Barracks life, did you have somebody like this in your unit?

2015-03-10T01:53:42-04:00

https://www.facebook.com/usawtfm/photos/a [login to see] 05 [login to see] 81938605/ [login to see] 228606/?type=1&fref=nf
This is the room of an Army soldier in the 15th Trans Co at Ft. Sill. That's my old unit.
What would have happened if a situation like this occurred in your unit? My entire company (not just those who lived in the barracks) was living in tents outside off our barracks because our 1SGT did not think we properly appreciated our accommodations.
Lord knows how many times I did a "strip,wax,buff " rinse and repeat in our old barracks for much less. This is an embarrassment to myself and all of the other soldiers who served with pride in 15th Trans. This is my first post and I am trying to include a screenshot of the reaction of the CSM who heard about it the absolute worst way possible... via social media. I think he handled it lightly.
How should this have been handled. What options are even available now days?

Please help me understand...
A.) Is this an isolated incident,
B.) This happens in all branches at some point,
C.) This never happens, it must be a joke.
D.) Let me tell you what we did to idiots who acted like that....

Response by SPC Tom Maddox made Mar 10 at 2015 2:06 AM

2015-03-10T02:06:47-04:00

We use to give them blanket parties, I'm guessing that doesn't happen in today's Army

Response by SPC Danny Cannon made Mar 10 at 2015 2:13 AM

2015-03-10T02:13:58-04:00

SFC Private RallyPoint Member can you believe what they did to our unit?

Response by SPC Danny Cannon made Mar 10 at 2015 2:17 AM

2015-03-10T02:17:10-04:00

What would have happened in the Marine Corps? I wouldn't have thought this could happen period. I guess I was wrong.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2015 4:31 AM

2015-03-10T04:31:50-04:00

Just another casualty of years of sustained combat. NCOs have lost the "art" of taking care of their Soldiers in garrison. This room is the 1SG/CSM fault, they are the ones that should be held accountable. As a 1SG these days you have to mandate that your SGTs and SSGs check on their Soldiers in the barracks or they just won't do it. Now, not all of them are screwed up but a lot of them are.

If you do not have a policy stating how the junior NCOs will monitor the barracks you are asking for this kind of stuff. I made my team leaders check on their Soldiers every morning prior to P.T., I mean that's what they're supposed to do right? I mean, that's what I did and then I reported to my squad leader that all my Soldiers were accounted for or, one was not in his room. You shouldn't be finding out that someone is out of ranks when you are standing in formation.

There is a misconception that leaders can't check on their Soldiers in the barracks because of the BOSS (Better Opportunity for Single Soldiers) program. That is a crock of shit, you are responsible for their health and welfare, how do you know that they are living in sanitary conditions if you are not checking on them. Pathetic!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2015 4:55 AM

2015-03-10T04:55:59-04:00

This would have been game over. Chain of Command would have been all over that barracks like paste wax on the floor.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2015 10:34 AM

2015-03-10T10:34:58-04:00

At my last unit, all NCOs were required to do a barracks check at least once per week. Even if you did not have Soldiers in the barracks, you had to go check common areas the BN was responsible for. There was a separate sign-in book for Leader Checks, and our 1SG would check it weekly to see who had and had not signed it.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2015 6:53 AM

2015-03-11T06:53:48-04:00

Eh... let the the E5s through E7 loose and if they should be weak grab a CPL. If you do not have an CPL then you are a bad senior NCO and you need CPLs.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2015 7:51 AM

2015-03-11T07:51:02-04:00

eh... WWCptBMD LTC Private RallyPoint Member

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member yo bro

Response by PO2 Johnathan Kerns made May 6 at 2015 9:17 PM

2015-05-06T21:17:18-04:00

While on shore duty, our Senior Chief (E-8) conducted a weekly barracks inspection (On Sea Duty an O-2 and E-8 inspected our berthing areas weekly). If someone had their living quarters in this shape it definitely would've only been that way for a few days max.

Response by PO1 Richard Cormier made Jun 27 at 2017 2:39 PM

2017-06-27T14:39:53-04:00

I used to work as a civilian contractor on Ft. Bliss (1SGT Barracks Program) and saw many rooms like this. I had people calling their 1SGT complaining that I would not inspect their rooms or that I was discourteous of them. One conversation that I remember was a 1SGT telling me his man complained that I wouldn't cut him slack for a few personal items awaiting packaging. I asked if it was the playpen, the dog, or his girlfriend that he was complaining about? He apologized and went directly to the room.

This is/has been happening and now it cost the UNIT a lot more than the civilians they used to hire. When they deploy, they do NOT leave their best and brightest behind, they leave the sick, lame, and soon to be departed. When they return, they can't understand why the barracks are in such bad shape.

When you get in trouble for telling a soldier what is right, or you reprimand an NCO for getting in the face of a junior that wont follow commands, you end up with what we have. People afraid to discipline unless they are sure they can get the "dirtbag" processed out.

We need to expect more from, and support for doing right, what our NCO's are taught to do. If they can't take being yelled at, how can they take being shot at?

my $0.02 for what it is worth.

Response by SSgt Michael Cox made Jun 27 at 2017 2:43 PM

2017-06-27T14:43:40-04:00

One of the Airman in my section deployed with his room like this. Since his supervisor was deployed with him I was asked to take two other Airmen with me and clean it up. When the dorm manager let me into the room mice ran out of the pile of 7 pizza boxes. He still had his TV on and a porn DVD running the main menu. Bed was unmade and he had dirty laundry all over the floor. I don't blame the Chief or the First Shirt though I blame the Airman, his parents, and the dorm manager who should have inspected the room before deployment.

After turning off the TV and removing the porn video, I had the Airmen clean up the trash with gloves and paper masks while I made his bed and put all the clothes in his hamper. After we were done I notified the dorm manager who then called the Med Group since there were holes in the walls from the mice. When they were done they condemned his room and the two on either side just to be safe.

I believe he was given an Article 15 and forfeiture of $600 a month for 6 months.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 27 at 2017 3:07 PM

2017-06-27T15:07:13-04:00

There will always be slobs living in barracks. What works is NCOs checking on their Soldiers who are living in barracks. Every week, our 1SG would check the visitor log, where NCOs were to sign in and out (with times) when they came to check on their Soldiers.