Posted on May 21, 2020
What regulations exist addressing barracks room inspections? How can I determine if I have a legitimate complaint?
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So I'm not doing this to gripe or complain as much as I want to. This is for my knowledge so I can defend myself and others alike. I'm currently staying and the barracks of unit "B" because I did a lateral transfer to new unit "A". Currently working night shift and have been up since 1200 the day prior. Went to work at 1600 and got off work at 0430. (I still don't receive separate rations so I had no meal or mre during the majority of that time). I finally make it home in bed to sleep at 0500 to get woken up at 0630 by an NCO from unit B telling me everyone needs to go outside. Me absolutely tired as hell puts on some civilian clothing and goes outside to find out the MPS will be searching the building with dogs because they suspect drugs. A buddy of mine got called in not for drugs but for a training round from the 30 mm gun which is inert and not even able to fire but that's beside the point it was under a drawer in the very back underneath several items. They're gone through his room and searched thoroughly with only the first sergeant and a sergeant first class present. I don't know what his punishment will be but that's not my concern. My concern is that I was never even notified of this even happening, they have now ruined my sleep schedule and took them roughly 3 hours to finish. And I have no idea what my room is going to look like when I get back such as my $1,800 headset being thrown against the wall or my PC tipped over because they want to see what's behind it or my medical records that are in a safe that they shouldn't be going through. anything in the world they want to go through ruin who's to say that they're responsible when I don't even know who's going in through my room and I come to find out stuff is broken stuff is out of place stuff is stolen and let's see if they did want to charge me for something with no MP present and no drug dogs present that alerted the room saying I have something bad. And meanwhile this whole time I'm absolutely tired and have working here in a couple hours again to do probably another 12 hour shift. Like I said I'm not trying to complain on here I just want to know what grounds do I have to stand on if something like this occurred. And my current chain of command never knew anything about this or if they did they didn't tell me about it?
Barracks
Inspections
Sleeping
Army Regulations
Legal Assistant
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 81
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You have no grounds no rights , you are a solder 24/7. The army has the right to conduct health and welfare inspections at will. I don’t mean to offend but your going to have to learn to function and perform your duties on whatever sleep you can. Otherwise move to off post housing , you do get paid buy your meals at the defac or fast food till you get your meal card situation squared away. And generally be a adult and professional or don’t re-enlist for God’s sake.
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TSgt (Join to see)
WRONG. Better get right with AR 190-22 and the Military Rules of Evidence. Soldiers DO have rights, and trampling on them will get you relieved or worse.
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Next time there's a suicide prevention class or briefing, this should be brought up. They can't penalize you for it. (On an unrelated note: Be thankful for what you have. I liked living in the barracks because rent, electricity, water, laundry, and parking are free. And your commute to work is a 1 minute walk.)
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When you joined the military did you really think your sleep schedule or your personal life, or any facet of your life would be fair or normal? You started and ended this little rant by stating you’re not complaining when in fact you are
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Everyone has commented on the room inspection; sadly this happens in the barracks and it is why I'm moving off post despite being single.
That aside, other topic is you should definitely be getting separate rations. MRE's are not intended for long term consumption and if you are eating them every week your unit is wrong. Put in to S1 with a memo for separate rations. IF your chain of command says you don't need them they either need to move you to day shift, or you need to take it up the chain of command after telling your leadership that you are going to do so. It makes no sense that shift worker or people that have irregular hours don't get BAS and your command is wrong to deny you that.
That aside, other topic is you should definitely be getting separate rations. MRE's are not intended for long term consumption and if you are eating them every week your unit is wrong. Put in to S1 with a memo for separate rations. IF your chain of command says you don't need them they either need to move you to day shift, or you need to take it up the chain of command after telling your leadership that you are going to do so. It makes no sense that shift worker or people that have irregular hours don't get BAS and your command is wrong to deny you that.
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Go speak to JAG. Not in a bit, not in a while, not tomorrow. Today, everything else you hear is shrugs and opinions on "that's the army" unless proven by regulation.
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TSgt (Join to see)
Correct! Take notes, record times, dates, and names. Then go to CID. Illegal searches will get entire chains of command relieved. I've seen it happen.
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SP6 Yanrique Joseph
Ofc, let no man judge you. Many have skeletons in their closet and because they haven't been caught they Brey. Let your next set cost $10,000.00. you work hard and you've earned it. Bravo..
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SSG Robert Peterson
SP6 Yanrique Joseph I guess you didn't see that I congratulated him on his finances. Next time check your bowl of cheerios to make sure nobody pissed in them Yanrique
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SP6 Yanrique Joseph
Your comment...a pfc with an $1800 pair of headphones.. that's not congratulatory....
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So aside from the whole, “You’re in the army, embrace the suck” argument, a health and welfare inspection is done with the CO’s authorization. If any of your property is stolen or damaged, or if your room is left in any state other than how you left it, I.e. they flip you mattress or take off your sheets, move you furniture, cut a lock and do not find any evidence, then I personally would request MAST because, at least by USMC, regulations they aren’t supposed to disrupt or otherwise disorganize the conditions of your barracks room and they cannot take away your expectation of privacy without probable cause. (4th amendment). Moral of the story, if there’s something you think is a legitimate problem, request MAST to at least bring it to your commander’s attention.
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Suspended Profile
Too funny. You need to read up on what “expectation of privacy” means.
TSgt (Join to see)
SGT Lori Adams - AR 190-22 Ch. 2 says that SMs have an expectation of privacy when issued items (ie barracks rooms, wall lockers, etc.) are used for the puprose for which they are issued. You need to read up on Army Regs.
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Suspended Profile
TSgt (Join to see) My bad. I wasn’t thinking completely in terms of military regs.
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I was in for 5 yrs the only time I lived in the barracks was when I first got to my duty station and then it was only for a few days, my biggest problem was my personal firearms, I absolutely refused to store them in the arms room and have to request access to them to clean/ maintain them and go to the range (every Saturday that I could) and I shoot F class long range and 3 gun and tactical matches so my weapons are fairly pricey, do I spent some of my own money ( No BAH) and rented a mobile home off post all I kept in my barracks room was a pillow and a blanket folded on the bed just in case we got off late and was tired didn’t want to drive home. Only time I couldn’t do this was in Korea and when deployed to the sandbox. When they came around for my first inspection in the barracks my Sgt walked in and asked where all my shit was and I told him the truth and from then on if an inspection was gonna happen he just asked if the situation had changed, then sent me home like the rest of the guys who lived off post. If you don’t want to deal with worrying about your personal belongings and less hassle this is an option.
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That is life in the Army bud. You will never be informed about a inspection of this nature. Just be glad they didnt have you pull all your belongings out. Your items should never be thrown, intentionally mishandled or anything of that nature though. Bring it up your chain of command thats what its there for.
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