Army’s New Social Media Policy Bans Drill Sergeants from Posting Recruit Training Online
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- Content ban: Army trainers are now explicitly banned from creating social media content featuring trainees.
- Army values: An update to the TR 350-6 handbook mentions drill sergeants are not allowed to send friend requests to trainees.
- Preventing misconduct: Army members must reflect the same values even when off duty to prevent hazing, bullying, and harassment.
The U.S. Army has updated its regulations to prohibit drill sergeants from creating and posting social media content that includes trainees. This change is part of a broader effort to maintain professionalism and uphold Army values during Initial Military Training.
The New Army Social Media Policy
According to an August update to the TR 350-6 handbook, which governs the training of new recruits, Army trainers are now explicitly banned from creating social media content featuring trainees.
The new rule also forbids drill sergeants from "friending" or developing personal or intimate relationships with future trainees on any social media platform, over the phone, or via text message.
Hunter Rhoades, a spokesperson for the Army’s Center for Initial Military Training, stated that all soldiers must represent the U.S. Army and its values when on social media, adding that the policy aims to prevent online misconduct such as hazing, bullying, and harassment, which undermine the core principles of dignity and respect.
While not tied to a single incident, the update follows an investigation into a drill sergeant who posted a video of trainees exercising under a banner that reads, “This Is Ultra MAGA Country.” "Displaying partisan political materials in government facilities, including training areas, is prohibited under Army regulation,” Jennifer Gunn, a service spokesperson, said in a statement.
Implications for Military Training and Privacy
This drill sergeant social media ban addresses concerns about power dynamics and Army trainee privacy in a digital context. By setting clear boundaries, the Army reinforces the professional relationship between instructors and new soldiers. The policy is one of several recent military training reforms.
Portions of this regulation are punitive, as the update states that “violation of the specific prohibitions and requirements of specific portions by Soldiers may result in adverse administrative action and/or charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.”
The regulation update also removed the requirement for drill sergeants to perform corrective physical actions with trainees and advised against using slang terms like "smoking" for such measures. These changes reflect an ongoing evolution in military training standards, aiming to balance toughness with accountability and professionalism.
In September 2024, Ukraine banned the official use of Telegram amid concerns about Russian spying.
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