Posted on May 18, 2014
Why does the Army discriminate against single soldiers?
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First let me say I am biased in my opinion since I am a single soldier. The Army stacks the deck against single soldiers, in a variety of ways. There are standards that single soldiers are forced to obey that married soldiers are not. Purely just because of their marriage.
Housing is my personal biggest area of concern being a single soldier. I am a 27 yr old college graduate. I get the same "rights" in my living quarters that a single 17/18 yr old straight out of high-school would get. If that same soldier is married, they get considerably more freedom, pay, and budget control than I do.
I as a single soldier get no say in where I live. At my current duty station the BAH for my rank and dependent status (Single, E-4) would be $1,068. So I essentially pay $1,068 dollars a month to live in the barracks. The barracks I live in have two separate bedrooms, with a common kitchen and bathroom area. Since there are two soldiers in each little barracks apartment, we collectively pay $2,136 a month for this set up. That is FAR more then what a similar apartment style would cost in the surrounding communities. If single soldiers were allowed to have BAH and live where they choose we could potentially save several hundred dollars a month by controlling our living expenses. That's not including the approximately $300 a month we are forced to pay for the DFACs.
There is also the issue of furniture in the barracks. Again we have no say, we get whatever the Army already has in the room. Personally I would love to have an actual nice mattress, instead of these cheap plastic blue ones.
Barracks inspections. I can't stand barracks inspections. The inspections are completely up to the person doing them and what they "think" the standard should be. One inspection your could be fine, the next one your getting lectured about how to make a bed. Last summer I had to write a 2 page paper for an LT about personal standards in the barracks. All because my bed didn't have hospital corners. (That morning when I get up I tossed my blanket off to the right of me, where it was just sorta crunched up against the wall running the length of my bed.) If I want to know what I am allowed to have and not have in my room, I have to read three different policy letters to find out. Division could allow something, Brigade could say no, and then Battalion have nothing about it at all. I get that lower commands are allowed to restrict privileges as they see fit. I'm just saying it's cumbersome to have to read three different levels policy to find out what is what.
It annoys me that I have to have periodic inspections(currently every morning before PT for my company) while married soldiers receive no inspections just because they are married. I get that they have a family, I just don't see why that should stop a squad leader from making a planned, announced, and visual walk-through of the house of the married soldier. Keeping the same standard of living as a single soldier should be part of the military life.
Meal Deductions. I don't think the DFACs are worth the $300 a month I have to pay. I hate having to "play" the "I am a Meal Card Holder" card to get lunch sometimes during work. It's usually followed by a married soldier saying "I'm working thru lunch, you don't see me bitching about wanting to leave for food". True. However when we miss our lunch it's gone. The money we paid is gone rather we ate that meal or not. Married people if they bring their lunch it'll still be there later. If they eat out, then well that's just money they didn't spend that day. They can use it tomorrow to get twice as much for lunch or eat somewhere more expensive depending on their budget.
We get no say in what sounds good for dinner. It's whatever the DFAC has. Sometimes that means either fried or grilled chicken. If they run out of one thing, it'll be whatever they have left. It's not right. It leaves married people with control over their diet and single soldiers with whatever the Army needed to clean out of the fridge.
The above is just Big Army things, the discrimination continues all the way down to the company level. At my company single soldiers who live in the barracks are not allowed to park in the lot in front of the company. Now our barracks is approximately 3/4 mile down the road. Our motor pool is another 3/4 mile the other direction. I find it silly that an entire parking lot is reserved for married people. Sure single soldiers can drive to work, but we have to park in the barracks across the street. Which is not the barracks we live in. Married people can't park in that same lot if the one in front of company is full? To a point I can understand the reasoning behind this, but single soldiers have to leave and run here and there just like our married counter-parts. Why should they get special parking treatment? I don't see anyone stopping married people from using the barracks washers and dryers to avoid buying their own/going to coin laundry mats. Why are married people allowed to dip their hands in our honey and slap ours away from theirs?
Like I said from the start I'm biased. I look over the fence and see greener grass. Perhaps this is all just one single soldier bitching and complaining.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Update FEB 2019: Since I originally posted this message, I have gotten married. My view on the subject has not changed. I want to respond to some of the overarching themes in everyone responses.
“Quit bitching/whining/complaining.” I feel there is a difference between logically laying out issues and grievances and just bitching about them. The number of leaders who contributions on this post/topic amounted to “quit saying words” is disheartening.
