The dumbest place I have ever seen a cell phone in use was at a secure military airstrip while a unit was boarding aircraft to go to Iraq.


In the entrance to the facility is a large sign "No cell phones, pagers or other electronic devices beyond this point"

At the beginning of their embarkation brief they are told repeatedly that after X time, no communications will be allowed with their family until a time TBD after they arrive safely in country.

After they have a catered meal, they are again told that there are to be no communications after the briefing which will begin in 5 minutes.

They are then briefed that the following brief is classified information, and unti l their arrival in country there will be no communications with anyone outside the unit.

After all these briefings, while walking out onto the tarmac to board the aircraft, a soldier pulled his cell phone out of his pocket, and called home to tell them he was getting onto the aircraft to go to Iraq.

(The cell phone was crushed in place, the flight schedule was changed to recover from the security breach, and I'm sure the soldier still regrets having his cell phone)