Should NCOs inspect barracks during the weekend?

So all in favor of these inspections, with the justification that its young soldiers who would not take care of or neglect the barracks, do you believe we should inspect the housing for married soldiers for the exact same reasons? I bet you don't, because this would impact you directly.

What about those older 'new' soldiers that are in their 30's but still live in the barracks due to regulations?

While I don't disagree with the need to check on the facilities periodically, I believe there is a double standard in living that isolates single soldiers and only fosters contempt towards leadership.

If married soldiers quarters were to be inspected in the same manner, I bet those currently in favor, would have a much different opinion on the matter.

Try making your check during the time that the Soldiers are not taken off guard, especially on the weekend, go in at about 1700, 1800 or even 1900. No need to do room checks, just make sure you check in, but while there see how your Soldiers are living, check the laundry room and if you have an at-risk Soldier it is worth making sure they are doing ok, make sure the leadership that lives in the barracks know when you will be there as well.....you don't have to go in disrupting peoples lives to get across that you are there to check on the barracks.

I think the bigger question is WHY is it necessary to do daily barracks checks? Seems like there may be underlying problems that need to be addressed first. Without knowing why the daily checks were implemented, it's impossible to analyze the situation.

I completely disagree with doing these daily. Periodically yes. Sure as heck not daily. These Soldiers are adults, not children. The more we treat them like children the more they will ACT as children.

Secondly, remind me what the purpose of CQ and Staff Duty is then? They are already doing barracks checks. Now you're going to impede and alter a leaders weekend just to see if a Soldiers is living right? Seriously?!? Not everyone lives close to post. I know NCOs who live over an hour away. Now they're mandating that they make a daily road trip to check up on cleanliness and adherence to policy and regulation when the designated CQ and Staff Duty personnel are already charged with that duty? Talk about stupid.

We used to maintain a Duty NCO, and the Staff Duty would to a "walk through" as part of his post tour.

Should every room be checked every day? Hell no. People need to be able to unwind.

Should there be a "presence" in case there is an issue? Definitely. It's government property, and military has a vested interest in its upkeep and well being.

As for how often, during the week the barracks will "naturally" be patrolled by the NCO Corps as a matter of course, with the Staff Duty checking in once in the evening, near Taps.

During the weekend, an additional couple check ins mid-morning and mid-afternoon just as a sweep to ensure general safety and well being.

Now room checks are done as part of Field Day inspections, or scheduled visits, or if people have their doors open "just say hi" but keep it casual, as opposed to an inspection regiment. It's amazing what will naturally get fixed when you just maintain a presence.

MSG (Join to see) I am out of the game, but I can say back in the day, this was expected, for all leaders. The time and technique is up to you. I would recommend a variety of times. I see no need (unless directed) to check rooms, unless something peaks your interest. I think just wandering through at random times will help you have a better idea what is really going on, and will also demonstrate you give a shit. I think this all goes back to the comments several years ago, in the Army Red Book and Yellow Book, about the loss of Garrison Leadership.

In my day (1980 - 2013) leaders checked the barracks after hours and weekends. In several places I was assigned we also ventured check the living conditions of married Soldiers. Many places I was assigned, I wandered through the barracks periodically, and if I saw Soldiers I would greet them and chat if they wanted. But, as CSM Michael J. Uhlig stated I always tried to keep my visits low key.

Only being a Cpl I have had to do this a few times and I only know the bottom rung of info on it. but the need for weekend inspections is really unnecessary it stops the marines from being able to de-stress over the weekend. Which leads to more problems within the unit than what the inspections are trying to accomplish. As a leader I don't agree with it at all. but if it must be done it should be at a time that is agreed on by both the NCO's and the junior service members, (especially for the E-1 and E-2's since they are the most at risk for being overstressed and falling into bad behaviors). also it doesn't need to be their team leader/Squad leader, anyone who is at the barracks should be able to do this inspection. the best option would be the duty NCO, or have it on rotation for the squad's team leaders as to not overwork every piece of leadership in the unit. and the inspection should really just be a walk through because there is no need to have an immaculate room every hour of every day, as long as there is no beer bottles out and dirty clothes all over the floor, and ask how the service member is doing to check for any red flags. At the end of this I will say this, we signed up to fight for our country not to be treated like children.

There's an amazing concept out there that really, really works... it's called, if you treat people like adults, they'll act like adults. Again, some good mentorship up front would prevent most of your problems. People have forgotten that the team(s) we lead are made up of individuals, and we are leading and developing individuals. You'll get a lot further a lot faster by treating each individual according to their merits rather than pooping out a blanket policy for everyone that you think works, but really doesn't, and causes hate and discontent.

It's truly shocking as to how many senior NCO's and officers truly do not have a clue as to what a leader and mentor really is these days.

No. Soldiers/Sailors/Marines/Airmen are people too and need time to unwind.

I remember once as a Second Class having my barracks room inspected by two First Classes. First PO1 opens the drawer to my night stand and finds my box of condoms. He asked me "What do you have condoms in your barracks room for?"

I'm more than a little bit of a smart ass so I replied "Because I don't want my girlfriend to get pregnant while we're f**king."