“Get married/Army will issue you a wife.” Saying to get married just to move out of the barracks is a failure of leadership. Those of you (in my opinion) with that mentally should reconsider what you do/did and what your job is/was. As a former Infantry NCO I have dealt with the countless issues that arise when a soldier quickly marries someone for the wrong reason (example: get out of the barracks). The domestic issues, spouse calling in to the Staff Duty, soldier isn’t training because of counseling/FAP/court/Divorce related nonsense, greatly diminishes readiness which the last I checked the Army still considers to be pretty important.
“I had more money/I wish I was back in the barracks/ but but bills! etc.” Bull. I wish I could challenge anyone who says that to actually prove it. As stated, I am married now. I have more money, flexibility, and financial freedom then I did as a single E-4. Now some of that is because I’m a higher rank. Part of it is because I use BAH as intended to cover housing/bills, my BAS for food, and having the control over how much I spend on those two items is very important. Also, my spouse works. I have come to realize that is less than common for married soldiers in the Army. However, I would argue that getting married and not having both spouses working is a decision that you made going in to it. I’m not arguing/stating if it’s the right or wrong choice. It’s what you decided worked for ya’ll. To me it’s the equivalent of a private going out and buying that 23% interest Mustang then complaining about how much money it costs and how he used to have it so much better without that car payment. If you choose (by getting married/having kids) to feed/house/care for additional people (spouse/kids) and yet do nothing to increase your income than yeah…you’ll have less money. That is a very poor argument for what the original post was about.
a. Hopefully ^above^ I’ve made my point clear and concise seems a little muddy to me, I guess we shall see in future comments.
“Move off post.” That’s not an option. Well I guess it is, however single soldiers still have to maintain the barracks room they get assigned, they still wouldn’t get the BAH entitlement, and they would have to still pay the DFAC out of their BAS. Do I need to continue on the ignorance of that statement? Sure, there’s a packet you can submit and ask to receive those allowances, I’ve only ever seen get accepted once and that was when my BDE changed from Light to Armored, only for E-5s, and it was suggested only if they were on orders and would be PCS’ing soon anyhow. They wanted non-PCS’ing E-5s still in the barracks. I don’t recall if I stated it in my original post but that unofficial additional duty of being an NCO at the barracks is crap. “You’re an NCO at the barracks keep everyone in line down there after work and on weekends”, thought that’s what CQ was for. I’ll also comment on the “single people off post would party to much/be late to formation/traffic at the gates/ get in trouble in town more” line of nonsense. It’s ignorant. Along with the “paying dues” comments.
Veterans- I appreciate you are still active in the boarder military community, and recognize that your time in the service paved the way for what we did/do/have accomplished today. However, pointing out how things were worse yesterday compared today and to “suck it up” is lazy. There is no reason we can’t keep pointing out things today to make tomorrow even better. I’m sure there is crap I can’t even fathom that ya’ll dealt with back in the 60s, 80s, and what have you that were fixed because of people continuing to bring the issue up.
Lastly, I’ve enjoyed reading the varied amount of responses everyone has on the topic. If mine come off as aggressive or across the line it was not my intention. When I posted the original stuff above 4+ almost 5 years ago I never expected it to get attention and still receive emails notifications years later. I’m fairly sure I’ve read 90% of the comments because Rally Point sends me an email every time someone comments. No I did not add that picture at the top, it’s the website. Sorry if you clicked on a Rally Point ad somewhere that linked to this post only to see it’s from 2014. I don’t control those. It’s the website. Yes I’m sure there are a few grammar and spelling errors. If you point it out at the beginning of a comment, I’m more likely to see it and correct the issue. Cheers to several more years of being told why I’m wrong.
Housing is my personal biggest area of concern being a single soldier. I am a 27 yr old college graduate. I get the same "rights" in my living quarters that a single 17/18 yr old straight out of high-school would get. If that same soldier is married, they get considerably more freedom, pay, and budget control than I do.
I as a single soldier get no say in where I live. At my current duty station the BAH for my rank and dependent status (Single, E-4) would be $1,068. So I essentially pay $1,068 dollars a month to live in the barracks. The barracks I live in have two separate bedrooms, with a common kitchen and bathroom area. Since there are two soldiers in each little barracks apartment, we collectively pay $2,136 a month for this set up. That is FAR more then what a similar apartment style would cost in the surrounding communities. If single soldiers were allowed to have BAH and live where they choose we could potentially save several hundred dollars a month by controlling our living expenses. That's not including the approximately $300 a month we are forced to pay for the DFACs.
