Posted on Sep 24, 2020
My chain of command just announced that they're going to inspect on and off-post housing. What are they allow to inspect?
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So my question is can they order me open up my kid's room if my son and daughter are in their rooms, or if my dogs are in one of the rooms behind a closed door because of not being friendly to strangers can they order me to open. I apologize for such a naive question, I just have never experienced this before. Is there anything I can reference about off post house inspection by the chain of command.
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 197
They do have the authority to make health and welfare checks on, off post housing. They have to give you suitable notice. The US government pays for your housing, they have the right to insure those funds are keeping you in adequate conditions. They can require you live in billeting if they believe you are not taking care of yourself or your government funded quarters. It’s rarely done unless reasons present themselves - because it’s a pain in the ass.
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CSM Colin Patterson
They are not allowed and have no authority to inspect on post contract housing. Therefore its a no brainer that they cannot inspect off post housing.
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Suspended Profile
They do NOT (repeat, NOT) have the authority to make health and welfare checks on, off post housing. Entering a residence requires a WARRANT. The mumbo-jumbo about BAH is nonsense. Pure nonsense.
SGT Keith Smith
MAJ Steve Warnerski - okay let’s say your soldier asked you over after work. When you show up you get invited in. In the course of the evening you notice bruises on the wife and/or child. By your logic you can not report this. In fact your saying that your knowledge couldn’t even be used as probable cause.
I know that this is not what is and by not reporting the suspected crime can actually land you in jail with the soldier.
I know that this is not what is and by not reporting the suspected crime can actually land you in jail with the soldier.
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Suspended Profile
The issue was inspecting the residence of a subordinate, NOT being invited into the residence as a social visit. Let's stick to FACTS, NOT speculative "what if" scenarios....we could play "what if" for decades & accomplish nothing.
In my experience the CoC does it to get an idea of how soldiers are living and the status of their homes. Like, unresolved repairs and stuff. Be sure to speak to your spouse to make sure they understand and they're comfortable with someone coming into your home. Shouldn't be any problems if you have nothing to hide. Otherwise use the opportunity to give a great impression on yourself when your commander and 1sg come by. They'll see a lot of shit holes on that day, make sure you have the best looking one they've seen.
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1stSgt Nelson Kerr
" If you have nothing to hide" ? Perhaps you should read the 4th Amendment which does fully apply anywhere of base.
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They will do off post inspections because of excessive illicit drug use in the unit. Mine was after someone made a drug lab in on post housing. They did the barracks too but found nothing but dirty rooms. Stuff was everywhere but an nco was making it. Truth is they can't enter without a warrant but it's easy to get. They just need suspicion.
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1stSgt Nelson Kerr
They are doing this to the whole unit and they need to have at least some evidence to get a warrent
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I have heard that as long as they are paying you bha they can inspect your housing, but only your general living areas. No bedrooms or private areas.basically only what they can see or what you allow them to see. I might be wrong but haven't served in 8 years so things might have changed.
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Civilian housing can not be entered or inspected without your permission. The exception would be if it is government owned off base housing. If you don't want your off base home inspected, simply tell your chain of command. That should take care of it. If it doesn't, go up the chain.
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This topic brings back bad memories. Back in 1968 one night I pulled CQ. Around 10 pm a trainee reported that someone stole his wallet. I immediately called for an open locker inspection for the entire company since all platoons were in the same building. I came across a bag of marijuana in one of the lockers. (Back then possession of weed was very serious offense). After completing the inspection I called the MPs and the trainee was taken into custody. Much to my surprise the next morning I see the trainee that had the weed in formation with his platoon. I went to the CO and asked him what he was doing back. As it turned out, I was looking for a wallet and not for weed so he got off the hook. After that when I see inspection mandates I wonder how the legal acrobatics are going to play for successful inspections.
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SSG Mendoza,
Let be careful of the situation. Do not confuse inspection at your rental house or apartment with a room inspection in the barracks. One of the things that I required my PSG to do was to visit (no inspection) their Soldier at their home. To see how they live, how are the conditions around them. Check for crooked landlords or even banned apartments. NO, no one can get in your house without your permission, and even if you let them in, they have no freedom to move from room to room. Even in Government housing, your chain of command has no right to inspect your quarters. Bring this issue to your PSG or 1SG immediately.
Let be careful of the situation. Do not confuse inspection at your rental house or apartment with a room inspection in the barracks. One of the things that I required my PSG to do was to visit (no inspection) their Soldier at their home. To see how they live, how are the conditions around them. Check for crooked landlords or even banned apartments. NO, no one can get in your house without your permission, and even if you let them in, they have no freedom to move from room to room. Even in Government housing, your chain of command has no right to inspect your quarters. Bring this issue to your PSG or 1SG immediately.
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SSG Dennis Mendoza
1SG Victor Sotil When this event actually came up the unit said inspection I guess someone informed them that they can not say inspection on a private home. The first time they did this I did allow my PSG and PL to come in but the second time my current PSG just came to the front of the house. This also did not begin to occur until the young SPC Vanessa Guillen death happened and the Army now has instructed units to do these visits. To be honest my chain of command doesn't know me at all, like my previous units' COC did.
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In my 21yrs in the Army the only time a spouse was made to leave was domestic violence, from what I understand there had to be a very good reason for making someone move back on post. I worked at NAS Pensacola for 15 yrs as a base police officer and we had to escort a spouse both the male and female .
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