If a solder's room is dirty and he's on leave, can the chain of command box his personal items up as punishment?

I can not say what the rules are today. But I can add that I was a truck driver in Germany driving the 2000D Internationals while in 1979 and was never told how many civilian shoes I could have under my bed. I was only told my room and everything was to be clean, polished, dusted ect...And they always were starched also to almost stand up for uniforms. I was on the road during an inspection and they boxed up part of my civilian shoes and put them in the attic and when I got back was told if I wanted to make my choice of what to keep out they would take me up to get them exchanged. And that was with a clean room and not on leave even.

My question to that question, why would a soldier with pride leave a room like that, back in the day inspection ready all the time. HOOAH

Well since the barracks are under private contractors like housing is, I would slam him with counseling statements on health and welfare for everyday he is gone.

No.. I completely disagree. Maybe they should approve soldiers leave a couple weeks before not the day leave starts. That's called a reindeer game. That soldier is someone you rely on. Their work ethic is directly related to your relationship with them. If you want to make his life hell and be part of the problem go ahead. That soldier doesn't have to be in the Army or live in the barracks yet he chose too. Make him regret his decisions to do the right thing that's on you. The idea is for you to be a professional. This could almost be a personal attack. I hope having your room inspected counts too. You probably have your own housing. Would your housing pass an inspection right now? I guarantee the trash needs to be taken out. However joes are arriving to units having never driven a Humvee so new army right? If I was said Joe and this happened to me this is the order that things would happen. IG phone call, legal phone call, magically a hand receipt with all the things I own would appear. All things that are not on that list I would be coming after the chain of command to have returned or paid for. I wouldn't mess with joes like that.

Can they? Most likely: yes.
Should they? Now that's the bigger question - and a lot harder to answer based on the information provided. Such as:
How dirty is a "little" dirty, and how long as said SM been on leave? If SM's been gone for 2 weeks and there's 2 weeks of dust, that's no reason to box up his stuffs and throw him to the wolves. If there is a safety hazard, then "obviously" a professional boxing up of items (Barracks Officer(s), MP, Legal) and application of the appropriate cleanings is necessary.

Then, an inquiry would need to be performed to see what happens next. I remember on at least one of my leaves and my TDY, I found "neighbors" I could trust to access my room and give it a once over at least once a week (dusting/vacuuming) - so that if there was an inspection my space would look "cared for". As others have said, was a "pre-departure" inspection performed to ensure that the SM did not leave a safety hazard? Things like this would help determine who and where to place the blame...

He should've passed a room inspection before being allowed to go on leave.

The question should be: where have the Soldier's leadership been?

SGT(P) Daniel McBride That is downright petty and condescending. Figures though, when a member's own private living area for a museum for the unit. Perhaps, a signed leave form on the door to the room. If I were a 1Sgt, I would protect my troops against unwarranted harassment. just saying... was a hot topic for me. Our Commander in Wx said he would take a gander but not near as much as the Maintenance SQ had done.

First off, SM is on "Leave"? Then HTF did he get on Leave w/o an NCO clearing his room? It had to have been cleared before he left, so it SHOULD NOT effect the soldier as the NCO cleared the room & let him take his leave. If that's not how it's done now, then that's just stupid. Because you never know what's going to come your way, it should always be "cleared" w/ an NCO/PSgt/PL. Next, since when do SM's get private rooms? Always had a roommate. And if so, the roommate should be a Bro & fix whatever the eff'up is, as he is the one still in the room come inspection time. It's most likely his shit anyway.

JMO...

That's a new one on me.