The use of new technology on the battlefield has prompted the US military to rethink its operations as it prepares for a future conflict with a technologically advanced adversary.
Berger has led an effort to develop capabilities to operate in a more dispersed manner since taking over as the Corps' top officer.
Marines are at risk of being tracked, listened to, or attacked because of electronic emissions.
We have to be spread around. You have to be able to move your unit a lot. Berger said at the Defense Writers Group event that you have to learn all about camouflage, decoys and deception. When we were younger, we didn't worry about the fact that every time you press a button, you emit something.
Managing the emissions of cell phones and other devices for young soldiers, sailors, and Marines will require un learning some habits.
The people don't think about pressing a button. This is what they do all the time. We have to tell them that 18 years of communicating is not good. "Turn your cell phone off, it will kill you," Berger said. They said they wouldn't touch it. It doesn't go away. There are parts of the cell phone you don't know about.
Cell phones have been used in the fighting between Russia and Ukraine. Russian hackers have been sending propaganda to Ukrainian phones using phones that look like cell towers.
Russia's military attacked Ukraine in February and phones have been a problem. Ukrainians and foreign governments have eavesdropped on Russian troops using phones that are unlocked. Russian generals have been tracked by the Ukrainians and used in attacks.
The phones of US and allied troops in Europe have been affected by hacking attempts in the past.
Russian electronic warfare, including jamming and other interference that has affected US operations in Syria and elsewhere, has become a greater concern for the US military, which in turn has focused on improving its electronic-warfare capabilities.
After it was reported that troops using fitness trackers were revealing their locations and even the layout of their bases, the Pentagon banned the use of geolocation functions on phones.
As it develops concepts for operating small, mobile units within range of Chinese forces in the Western Pacific Ocean, the Marines Corps needs to secure communications and reduce electronic signatures.
Marines have tested new technologies meant to provide more secure communications between their units and with other forces, but using phones and other devices could still allow adversaries to track their movements in peace time and to strike in wartime.
A Marine took a selfies that showed his location during an exercise in California. A Marine general said that they were told that the men were dead.
Berger said this month that the collection of electronic signals is becoming more and more common.
The Corps is headed toward signals-intelligence operations being pushed down to much lower levels than some of us were used to.
The US Air Force is developing a concept for dispersed operations in the Pacific and faces a similar challenge in managing electronic emissions.
The Chinese intelligence network is very strong and they're trying to figure out what we're doing. Wolfe said in an interview that it was a game of cat-and-mouse because they were doing the same thing.
Wolfe told Insider that everything that you say and do is subject to monitoring by everyone. My phone is in my pocket. Right now, we could be recorded and not know it.
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