Rocky C
06-01-16, 08:48 AM
Marines who prefer to track their activity step-by-step are now allowed to wear personal fitness devices in secure spaces where sensitive material once prohibited such technologies.
Devices like the Fitbit, Jawbone's UP, Nike's Fuel Band and Garmin's VivoFit can now be worn in spaces where collateral classified information and controlled unclassified information is processed, stored or discussed. The new rules are detailed in Marine administrative 274/16, which was signed Friday by Brig. Gen. Dennis Crall, the Corps' chief information officer.
Marine Corps officials did not immediately respond to questions about the changes. The Navy approved a similar policy in September, and even issued fitness trackers to some sailors as a way to help the service monitor their workouts, diet and overall health.
While the Pentagon is careful to protect classified materials and communications within military facilities, emerging technologies like fitness devices have been forbidden under blanket protection orders. This new worldwide policy — coordinated between the Marine Corps' Command, Control, Communications and Computers Department and Marine Forces Cyber Command — loosens the restrictions so Marines can wear approved fitness devices in certain secure locations.
The devices must be commercially available in the U.S. or through a military exchange, marketed primarily as fitness or sleep devices, and designated as a Federal Communication Commission Class B digital device.
Bluetooth is acceptable, as is GPS — if it is in the mode of “receive only.” Accelerometers, altimeters, gyroscopes, heart activity monitors, vibration features, and near-field communication capabilities are all good-to-go.
Devices that contain cellular or Wi-Fi, photographic, video capture/recording, microphone, or audio recording capabilities are a no-go. “Merely disabling the cellular, camera, or video capability is not sufficient,” the MARADMIN states.
Also forbidden are external or conflicting hardware or software modifications, to include the installation of third-party apps. Authorized devices can receive only vendor-supplied software updates that do not add any prohibited features or capabilities. USB accessories such as Bluetooth dongles and charging cables are also prohibited.
The new rules allow commanders to prohibit fitness devices in a facility, operations area, or laboratory if the risk is determined to be unacceptable, though the MARADMIN gives no specifics on what could lead to such a determination. Signs must be posted that state when wearable fitness devices are restricted from any area.
Devices like the Fitbit, Jawbone's UP, Nike's Fuel Band and Garmin's VivoFit can now be worn in spaces where collateral classified information and controlled unclassified information is processed, stored or discussed. The new rules are detailed in Marine administrative 274/16, which was signed Friday by Brig. Gen. Dennis Crall, the Corps' chief information officer.
Marine Corps officials did not immediately respond to questions about the changes. The Navy approved a similar policy in September, and even issued fitness trackers to some sailors as a way to help the service monitor their workouts, diet and overall health.
While the Pentagon is careful to protect classified materials and communications within military facilities, emerging technologies like fitness devices have been forbidden under blanket protection orders. This new worldwide policy — coordinated between the Marine Corps' Command, Control, Communications and Computers Department and Marine Forces Cyber Command — loosens the restrictions so Marines can wear approved fitness devices in certain secure locations.
The devices must be commercially available in the U.S. or through a military exchange, marketed primarily as fitness or sleep devices, and designated as a Federal Communication Commission Class B digital device.
Bluetooth is acceptable, as is GPS — if it is in the mode of “receive only.” Accelerometers, altimeters, gyroscopes, heart activity monitors, vibration features, and near-field communication capabilities are all good-to-go.
Devices that contain cellular or Wi-Fi, photographic, video capture/recording, microphone, or audio recording capabilities are a no-go. “Merely disabling the cellular, camera, or video capability is not sufficient,” the MARADMIN states.
Also forbidden are external or conflicting hardware or software modifications, to include the installation of third-party apps. Authorized devices can receive only vendor-supplied software updates that do not add any prohibited features or capabilities. USB accessories such as Bluetooth dongles and charging cables are also prohibited.
The new rules allow commanders to prohibit fitness devices in a facility, operations area, or laboratory if the risk is determined to be unacceptable, though the MARADMIN gives no specifics on what could lead to such a determination. Signs must be posted that state when wearable fitness devices are restricted from any area.