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Some of the new barracks at Fort Hood are impossible to control. The Army in my opinion should have thought about the design flaw which leads to any street walker or drug dealer access to our soldiers at the barracks. They are designed like motels with unrestricted access to anyone who walks up. What are your opinions? How can we fix it?
Soldiers
Barracks
Drugs
Duty
Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 20
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devil's advocate.... why have barracks? our single soldiers generally just want the same treatment that a married soldier receives.
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MSG (Join to see)
I stayed in the barracks for a time as a single SSG myself. I had the small inconvenience now and then making on the spot corrections expected of me. When I was around things remained a bit more under control. Which brings up another good point. Single NCOs are great to have around in the barracks in my opinion.
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<p> I'm not the authority for what is or what should be. I'm asking others what they think and posting some of my own opinions. If I was King, then Soldiers would be legally able to drink upon enlistment and we would have clubs on the installation again that they could indulge in. If they can die for their country then they should be able to participate in it's liberty's, and by doing so on the installation we keep it out of the daily city news.</p><p><br></p><p> Back on topic though, It is our job as NCO's to ensure good order and discipline in our organizations barracks. Do I feel they should be able to have overnight guests? Yes, but I feel they should be signed in after duty hours and signed out before first formation (again I don't make the rules). If something goes on at an organization's barracks, the COC will be the ones dealing with the damage control and hence, they are the policy makers.. </p><p><br></p><p> Taking care of soldiers involves giving them what they need, not always what they want. </p><p><br></p><p> My main objective is to give them a safe place where they CAN drink, party, have fun, in a responsible manner. I never busted up a party that was under control. On the other hand I would break one up in an instant once they started throwing beer bottles from balcony's and shattered on sidewalks and in parking lots. </p><p><br></p><p> The last thing I want is to treat our Soldiers like children but the fact is that they do lack life experience, sometimes make questionable decisions (as we all do in the process of maturing). When they move off post because they get married, become an NCO, etc., then their on their own. Until then it IS OUR JOB to look out for them. </p><p><br></p><p> That being said I would like to keep the riff-raff from having access to the barracks and ensure that underage individuals are denied access from them also. It's nearly impossible with some of the new barracks layouts. I've had to run off / call the MP's on prostitutes, drug dealers, etc.. Not to mention finding underage individuals in the barracks (by that I mean under 18yrs). To me the layout should force traffic to pass the CQ whom is responsible for the barracks during his duty. This in no way alleviates him/her from doing Security checks and walking the barracks though.</p><div class="clear"></div><div class="clear"></div><div class="comment_buttons"><div class="main-buttons"></div></div>
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SSG Dean,
Have one door for access (the others would be locked from the outside to not prevent a safety hazard) and have security camera's installed at each remaining doorway. Make it mandatory for each person to present an ID card to the CQ and maintain an access log of personnel entering the barracks (though, not necessarily leaving).
People will always find a way to sneak people in, but this would give better accountability and not require overly substantial resources, though overall expensive for security camera's, monitoring equipment and maintenance support could drive some people nuts, Soldiers could always be trained on those systems.
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SSG V. Michelle Woods
I like your plan SPC but most barracks I've been in already have mandatory sign in rosters however the NCO on duty usually doesn't enforce accountability.
Us junior NCOs suggested to our unit that we put cameras up but we were told it would be too expensive.
Of course, that $12,000 rug the BDE CSM ordered for our headquarters building was a pretty legit top priority.
(that's sarcasm folks)
We just have to make sure we maintain our common sense when we get to the top.
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MSG (Join to see)
I also like the plan but think it's a bit expensive. I'm just frustrated with some of the barracks that are uncontrollable and allow uninhibited access to civilians that shouldn't be there.
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Can you explain or sketch the layout? The barracks I've seen recently have one main entrance and some fire exits. The fire exits have no handles on the outside, so the only way in is they're propped open. Next, the fire doors on each stairwell have to be access with a card key like a room as well.
