WASHINGTON — In a world where most restaurants, businesses, offices, homes and college campuses are equipped with wireless Internet, it may be hard to believe that many Marine barracks lack Wi-Fi — but a new project aims to bring it to all barracks by the end of the year.
Enlisted barracks are getting Wi-Fi service and access to more than 1 million wireless hot spots through a Marine Corps project. Bachelor quarters for soldiers and airmen will be equipped with the service, reports Marine Times.
Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps Ronald Green announced the Wi-Fi project would be complete for Marine barracks in 2015. So far, 491 barracks have the service and 229 barracks are waiting for Wi-Fi installation, Marine Times reports.
“[Wi-Fi for Marines is] important because of where we are in society today,” Green told the Marine Times. “Today all the students in all the universities have Wi-Fi, most homes have Wi-Fi, so we wanted Marines and our sailors to be up-to-date in technology.”
In the past, wireless Internet accessibility has varied at barrack with some only offering Wi-Fi in common and recreation areas.
“Offering a consistent Internet service allows Marines to stay connected to family,” Chief Warrant Officer 3 Wesley Nelson, with services section, Non-Appropriated Fund Business and Support Services Division, told the Marine Times.
Marines will get a basic package that allows them to surf the web at 128 kilobits per second for free. There are upgraded packages that range anywhere from $29.95 to $89.95 per month, according to Marine Times.
Marines can pay hourly, daily and weekly rates as well.
With the improved wireless service, Marine officials say they have no plans to monitor users’ Internet activity.
