https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/ARN18523_AD2019-23_Web_Final.pdf
MEMORANDUM FOR SEE DISTRIBUTION
SUBJECT: Army Directive 2019-23 (Allocation of Wireless Portable Electronic Devices)
1. References:
a. Department of Defense Directive 8100.02 (Use of Commercial Wireless Devices,
Services, and Technologies in Department of Defense (DOD) Global Information Grid
(GIG)); April 14, 2004; Certified Current as of April 23, 2007.
b. Army Regulation 25-13 (Army Telecommunications and Unified Capabilities),
11 May 2017.
c. Army Regulation 735-5 (Property Accountability Policies), 9 November 2016.
d. Department of the Army Pamphlet 25-1-1 (Army Information Technology
Implementation Instructions), 26 September 2014.
2. In support of ongoing reform initiatives, the Army must improve the management
and accountability of portable electronic devices (PEDs) to increase visibility over the
devices and identify opportunities to reduce mobile costs.
3. Examples of PEDs include, but are not limited to, smartphones, cell phones,
electronic tablets with cellular capability, air cards, MiFi hotspots, push-to-talk (or press-
to-transmit)-enabled devices, and pagers. Initial assessments indicate the Army
currently has allocated more than 220,000 PEDs.
4. This directive establishes the first Armywide allocation rules for organizations to
determine which positions are eligible for specific types of PEDs.
5. All Army commands, organizations, and activities will complete implementation of
the policy in the enclosure by 1 October 2019.
6. This directive applies to the Regular Army, Army National Guard/Army National
Guard of the United States, and U.S. Army Reserve.
7. The Army Chief Information Officer/G-6 is the proponent for this policy and will
incorporate the relevant provisions of this directive into Army Regulation 25-13 and
Department of the Army Pamphlet 25-1-1 within 2 years of the date of this directive.
S E C R E T A R Y O F T H E A R M Y
W A S H I N G T O N
SUBJECT: Army Directive 2019-23 (Allocation of Wireless Portable Electronic Devices)
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8. This directive is rescinded upon publication of the revised publications.
Encl Ryan D. McCarthy
Acting
DISTRIBUTION:
Principal Officials of Headquarters, Department of the Army
Commander
U.S. Army Forces Command
U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command
U.S. Army Materiel Command
U.S. Army Futures Command
U.S. Army Pacific
U.S. Army Europe
U.S. Army Central
U.S. Army North
U.S. Army South
U.S. Army Africa/Southern European Task Force
U.S. Army Special Operations Command
Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command
U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Strategic Command
U.S. Army Cyber Command
U.S. Army Medical Command
U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command
U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
U.S. Army Military District of Washington
U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command
U.S. Army Human Resources Command
U.S. Army Financial Management Command
Superintendent, United States Military Academy
Director, U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center
Superintendent, Arlington National Cemetery
Commandant, U.S. Army War College
Director, U.S. Army Civilian Human Resources Agency
CF:
Director of Business Transformation
Commander, Eighth Army
Enclosure
ALLOCATION OF WIRELESS PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES
1. Purpose. This directive provides Armywide policy for determining which positions
are eligible for Government-owned, wireless portable electronic devices (PEDs).
2. Background. At the direction of the Secretary of the Army, the Chief Information
Officer (CIO)/G-6 has established Armywide allocation rules for organizations to follow
when issuing PEDs. The policy requires Army organizations to develop and maintain
documentation of PED allocations. It also complements the Army’s ongoing migration
to an enterprise wireless contract for mobile devices, which could save up to 10 percent
in programmed funding each year.
3. Intent. This policy will improve the visibility, accountability, and management of
wireless PEDs and identify opportunities for the Army to reduce mobile costs.
4. Scope. This policy applies to all Army-allocated, Government-owned PEDs. A PED
is defined as any nonstationary commercial electronic apparatus with the capability of
recording, storing, and/or transmitting classified or unclassified information. The scope
of this allocation policy is limited to classified or unclassified PEDs requiring supporting
cellular and/or data services.
a. Examples of PEDs within the scope of the policy include, but are not limited to,
smartphones, cell phones, electronic tablets with cellular service capability, air cards,
MiFi hotspots, push-to-talk (or press-to-transmit)-enabled devices, and pagers.
b. PEDs within the scope of this allocation policy do not include devices used for
group mission communications (for example, early entry communications kits or satellite
phones). For the purposes of this policy, PEDs do not include laptop computers.
5. Policy. Effective immediately, Army commanders will:
a. ensure PEDs are allocated in accordance with the following criteria:
(1) No more than three PEDs (classified or unclassified) are authorized for
general officers, flag officers, members of the Senior Executive Service, deputy
commanders, and chiefs of staff.
(2) No more than two PEDs (classified or unclassified) may be allocated to each
aide or executive assistant to a senior leader and directors of primary staff directorates
(that is, those who report directly to general officers, flag officers, or members of the
Senior Executive Service).
(3) No more than two PEDs (classified or unclassified) may be allocated to each
commanding officer, deputy commanding officer, and command sergeant major serving
at the brigade and battalion levels.
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(4) No more than one PED (classified or unclassified) may be allocated to each
company commander and/or first sergeant at Army organizations and commands.
(5) No PEDs (classified or unclassified) will be allocated to any other positions
without written approval from Army personnel at or above the O-6 or GS-15 level. The
approval must justify why allocation of the PED is mission critical. The approving official
must ensure a copy of the written authorization is documented and available to auditors.
b. establish and maintain a documented basis of allocation for all Government-
owned PEDs. The documented allocation rules for PEDs must:
(1) require accounting for all allocated PEDs (regardless of dollar value) in the
Accountable Property System of Record according to Army Regulation 735-5 (Property
Accountability Policies).
(2) specify the quantity of PEDs allocated to each position within the
organization.
(3) specify the type of PED (for example, classified or unclassified, smartphone
or tablet) allocated to each authorized position within the organization. PED allocations
must account for device specification based on technical and mission requirements,
feasibility, and/or cost considerations.
c. prohibit the allocation of PEDs when:
(1) the allocation of the PED is solely for convenience.
(2) alternatives are available to personnel, such as Government-owned, fixed
telecommunication systems, desktops, or laptops.
(3) the PED substitutes for a tactical communication system for a field
environment.
(4) the PED is used as an auxiliary or spare device to an already allocated
Government-owned PED with active service.
6. Compliance
a. Army activity heads will ensure the documentation for PED allocation provides
auditors with enough information to assess compliance with the requirements of this
policy. Activities will fully document the basis of allocation in accordance with
paragraph 5b. No later than 1 October 2019, activities will send a copy of the activity’s
documented allocation rules to the point of contact identified in paragraph 7.
b. The CIO/G-6, in coordination with U.S. Army Audit Agency and other
organizations, as appropriate, may coordinate future audits to assess:
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(1) Army compliance with this policy, including compliance with the quantities
and types of PEDs allocated, as well as the sufficiency of the documentation of PED
allocation.
(2) the effect of this policy on mission requirements, readiness, and the workload
of personnel ensuring compliance.
c. The CIO/G-6 will review the results of all future audits associated with this policy
and propose recommendations for improvement.
d. To the extent this policy affects bargaining unit employees’ conditions of
employment, commanders and supervisors are reminded to fulfill any applicable labor
relations obligations prior to implementation.
7. Point of Contact. Email any questions about this policy to usarmy.pentagon.hqda-
cio-g-6.mbx.policy-inbox@mail.mil.