MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. -- The ability to take pictures on government issued cell phones will give recruiters another tool in their arsenal as they continue to accomplish the Marine Corps Recruiting Command’s mission of putting the nation’s most highly qualified men and women into the Marine Corps.
“A recently approved change in policy will soon enable recruiters to utilize their government issued cell phones to take pictures of applicants’ tattoos and physical appearance,” said Robert Brown, assistant chief of staff, G-6, Marine Corps Recruiting Command.
The policy change, which was approved by the United States Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command, is in response to requests from recruiters on the street to use their camera phones.
According to Brown, recruiters will be able to take pictures using their issued smart-phones and send them to their MCRC e-mail account, via an approved Gmail account. However, officer selection officers, who are issued BlackBerrys, will be able to take pictures using the phone and send them directly to their MCRC e-mail address.
The updated policy will save recruiters time while putting together enlistment and officer commissioning packages.
“[The policy change] will benefit me because I’ll be able to take pictures on the spot,” said Capt. Randy J. Parks, officer selection officer, Officer Selection Station Providence, R.I. “Sometimes I don’t have a digital camera on me but I always have my BlackBerry. It will be easier if I can take a picture of an applicant and e-mail it to myself.”
Phones issued to Marines from other commands will not have the cameras enabled, as the policy change only pertains to MCRC Marines.
Although the policy change has been approved, recruiters won’t be able to use their phone cameras until detailed guidance and instructions are published. The command plans to publish guidance within the next 30 to 45 days.