Posted on Nov 16, 2018
Does my first sergeant have the right to pull my property from one barracks room to another?
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I was told right before i left NTC that we needed to pack our rooms so that we could change barracks rooms. I was okay with that completely. However they never told me anything after that. I was one of the very few that got sent our early for getting things set up for my company. I am finishing up NTC still, but i get a call earlier today about some extra stuff that needed to be sent to my new room and when i heard that, it had been the first of me hearing anything about getting my room moved while i was gone without my knowing or consent. I immediately got extremely stressed out because though i had most of my stuff packed, i still had expensive and fragile electronics that i wanted to careful transport from one room to another. Instead i had one person that i know of in my company and apparently the rest were people that arent in my company and i dont even know them. Apparently this was priority for the first sergeant to move everyone from the second floor which im on to the first floor by the Squadron commander. I know no one is going to treat my stuff gently as they would if it was their own. So my questions are:
1. Was that even allowed?
2. If that wasn’t allowed, what are my rights and what appropriate action should i take to get compensated in the event something was broken or stolen?
3. I have looked at other discussions on this topic and i heard that they have to inventory everything they are taking out, is that true? And if so, could i get a little more information on that?
I understand the health and welfare inspections and how according to the army theres nothing saying they cant just walk in with or without you, im fine with that, but having random people that ive never even met move my stuff that’s worth thousands of dollars rubs me the wrong way. If anyone thinks “its the army thats the way it is” i think thats clearly bs and anyone saying that likely lives in housing and not in barracks.
I could potentially be freaking out over nothing, however i want to be proactive about this and be aware of what my options are as soon as possible in the case that something is in fact damaged or stolen. I have a list already made that i check off to see if my items are there when i get back and am able to inspect everything. I am willing to best atleast one thing is damaged...
1. Was that even allowed?
2. If that wasn’t allowed, what are my rights and what appropriate action should i take to get compensated in the event something was broken or stolen?
3. I have looked at other discussions on this topic and i heard that they have to inventory everything they are taking out, is that true? And if so, could i get a little more information on that?
I understand the health and welfare inspections and how according to the army theres nothing saying they cant just walk in with or without you, im fine with that, but having random people that ive never even met move my stuff that’s worth thousands of dollars rubs me the wrong way. If anyone thinks “its the army thats the way it is” i think thats clearly bs and anyone saying that likely lives in housing and not in barracks.
I could potentially be freaking out over nothing, however i want to be proactive about this and be aware of what my options are as soon as possible in the case that something is in fact damaged or stolen. I have a list already made that i check off to see if my items are there when i get back and am able to inspect everything. I am willing to best atleast one thing is damaged...
Posted in these groups: 
Barracks
First Sergeant
Barracks First Sergeant
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 10
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I'd be salty if I were you too.
To answer your questions, yes they can move your stuff.
Prior to doing so, a full inventory should be conducted.
If you have loss or damage, take pictures and present that to the authority that approved this move without you present.
As far as getting losses or damages replaced, that will be an uphill battle. However, if you have good records of what you have, you have a puncher's chance.
For what it is worth, I'd have to have a pretty compelling reason to move Soldiers without them present. It is a gigantic pain in the ass and administrative burden, and this kind of thing happens. Just because we CAN do something doesn't mean we should. Disrupting Soldiers is not something I take lightly.
To answer your questions, yes they can move your stuff.
Prior to doing so, a full inventory should be conducted.
If you have loss or damage, take pictures and present that to the authority that approved this move without you present.
As far as getting losses or damages replaced, that will be an uphill battle. However, if you have good records of what you have, you have a puncher's chance.
For what it is worth, I'd have to have a pretty compelling reason to move Soldiers without them present. It is a gigantic pain in the ass and administrative burden, and this kind of thing happens. Just because we CAN do something doesn't mean we should. Disrupting Soldiers is not something I take lightly.
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The short answer is Yes.
Would I have as a 1SG? not as a 1-9th choice, and probable not unless I was anticipating you not returning to the Barracks, say pretrial detention or otherwise.
As well as Rear detachment commanders are often forced to do Barracks consolidation moves when deployed commanders have failed to re-organize in accordance with the unit plan or plans changed after they have gone forward, barracks became unavailable, overfilled, unusable or otherwise unforeseeable changes that now have to be reacted to.
Lastly, you said "However they never told me anything after that." I'll take that at face value....if you'll accept, that it does not mean leadership at the decision level did not publish and distro the proper instructions,,,but someplace between a CSM and a Specialist E4 the information chain broke... that sucks, and you got the bitter end of it...
But look at it from another side..
The CSM and 1SG KNOW they issued the instructions ..and the 1SG is now having to micromanage and make it happen, your being forward does not make it acceptable for the 1SG to not complete his tasked mission.. and make no mistake, like you get tasked to do things and you darn well better do it, your 1SG is likewise tasked and yup, his butt is in a sling if it does not get done.
All that said,,,,it was also his responsibility to ensure information was put out to the lowest level. perhaps the distro issue was not his, but the lack of it is.
Would I have as a 1SG? not as a 1-9th choice, and probable not unless I was anticipating you not returning to the Barracks, say pretrial detention or otherwise.
As well as Rear detachment commanders are often forced to do Barracks consolidation moves when deployed commanders have failed to re-organize in accordance with the unit plan or plans changed after they have gone forward, barracks became unavailable, overfilled, unusable or otherwise unforeseeable changes that now have to be reacted to.
Lastly, you said "However they never told me anything after that." I'll take that at face value....if you'll accept, that it does not mean leadership at the decision level did not publish and distro the proper instructions,,,but someplace between a CSM and a Specialist E4 the information chain broke... that sucks, and you got the bitter end of it...
But look at it from another side..
The CSM and 1SG KNOW they issued the instructions ..and the 1SG is now having to micromanage and make it happen, your being forward does not make it acceptable for the 1SG to not complete his tasked mission.. and make no mistake, like you get tasked to do things and you darn well better do it, your 1SG is likewise tasked and yup, his butt is in a sling if it does not get done.
All that said,,,,it was also his responsibility to ensure information was put out to the lowest level. perhaps the distro issue was not his, but the lack of it is.
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1SG Alfred Webster
This is true , you can delegate authority, but you can not delegate responsibility.
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Your property can be moved under specific circumstances. Conduct a thorough inventory on your property when you get back. File a claim for damages for any lost or damaged stuff. For more information contact your posts Inspector General office.
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