New iPhone app helps soldiers avoid military police officers

Free application enables soldiers to get real-time updates on locations of military police officers, who often inspect soldiers to ensure that they follow the military code

Reuven Weiss|Published: 11.02.11 , 15:15

A new iPhone application that has become a hit among IDF soldiers is a cause for concern for the commanders of the military police.

The free application enables soldiers to get real-time updates on locations of military police officers, who often inspect soldiers to ensure that they follow the military code, especially when it comes to appearance, slapping punishments on those who were found not to meet the code.

It is based on similar applications, especially the ones that encourage users to report information on the situation on the roads: traffic jams, police checkpoints, accidents etc.

This time, however, users are asked to report about the location of military police officers and can also view the reports of other users.

"At present, it is only possible to report central bus stations and train stations," explained A., an IDF soldier who came up with the idea for the application. "We didn’t want to include military bases so as not to expose their location," he said.

Another person behind the application is Guy Nahmani, who owns a company that develops applications. "A. contacted me several months ago. He told me that the issue of military police officers worries him and that he came up with an idea that would help soldiers."

The app is certainly helping many soldiers as over 3,000 use the application.

And what does the military police think about it? "I have seen in several places that they don't like our new radar, to say the least," says Nahmani. "We don't even think of making a profit out of it. It is our contribution to the soldiers and that's why it's free."