Posted on May 21, 2020
What regulations exist addressing barracks room inspections? How can I determine if I have a legitimate complaint?
93.4K
404
166
34
34
0
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
0
0
0
Not only do they own the barracks, if you're wearing rank, they own YOU!
This isn't a Democratic Republic you're serving in. It's an authoritarian system that defends the Democratic Republic, that of the USA.
This isn't a Democratic Republic you're serving in. It's an authoritarian system that defends the Democratic Republic, that of the USA.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
hey PFC, how about you wait to see if anything bad actually happened before you whine? If your stuff is broken, take it up to your first line leader. If not shut up and suck it up. This is the US Army not the Salvation Army, not a rag tag weekend warrior drinking club that calls itself a militia, but the actual US Army. Expect your leaders to be proffessional and be one as well in all things. The more glaring issue to me is the MPs and Drug dogs....have the standards fallen so far this is what occurrs now? I understand the occassional fight breaking out, but drug dogs? Leaders, you know who the scum bags are! Do your job and start the paper trail so the type of people that cause drug dogs to shake down a barracks get booted!!! Hopefully this young PFC sees the problem in this as well.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
You say you arent trying to complain, well you accomplished it without trying!
News flash buttercup, you're in the Army. To an 11B whose first unit was 3d Ranger Bn, you sound really pathetic. I'm sorry I'd that hurts your feelings, but just like it isn't your chain of command's responsibility to clear things with you, it's not mine to protect your feelings. Your day that you described before the inspection actually sounds like a bit of a cakewalk.
News flash buttercup, you're in the Army. To an 11B whose first unit was 3d Ranger Bn, you sound really pathetic. I'm sorry I'd that hurts your feelings, but just like it isn't your chain of command's responsibility to clear things with you, it's not mine to protect your feelings. Your day that you described before the inspection actually sounds like a bit of a cakewalk.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
0
0
0
You already said the MPs were doing the search. But, the Chain of Command CAN conduct a Health and Welfare without MPs.
As you are residing in Unit B's building your chain of command would not know about the health and welfare inspection unless the building was split with them. And if they did and told you about the H&W they would be subject to charges under the UCMJ.
IF things are moved around doing the search, that happens and you basically have no recourse.
IF items get broken then you document that and submit a claim for the damaged property.
IF something gets stolen, then you better be able to document that the Inspectors took it before making accusations.
For an individual soldier staying in the building you new Chain of Command would not be involved.
When I had my Battery (ADA), the PAC occupied my 4th floor, so when we did a Health and Welfare their Chain of Command were present for the portion of the building being occupied by them. As they were unannounced we sometimes came face to face with their overnight guests. They were subject to search as well.
As you are residing in Unit B's building your chain of command would not know about the health and welfare inspection unless the building was split with them. And if they did and told you about the H&W they would be subject to charges under the UCMJ.
IF things are moved around doing the search, that happens and you basically have no recourse.
IF items get broken then you document that and submit a claim for the damaged property.
IF something gets stolen, then you better be able to document that the Inspectors took it before making accusations.
For an individual soldier staying in the building you new Chain of Command would not be involved.
When I had my Battery (ADA), the PAC occupied my 4th floor, so when we did a Health and Welfare their Chain of Command were present for the portion of the building being occupied by them. As they were unannounced we sometimes came face to face with their overnight guests. They were subject to search as well.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
I don't know if anyone told you, "The Military is not a Democracy". As far as advanced notice go, I don't think so. You might want too think about that one. Lack of sleep, please Google how much sleep the military has to let you get. Choose your battles carefully, they do not have to give you any days off other than your leave
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
First of anyone on this page saying the MPs have the right to go into yourself are COMPLETELY wrong. Any search other than open spaces REQUIRES a search warrant. Any damage done to your personal belongings needs to have a report filed, unfortunately with the MPs.
Then you need to bring this issue up to your first line supervisor and your 1SG for the damaged items. If 1SG can’t get resolution then see Legal for advice and assistance.
As far as health and welfare inspections go they are part of barracks life. But you will be dammed hard pressed to find someone who agrees that this should be done to on base housing as well. There are some down right nasty folks who live on base.
One thing you can do is get with your Post BOSS Rep and see what they can do.
When I was at Ft. Hood, the BOSS program got restrictions passed on what can and cannot be done in the barracks.
Wish you luck.
Then you need to bring this issue up to your first line supervisor and your 1SG for the damaged items. If 1SG can’t get resolution then see Legal for advice and assistance.
As far as health and welfare inspections go they are part of barracks life. But you will be dammed hard pressed to find someone who agrees that this should be done to on base housing as well. There are some down right nasty folks who live on base.
One thing you can do is get with your Post BOSS Rep and see what they can do.
When I was at Ft. Hood, the BOSS program got restrictions passed on what can and cannot be done in the barracks.
Wish you luck.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Hey Zak; welcome to the military life. I was like you initially, very righteous and I demanded rules and regs for almost everything; such as, where does it say I only need four hours of sleep and in the middle of sleep I can be ordered to report to the 1SG. I very quickly learned that asking these questions was irrelevant because Top has every right to order me whenever and wherever, which I just had to suck up and drive on. If you do find an ear somewhere, 1SG will simply say he is training you and growing you to become an NCO, at which time you are in soup with your 1SG. Being in your 1SG's soup isn't funny, it is extremely painful. Think, if 1SG is this bad then, CSM would definitely be worse.
Health and Welfare Inspections are Army 101. These are conducted, when there is even a slight whiff of irregular and illegal activity in the barracks. There are always a few living-on-the-edge types, who try drugs, alcohol and other things unauthorized in the barracks. Working the graveyard shift is no good reason not to conduct H&W inspections.
Advice: Just go with the flow SPC (Join to see).
Health and Welfare Inspections are Army 101. These are conducted, when there is even a slight whiff of irregular and illegal activity in the barracks. There are always a few living-on-the-edge types, who try drugs, alcohol and other things unauthorized in the barracks. Working the graveyard shift is no good reason not to conduct H&W inspections.
Advice: Just go with the flow SPC (Join to see).
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Zak you are probably a bright young man. As someone else said- don't go expecting the worst. Every Senior enlisted person here can tell you an example of their own when they gave up priviledges that are common for civilians but which we forego in our military life. It is part of being an adult in uniform. I understand your frustration and fatigue but we need you look at things professionally and perhaps with the eye of a future leader yourself.Now that is the long and kind, fatherly conversation that you don't really deserve after you raise your right hand. Big boy pants. My son is now in Basic and my words to him would be harsher but with the same objective and he knows whining, no matter how tired you are, is something you leave at the gate after your first night.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Eighteen hundred dollars for a ...headset? Those things had better flip the album for you. Wow.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google