There is also the issue of furniture in the barracks. Again we have no say, we get whatever the Army already has in the room. Personally I would love to have an actual nice mattress, instead of these cheap plastic blue ones.
Barracks inspections. I can't stand barracks inspections. The inspections are completely up to the person doing them and what they "think" the standard should be. One inspection your could be fine, the next one your getting lectured about how to make a bed. Last summer I had to write a 2 page paper for an LT about personal standards in the barracks. All because my bed didn't have hospital corners. (That morning when I get up I tossed my blanket off to the right of me, where it was just sorta crunched up against the wall running the length of my bed.) If I want to know what I am allowed to have and not have in my room, I have to read three different policy letters to find out. Division could allow something, Brigade could say no, and then Battalion have nothing about it at all. I get that lower commands are allowed to restrict privileges as they see fit. I'm just saying it's cumbersome to have to read three different levels policy to find out what is what.
It annoys me that I have to have periodic inspections(currently every morning before PT for my company) while married soldiers receive no inspections just because they are married. I get that they have a family, I just don't see why that should stop a squad leader from making a planned, announced, and visual walk-through of the house of the married soldier. Keeping the same standard of living as a single soldier should be part of the military life.
Meal Deductions. I don't think the DFACs are worth the $300 a month I have to pay. I hate having to "play" the "I am a Meal Card Holder" card to get lunch sometimes during work. It's usually followed by a married soldier saying "I'm working thru lunch, you don't see me bitching about wanting to leave for food". True. However when we miss our lunch it's gone. The money we paid is gone rather we ate that meal or not. Married people if they bring their lunch it'll still be there later. If they eat out, then well that's just money they didn't spend that day. They can use it tomorrow to get twice as much for lunch or eat somewhere more expensive depending on their budget.
We get no say in what sounds good for dinner. It's whatever the DFAC has. Sometimes that means either fried or grilled chicken. If they run out of one thing, it'll be whatever they have left. It's not right. It leaves married people with control over their diet and single soldiers with whatever the Army needed to clean out of the fridge.
The above is just Big Army things, the discrimination continues all the way down to the company level. At my company single soldiers who live in the barracks are not allowed to park in the lot in front of the company. Now our barracks is approximately 3/4 mile down the road. Our motor pool is another 3/4 mile the other direction. I find it silly that an entire parking lot is reserved for married people. Sure single soldiers can drive to work, but we have to park in the barracks across the street. Which is not the barracks we live in. Married people can't park in that same lot if the one in front of company is full? To a point I can understand the reasoning behind this, but single soldiers have to leave and run here and there just like our married counter-parts. Why should they get special parking treatment? I don't see anyone stopping married people from using the barracks washers and dryers to avoid buying their own/going to coin laundry mats. Why are married people allowed to dip their hands in our honey and slap ours away from theirs?
Like I said from the start I'm biased. I look over the fence and see greener grass. Perhaps this is all just one single soldier bitching and complaining.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Update FEB 2019: Since I originally posted this message, I have gotten married. My view on the subject has not changed. I want to respond to some of the overarching themes in everyone responses.
“Quit bitching/whining/complaining.” I feel there is a difference between logically laying out issues and grievances and just bitching about them. The number of leaders who contributions on this post/topic amounted to “quit saying words” is disheartening.
“Get married/Army will issue you a wife.” Saying to get married just to move out of the barracks is a failure of leadership. Those of you (in my opinion) with that mentally should reconsider what you do/did and what your job is/was. As a former Infantry NCO I have dealt with the countless issues that arise when a soldier quickly marries someone for the wrong reason (example: get out of the barracks). The domestic issues, spouse calling in to the Staff Duty, soldier isn’t training because of counseling/FAP/court/Divorce related nonsense, greatly diminishes readiness which the last I checked the Army still considers to be pretty important.
“I had more money/I wish I was back in the barracks/ but but bills! etc.” Bull. I wish I could challenge anyone who says that to actually prove it. As stated, I am married now. I have more money, flexibility, and financial freedom then I did as a single E-4. Now some of that is because I’m a higher rank. Part of it is because I use BAH as intended to cover housing/bills, my BAS for food, and having the control over how much I spend on those two items is very important. Also, my spouse works. I have come to realize that is less than common for married soldiers in the Army. However, I would argue that getting married and not having both spouses working is a decision that you made going in to it. I’m not arguing/stating if it’s the right or wrong choice. It’s what you decided worked for ya’ll. To me it’s the equivalent of a private going out and buying that 23% interest Mustang then complaining about how much money it costs and how he used to have it so much better without that car payment. If you choose (by getting married/having kids) to feed/house/care for additional people (spouse/kids) and yet do nothing to increase your income than yeah…you’ll have less money. That is a very poor argument for what the original post was about.
a. Hopefully ^above^ I’ve made my point clear and concise seems a little muddy to me, I guess we shall see in future comments.
