Posted on Dec 29, 2013
Does presence in the barracks really help? Or create problems?
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So I was reading a different thread (https://www.rallypoint.com/questions/28827-what-were-some-of-the-most-stupid-command-decisions-you-saw) which made me think of a DIFFERENT thread I posted in the past (https://www.rallypoint.com/questions/28135-when-did-the-army-lose-focus-on-personal-responsibility) which lead me to think of this question:
Does going to the barracks really help?
Lemme explain.
In our BDE, at various points people have been expected to visit the barracks every single day, once before midnight, once after. Both a SFC and above and CPT and above per unit are supposed to be there. Then they have to sign in the CQ, BN SD, and BDE SD. So basically you have a platoon of people in each barracks at various points (exaggeration, but still).
I'm not saying this is a stupid decision, I just need some convincing.
Here is my logic:
They want to reduce suicides mainly, but also keep people in check.
1) For the keeping people in check part, it doesn't make sense. We have a SGT, SSG, and SFC at varying levels of SD occupying the desks and making checks. Why are we not giving these NCOs responsibility and forcing it on a DIFFERENT SFC and above? So we can trust the random SFC and above but not the SFC on BDE SDNCO? (scratching my head)
2) For the suicide part...so let's assume that many suicidal ideations are a result of work. Usually it's a "problem" Soldier facing UCMJ and the like, or perhaps financial difficulties as well...but usually that leads to being labeled a "problem" Soldier. So they are all kind of work related, no? So our solution to preventing suicides is to make these people basically LIVE with their leadership? So you see the people at work for 8-16 hours a day, and THEN they come knocking on your door, walking through your room, or at least trying to find you/see you in the hallways in the middle of the night and in the evening. HOW does this help?
This seems like a complete and utter CYA to me and not actually helping.
They say "get back to the basics". When I was a SGT in 2003 we showed up 15-30 minutes early for PT and made sure our barracks were clean and checked up on our Soldiers. Granted that was only 11 years ago, but you get my point. We didn't have constant roving patrols in the hallways of the barracks.
Your thoughts? Feel free to help me understand, because I fully admit I might not be understanding the intent.
A comment in another thread sparked this discussion question. Since when did we lose focus on accountability?Some things are a leader responsibility. But the Army has become much like the rest of...
One of the most stupid decisions I saw was made by my BDE CSM. A female Soldier in one of our BNs was sexually assaulted in her room at the barracks by a civilian who drove her home from a bar o...
Posted in these groups: 
Discipline
Suicide
Discipline Suicide
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 12
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As a Barracks Manager, I feel that the presence of leaders in the barracks is a important task that should be conducted. We have done this in the units I have been with and it has helped ensure that the barracks are held up to the standard needed as well as the welfare of the soldiers that live in the barracks. It may be an inconvenience for the leaders to take time out of their time off to do this but this comes with the job of being a leader.
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SFC (Join to see)
We have to know our troops. I think its necessary to stop by the barracks on a regular basis - especially on the weekends. The trick to it (on the weekends) is that you are NOT doing a cleanliness check - you are checking on your guys! Once they get the idea that you are not there to chew on them, they usually appreciate it - or at least not hide from you. Your folks need to know that they are more to you than a Joe to send on detail.
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SSgt (Join to see)
As long as this is not intrusive because otherwise they will find a place to hang out off base because they want privacy. As a SSgt I was in the dorms people showed respect and the fact I worked in weather seem to marvel them. Got along very well.
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SFC (Join to see)
Totally tracking and agree with you, SSG Olson. We aren't stalkers or their buddies - we are their NCOs. I like to get eyes on my juniors once a weekend in a nonthreatening environment. I had the best NCO ever when I was a Private and I can only hope I do as good as he did. I was an E-3 with 5 kids and a stay at home hubby - and on my first tour in the Army and in Germany - a few strikes against me to overcome and succeed. Anyways, rather than doing a weekly "inspection" he would turn up at my stairwell housing one night each week with fresh bread, or a casserole or something that needed to go in the fridge. I'd answer the door and he would say something along the lines that his wife made this for us and not to worry, he would just put it in the fridge for me. This way he would get a quick look at the living conditions and make sure that I had food in the house. I knew what he was doing but he went about it in such a low-threat and caring manner that we looked forward to our weekly checks (and the goodies :-)). He was a SFC during that time and is retired now but I had him come and pin my E7 when I earned it.
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SSgt (Join to see)
SFC Gladys C. Thanks and I agree and especially to the extent that female NCOs are part of all this. More respect and someone who can listen but is also a leader
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<p>I actually responded to a similar post to this awhile back about NCOs making the barracks checks years ago for cleanliness and accountability, but I also added that I didn't have a problem with because if I had shirked my duty during one shift a Soldier would have been dead. I was doing a check and found a Soldier hanging in his room as we used to have the keys to check for unauthorized people living in the barracks as that happened a lot in the mid 90s, anyways, I went into the Soldiers room and found him hanging and got him down with the help of another NCO that lived in the barracks at the time we revived him, got him the help he needed and he was able to move forward successfully.</p><p><br></p><p>I always shared this with any of my junior NCOs that complained about the duty, and told them how would they feel if they had blown the duty off and discovered the next day that a Soldier had committed suicide on their watch and they could have prevented it and got the Soldier the help they needed, never really had any other problems from junior NCOs on that issue again.</p><p><br></p><p>So I do feel it is a viable and important duty for any NCO that is tasked to conduct the checks, although the political environment has changed the way they are conducted now.</p>
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CW2 (Join to see)
Well, I see why you have your view, but the random barracks checks - hell even the SDNCO - don't have keys to the rooms. Even now that they have been turned back over to military from civilians. And not only that but it's a double lock - one to the common area and then another to the actual room.
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SSgt (Join to see)
Well that would be traumatic, a potential suicide. But there needs to be some respect for privacy. They are adults and some are NCOs and there needs to be a way to keep the barracks tight and still show people that you trust them.
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