This creates the natural funnel/chokepoint for all traffic at the CQ desk.
This creates the natural funnel/chokepoint for all traffic at the CQ desk.
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MSG (Join to see)
The top picture, case in point.. Had a soldier whom was separated from service found to be living there for a few weeks. He had broken in through a window and was squatting.
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SGT Craig Northacker
Who knew that we would miss the old splinter cities? At least they only had two entrances. I don't remember there being any exits-that's how they kept us in, and we did not figure it out until the Eagles released Hotel California...
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SGT Craig Northacker
Who knew that we would miss the old splinter cities? At least they only had two entrances. I don't remember there being any exits-that's how they kept us in, and we did not figure it out until the Eagles released Hotel California...
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I used to bring my dog to work when I was CQ. Nobody got past him-including the battalion duty officers. :)
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Suspended Profile
I say if street walkers and drug dealers are getting into the barracks of soldiers, I think we should worry more about the gate guards who let them on post without proper military credentials. Last time I checked, you have to have a military ID to get on any military installation. Regular civilians are not permitted to walk on or drive on without a Military sponsor or visitor's pass. Visitor's passes are not issued without reason for visit, proper ID, screening and a vehicle/body search. Also, visitor's passes are only for a certain amount of hours a day. When I was stationed at Fort Hood, visitor's weren't allowed on after 8 I believe.
SSG V. Michelle Woods
SSG Pitt
It must depend on the station. Fort Hood and Fort Bragg are like how you described but Fort Riley for example, only requires the driver to show a state issued ID. No military ID, no military in the vehicle, no escort and no visitor's pass is required.
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SSG D. Perhaps you already have your solution to this problem. Fact is I really don't know because no real end results are put to confirm that the problem was fixed.
However I would like to add something here that is not military, but a lesson learned in the civilian sector:
Before Windows XP came out to the public, it was going through its design stages.
To make this shorter, XP was in its Alpha stages.
When it was ready in its Alpha stages to be put to test.
Bill gates hired a group of hackers all paid, introduced XP to them and said "Hack into it". They did, Bill gates took all that information to his engineers and told them one thing "Fix it". They did. XP then came out as a Beta Version for people like me to work it . All additional troubles were all reported back and when that was fixed, it came out as a release version to the public.
What lessons where learned?
While the thread is seeking for solutions if it where me I would perhaps have put something like. Your going to enter a barracks with security posted here in X and X and X, you want to enter the barracks without getting known, How are you going to do it?
You would have been very surprise at how a military member can break into any area with out getting detected.
With that knowledge, you would have been able to FIX those problems.
One more thing, Security out here are or may be prone to hire members from the military perhaps allot faster then a civilian. Perhaps because military members are more discipline and perhaps because they are fully aware that security is a function that the military may be considered as being experts in. Either way I hope your barracks issue has been fixed and if not then I hope at least it has been improved.
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The CAC can be used as a key card to access most key card security systems now with a simple upgrade. The downside is if lost and "Joe" tries to hide it, the loss can become even more catastrophic.
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I miss the days where every soldier had to walk past the CQ desk to access the barracks. It better ensured the safety of our Soldiers. It also allowed us to protect junior Soldiers from making mistakes.
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SFC Stephen P.
What days would those be? I know I've only been in for 16 years, but every barracks I can recall had at least 2 entrances.
I suspect there might be fire safety concerns if you forced everyone through one door.
I suspect there might be fire safety concerns if you forced everyone through one door.
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MSG (Join to see)
I do agree. I'm talking about eleven years ago, three story buildings where the top two floors were barracks. The first floor and basement consisted of the company offices... We had stairwells on each end with a visual of both from the CQ desk. Though soldiers could and did sneak their friends up by using a fire exit that led from the sub level.
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SSG V. Michelle Woods
SFC Pate
Our b's only had one entrance but three exits on each floor. You could go in the one entrance where the CQ desk was but could get out using any of the three exit doors.
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