might get to have their cell phones 4 times during Basic Training, another platoon might only win 1 phone call, and never be given another opportunity to call besides that. It is all completely dependent upon a variety of facts that change throughout the training year (and with each Drill Sergeant). I have heard of spouses getting as many as 8 calls, while others received as little as 2.
Phone Call Length
You probably already have guessed this, but phone call length varies enormously as well (especially if your soldier is sharing a phone!) My shortest call was the 30-second one, and my longest was 3 hours. It just depends one when/why your soldier gets to call you.
Sometimes the soldiers are given their phones to make calls at the end of the night, and they don’t have to be turned back in until training the next morning. This is rare, but it is really, really nice when it does happen. Nothing is better than an all-night phone call! But if this never happens to you, don’t feel bad. Any call and every call is amazing. Length doesn’t matter once you hear their voice on the phone!!
Phone Call Privacy
Contrary to popular belief, the Drill Sergeants will not stand over the soldiers and listen to their phone calls. All calls are conducted in the bay (barracks) where the soldiers sleep. So while there isn’t total privacy, since your soldier will be surrounded by his entire platoon, he will at least have privacy from his Drill Sergeants. And to be honest, the other soldiers won’t be sitting there listening to each other’s calls–they will be too busy making their own!
The same goes for texting–the Drill Sergeants will not stand over the soldiers and read all their texts. If your soldier gets the chance to text or call you, rest assured that both of you will be able to carry on a normal conversation. Talking in a busy bay might not be the best setting for a phone call, but it beats sitting in a phone booth with a line of 20 people behind you!
Final Takeaways
- Phone calls from Basic Training are completely inconsistent, unpredictable, and amazing.
- Soldiers–TAKE YOUR PHONE to Basic Training. You’ll want it.
- Loved Ones–ANSWER EVERY CALL YOU GET. Answering unknown numbers is scary. But missing a call from your soldier is worse.
Hopefully you found some answers here regarding phone calls and cell phones at Army Basic Training. If you’re wondering about something I might have missed, please ask in the comment section below! As always, thank you for stopping by.
Read next:
~When Will I Hear from My Soldier at Army Basic Training?~
10 Comments
Dana
Hi All –
From your experience – how many phone calls would you typically get from your spouse in basic? From what I’ve been reading, it can be anything from weekly, to about every three weeks where they phase up or not at all. I recently missed my husband’s phone call before he started the red phase in basic and I feel horribly. He sounded so disappointed in his voicemail. Please help! I don’t know what to do and I haven’t received a letter from the commander yet to have an address to even write.
rengin Yildiz
My son left a month ago and we recieved one phone call when he arrived (Jan 23rd). On Feb 10th we received one letter which he wrote it on Jan 26). Nothing else. Is this normal. I am really worried.
Jennifer
Hello! Thank you for commenting. 🙂
Yes, this is very normal–no need to be worried! Phone calls are very infrequent, and mail can be as well. Considering the fact that your soldier had to in-process for about 10 days ontop of travel, and then after in-processing arrive at his permanent training unit, there is nothing to worry about if you haven’t gotten more than one letter or one call. It is hard though, missing your soldier and not getting to hear from him! 🙁 Rest assured that you will receive some kind of contact in the near future, and keep sending mail even when you aren’t getting any…it helps them even more than it helps us at home!
Thanks again for reaching out and I wish your soldier all the best!
Devon Renee Brunson
My daughters very best friend left the 30th of april..she recieved the 30 second made it gotta go phone call the 1st now today she is completely heartbroken because while in class recieved 4 back to back phone calls and nothing since..was this his call before basic or can he possibly call again??
John
So what if no phone call was received when they were to get there. I know he made it to the airport at the location. He was supposed to go to the base that night which was two nights ago counting the day he arrived.
Jennifer
Thanks for commenting! The phone call time window is so brief that if he wasn’t able to get through on the first call, likely he wasn’t able to try a second time. Also, the 30 second phone call can only be made to one person, so if it gets used on a significant other, parent, sibling, friend, others who would be expecting the call won’t be able to receive it.
I’m so sorry for the late response! Wishing you all the best during this exciting time for your family and your soldier!
Pinky
Thank you so much for all the information. How frequent can my husband, who is there for bct,can call me after the red phase. We are also pregnant with our first child I am.not sure if I will be able to send him pictures of our baby..
Jennifer
Congratulations on your baby! And on your husband’s service!
It’s different with every platoon on how frequently the soldiers get to contact their families. However, it’s generally possible for soldiers to write quite a few times during the week. Phone calls are only permitted at the discretion of the drill sergeants, but I remember getting to talk to my husband quite a few times (more than four, less than ten). I wrote a post about contact frequency here. As far as pictures go, you can DEFINITELY send him photos of the baby. In fact, the hospital can contact him the day that you have your baby via a Red Cross message.
I hope that some of this helps. And please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any more questions to share! Welcome to the Army family!
ALICE PERKINS
If for some reason they don’t get to make a call home how do you know where to send mail for them and what to write in the enevelope and how will you find out when their basic training graduation is? Our son left yesterday and I have a lot of unanswered questions…. His dad will be having a life threatening surgery in about a month and a half, how would we let him know how his dad is?
Jennifer
Hi! Thanks for stopping by. And congratulations on your son’s service!
While the call home almost always happens, it never ends up being an informative call. 🙁 When the soldiers get to call home, they still haven’t begun their in-processing period, which can take 7-10 days. During that time, they don’t know what their future address will be, or what their unit will even be! Families (and the soldiers) don’t learn that until after the actual bootcamp portion begins. At that point, the soldiers send letters to share what their unit information and addresses are. Unfortunately, they normally don’t get a phone call to do this.
When the soldiers process, they give the address of their closest to kin to the commander. The commander then sends a letter out to families sharing the exact same addresses and unit information (in case the soldiers haven’t had the chance to personally inform family). Later in the cycle, the commander will send out another letter with pertinent graduation information.
As far as the families being able to contact their soldier, usually it’s our role to wait by the phone for them to contact us. I kept my phone by me at ALL times when my husband was gone– he would sometimes call at 2am! While phone calls are sporadic and non-guaranteed, I can attest that the drill sergeants take very good care of their soldiers. It is possible if your son mentioned the surgery to his leadership that they might be able to give him the chance to call and check in with you. Especially considering that in a month and a half from now your son will definitely be done with red phase (the first phase that lasts 3 weeks and is most intense/strict). Again, phone calls aren’t guaranteed. But a month and half from now, your son’s bootcamp will be well underway, and phone call likiehood increases with every week they are gone!
Thank you for reaching out and I hope some of this helps. Feel free to drop another comment if you have any more questions to share. We all have the same questions when our soldier leaves, so anything we discuss in the comment section can help someone else too!
Thank your son for me for his service to our great country!