According to USA Today, the Army is hoping to issue its soldiers either an iPhone or Android smartphone. Lt. Gen. Michael Vane, director of the Army Capabilities Integration Center (ARCIC) states that soliders would be issued these smartphones just like regular equipment.

The Army wishes to utilize smartphone technology for training and war. As part of an Army program called Connecting Soldiers to Digital Application (CSDA), soldiers are being issued phones in Missouri, Virginia, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Testing will be held in February for not only smartphones, but also for networking equipment and applications, in attempts to modernize Army brigades. Troops will be testing various electronic devices, in addition to smartphones, to determine their usefulness.

The Army must succeed at protecting its data and network before allowing smartphone use on the battlefront. Once the Army succeeds, soldiers will have access to real-time intelligence and video, along with being able to track friendly and hostile units on a dynamic map, stated Army officials.

By enabling Army troops to receive vital information that is both detailed and relevant in the field, smartphones will hopefully be another tool that will help in keeping our troops safe and sound.