FORT GORDON, Ga. – A new system of operations orders based on emojis is being field-tested during selected training exercises, the Army’s Chief Information Officer reports. In spite of its immediate popularity with junior enlisted, sources tell Duffel Blog that negative reaction from senior leaders suggests the program might be scrapped.

“We’ve known for a while that the fastest communication network across any field exercise is via unsanctioned text messages,” said Col. Allen Richards, program manager. “We’re looking for ways to harness the power of the E-4 network to improve command and control.”

Initial testing with junior enlisted has been promising. Most found the smiling poops in line with their overall desire to read things and were thrilled to be getting any kind of communication at all from their leadership.

Within days, the junior NCOs and soldiers had developed their own emoji codes. For instance, the empty thought bubble means “standby to standby,” the racehorse stands for “hurry up and wait,” while the flexed arm means “you have any protein powder?” And the silver star informs the recipient “your ARCOM is totally getting downgraded."