“Move off post.” That’s not an option. Well I guess it is, however single soldiers still have to maintain the barracks room they get assigned, they still wouldn’t get the BAH entitlement, and they would have to still pay the DFAC out of their BAS. Do I need to continue on the ignorance of that statement? Sure, there’s a packet you can submit and ask to receive those allowances, I’ve only ever seen get accepted once and that was when my BDE changed from Light to Armored, only for E-5s, and it was suggested only if they were on orders and would be PCS’ing soon anyhow. They wanted non-PCS’ing E-5s still in the barracks. I don’t recall if I stated it in my original post but that unofficial additional duty of being an NCO at the barracks is crap. “You’re an NCO at the barracks keep everyone in line down there after work and on weekends”, thought that’s what CQ was for. I’ll also comment on the “single people off post would party to much/be late to formation/traffic at the gates/ get in trouble in town more” line of nonsense. It’s ignorant. Along with the “paying dues” comments.
Veterans- I appreciate you are still active in the boarder military community, and recognize that your time in the service paved the way for what we did/do/have accomplished today. However, pointing out how things were worse yesterday compared today and to “suck it up” is lazy. There is no reason we can’t keep pointing out things today to make tomorrow even better. I’m sure there is crap I can’t even fathom that ya’ll dealt with back in the 60s, 80s, and what have you that were fixed because of people continuing to bring the issue up.
Lastly, I’ve enjoyed reading the varied amount of responses everyone has on the topic. If mine come off as aggressive or across the line it was not my intention. When I posted the original stuff above 4+ almost 5 years ago I never expected it to get attention and still receive emails notifications years later. I’m fairly sure I’ve read 90% of the comments because Rally Point sends me an email every time someone comments. No I did not add that picture at the top, it’s the website. Sorry if you clicked on a Rally Point ad somewhere that linked to this post only to see it’s from 2014. I don’t control those. It’s the website. Yes I’m sure there are a few grammar and spelling errors. If you point it out at the beginning of a comment, I’m more likely to see it and correct the issue. Cheers to several more years of being told why I’m wrong.
Posted in these groups: 
Barracks
BAS
Marriage
DiscriminationBetter Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) President
Barracks BAS Marriage DiscriminationBetter Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) President
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 488
When I was drafted in 1972, the barracks at Ft Lewis had a mess hall attached. We had beer vending machines in the day room. We has a couple kegs in the mess hall and were allowed up to two glasses of beer with lunch. We were allowed to live off base at our own expense. And, as privates (conscripts) we were treated as adults. Even if allowed to live off base, we still maintained a room in the barracks subject to inspections without notice. We received under $200. Per month after taxes. Married people were treated exactly the same as us jr enlisted. I know because I got married as a PFC. We had to all park in the same location and still during duty hours were required to eat in the same mess hall. If we had no money, still got fed and had it deducted from our BAS for each meal. On exercises we forfeited BAS during the time of that exercise. We were not allowed to hold any second job to augment income.
Life in today’s Army is different from then. Culture is different, people are different, expectations and reality is different. So, the grass may look greener as it always has, but realistic application of standards have also changed due to changing times. Improvise, adapt and meet your challenges. Fairness in life will never be reality. How you face it, is how you overcome adversity.
Life in today’s Army is different from then. Culture is different, people are different, expectations and reality is different. So, the grass may look greener as it always has, but realistic application of standards have also changed due to changing times. Improvise, adapt and meet your challenges. Fairness in life will never be reality. How you face it, is how you overcome adversity.
To me there really isn't any discrimination between single or married soldiers. I was originally single and since I was an Air Traffic Controller I had to work shifts which meant that I was on separate rations instead of a meal card. If I ate in the chow hall, I paid for my meal, but I wasn't able to eat there most of the time so my food cost a lot more. When I got married that our food costs went up. Believe me when I say people with meal cards and use the chow hall actually end up with more spendable money out of their pay.
