Army regulation (AR 600-63) states that Soldiers are to be allowed to smoke in their rooms. Does anyone else agree with my interpretation?

We all smoked back in the day and no one cared.

SGT Thomas Bentley - The Commander can do this if he/she thinks that there can be a health risk or a saftey hazard. Not to mention that the second hand smoke is bad for everyone and the smoke will ruin the furniture in the long run.

Last I heard there was no smoking in government buildings and I would think that would include the barracks on a military installation. If the commander make a determination that there will be no smoking in the barracks and he has graciously provided an area out side then that's that!! Seriously, shouldn't be an issue!!

I think the "add to, but not take away from" standard is one that's often misunderstood. It's not about adding or taking away from what you can or cannot do, rather it's about adding to or taking away from existing policy. It's simply a way of expressing a commander's authority to make policy (add to) where none currently exits (but not take away).

So long as a commander's orders are not illegal and do not contradict policy from higher up, it's his/her call. If the policy states that Soldiers can smoke, the commander lacks the authority to prohibit it without permission from above. If the policy says Soldiers cannot smoke, the commander lacks authority to permit it, again without pre-clearing it.

Conversely, if the policy is silent or utilized the ever-popular "subject to commander's discretion," then it's the commander's call.

Lord have mercy, its changed a lot since I've gotten out. Some things not for the better. Rooms have windows. Maybe with the new commander and chief. All the stupid ass political correctness will go away. It needs to now I don't have to. God bless you all. Good day

Right on gunny couldn't have said it better myself.

SN Vernon Pirtle - "Master Guns"

you are a soldier man so many political regulations differnt military NOT in MY TIME

I am a non smoker. I had a roommate from hell. She smoked and was not allowed to in our building. There was a smoke pit outside, but she and her boyfriend refused to use it. His room was next door. When he'd open his door it smelled like a smokey bar in the hall. I'd wake up to headaches in the middle of the night. I finally got moved. When they left the barracks nco got strict on the rules being followed. When the male left the next soldier had complained as the room smelled terrible.
Just follow the regulations and smoke outside.

SGM Erik Marquez - I was never allowed to smoke in any building going all the way back to 1983, that includes the fire service, and civilian service on various bases.

PFC Michael Gysin - and as a non-smoker I think that's a good thing however that notwithstanding current regulations allow for smoking in a residence as an exception if conditions are met.
I don't believe it's always been that way in the mid-80s when I lived in the barracks I don't believe smoking was allowed by soldiers in the barracks can't say for sure when the policy changed but clearly it has based on your experience and mine as well

is this a government Facility? Yes! there is in most cases atleast an 8 foot no smoking zone around any entrance to a government building and further for federal government buildings. As an smoker and SPC in the Guard, we used to be allowed to smoke in a certain area inside the armory next to a large garage door or in the motor pool building but when the new rules about no smoking in government buildings took affect we had to smoke outside atleast 10ft away from the entrance to the building, were not allowed to smoke in barracks on base/ didn't for respect of others usually didn't smoke in formation unless 95% of the plt smoked and PSG smoked and those who did not were allowed to fall out. If PSG did not smoke then smokers were usually allowed to fall out all depending on how long the formation was held, had to be an at ease or at rest command given/Smoke em if you got em. On deployment to BiH (Bosnia) SFOR11 2002 we were allowed to smoke outside the doors of the barracks even though all rooms had separate hvac(window units), had to have a butt can in place and it had to be regularly cleaned out, and no lit cigs were to put in it, if it cought fire you better put it out quick or you could loose the privilege, I do believe smoking was a privilege. In Iraq/Kuwait 2003-04, Kuwait at Doha we were not allowed to smoke in barracks an didn't want to out of respect to no smokes in the building but the entire buildings had open air space above the different units, in Iraq we smoked in the tent that we first had but it was not share with any other Platoons, and was put to a vote with in the plt being that 95% smoked including the PSG. most the non smokers in the plt did not care either way. When we got the war fighter package tents then it was no smoking in them, due to respect of next units coming and they had hvac with liners that could go up like a match. You also are not supposed to smoke in Gov vehicles although that is usually left up to a CMD discretion. So no I'm in Agreement that out of respect for others the soldier should not be allowed to smoke in billeting unless it is personal billets with family.