The Pentagon is urging military troops and other Defense Department personnel not to play Pokemon Go on their government-issued cell phones.
"I think taxpayers would appreciate government phones being used for government business," Deputy Defense press secretary Gordon Trowbridge, a Pentagon spokesman, told reporters Friday.
"We have asked, as we do periodically, that Defense Department personnel avoid putting the game and similar games on their government-issued mobile devices," he said.
However, Trowbridge said, "there is no ban on playing" the location-based augmented reality game on Defense Department property.
And he acknowledged that there is a Pokemon "gym" located in the Pentagon’s center courtyard.
Military installations around the world have issued warnings and restrictions on the game.
Joint Base Lewis McChord's official Facebook page recently announced that "Since Pokemon Go hit last week there have been reports of serious injuries and accidents of people driving or walking while looking at the app and chasing after the virtual Pokemon."
"Do not chase Pokemon into controlled or restricted areas, office buildings, or homes on base," the message said.
Army base Fort Carson in Colorado reminded soldiers not to run onto the flight line and several Naval stations have cautioned sailors "to be mindful of their surroundings, both from a safety and respectful stand point," a Navy official said.
The popularity of mobile app 'Pokemon Go' isn't slowing down, and neither are troops' interest in the game. That's prompted several bases to issue warnings reminding service members to be aware of their surroundings while staring at their phones.
Photo Credit: U.S. Army
Andrew Tilghman is the executive editor for Military Times. He is a former Military Times Pentagon reporter and served as a Middle East correspondent for the Stars and Stripes. Before covering the military, he worked as a reporter for the Houston Chronicle in Texas, the Albany Times Union in New York and The Associated Press in Milwaukee.