Single soldiers are normally required to live in the barracks or similar living quarters on post because it saves money. Some things are supplied by the military and therefore you are required to take care of that equipment. Inspections are to insure that you are maintaining the equipment properly. Inspections are there to also ensure discipline and responsibility in single soldiers. My comparison, married soldiers have much greater responsibility and discipline placed upon them because they have families. If you think about it, this is one of the primary reasons auto insurance is cheaper for married people verses single people. Married soldiers homes are normally not inspected because their homes and the items in them are not military property. If they live in military family housing their home is inspected after the leave and before a new family moves in but they are not subject to inspections because again, the items they have in it are normally not military property. Simply speaking, soldiers are required and responsible to take care of their military issued property, be it a bed or a vehicle.
Many barracks or living quarter for single soldiers are close to the unit work place so soldiers should be able to walk back and forth when married soldiers normally live a considerable distance further away from the work place. You see my point there?
Mind you, until I went to Korea, I was single and had to go through the same as you. I have lived on both sides.
Single soldiers are normally required to live in the barracks or similar living quarters on post because it saves money. Some things are supplied by the military and therefore you are required to take care of that equipment. Inspections are to insure that you are maintaining the equipment properly. Inspections are there to also ensure discipline and responsibility in single soldiers. My comparison, married soldiers have much greater responsibility and discipline placed upon them because they have families. If you think about it, this is one of the primary reasons auto insurance is cheaper for married people verses single people. Married soldiers homes are normally not inspected because their homes and the items in them are not military property. If they live in military family housing their home is inspected after the leave and before a new family moves in but they are not subject to inspections because again, the items they have in it are normally not military property. Simply speaking, soldiers are required and responsible to take care of their military issued property, be it a bed or a vehicle.
Many barracks or living quarter for single soldiers are close to the unit work place so soldiers should be able to walk back and forth when married soldiers normally live a considerable distance further away from the work place. You see my point there?
Mind you, until I went to Korea, I was single and had to go through the same as you. I have lived on both sides.
Well said Sgt. Never heard of a married person getting stuck on a hey you detail during the weekend because he stepped out into the hallway.
My sister and I have had this same discussion. She being Air Force while I was Army. There is a big difference between how the services treat their troops. I remember having to live in what was on paper a single soldiers room but usually two and at time as many as four of us. At those times the room only had enough room for two sets of bunk beds and four wall lockers. As an E5 I was not allowed to move out while my sister as an E3 was aloud to live off post. To add to your list of complaints I'd throw in getting stuck with Staff Duty runner or CQ duty because you live in the barracks and it was easier to pull someone rather call in a married person or having served 24hrs on Staff Duty and the married soldiers get to go home to sleep but you're back on duty because everyone else is working. (at Ft Drum the Company CP's are connected to the barracks with Battalion HQ in front of the two sets of barracks.) Getting stuck eating MRE's because we worked past dinner chow or post closed due to snow and chow halls is closed. Not allowed to have cooking utensils because they are considered a fire hazard. And of course my biggest problem when I was younger, the no alcohol in the barracks.
I lived in a squadbay. Stop bitching over having an actual bedroom and bathroom to yourself, and a shared living room and kitchen with one other person you may or may not ever have to deal with.
I was single while I was in. I never had to deal with the things described. I agree with the overall assessment though. It does seem unfair.
I hear your complaints. Back when I was an NCO, I heard those same complaints from my Soldiers. If you’ll allow me, I’d like to make a couple of points in an attempt to dispel your assertion of “discrimination” against single Soldiers.
First off, the idea that there is a pay disparity based simply on BAH, in my opinion, is misinformed. The cost of living off-post on the local economy is higher than I think you realize. BAH is published in open media sources, meaning anyone and everyone with internet access can see exactly how much Soldiers are paid for housing. Apartment complexes and landlords of single-family homes base their rental rates on this number. That BAH also weighs heavily into the economy as it relates to the cost of home ownership. All that to say, many married Soldiers (and single Soldiers who are authorized to live off-post) will pay every cent of their BAH on an apartment or home for rent. Now add in the cost of utilities (electric, gas, water, garbage pickup) which those who live in the barracks aren’t responsible for, and suddenly many of the off-post dwellers are paying out of pocket for their home.
Certainly there are less costly apartments out there that offer married Soldiers to save a little cash - typically if you’re willing to commute 30 minutes or longer to work, or if you don’t mind cramming a family of four into a tiny, 2-bedroom apartment/condo/townhouse.
Secondly, I’m personally unfamiliar with this “more freedom” you mention. As a married E-3, E-4, E-5, I was still expected to work staff duty shifts as the runner and SDNCO. I reported to work to conduct barracks inspections. I did “police calls” of the installation. I was even called in to do police calls of the barracks that I didn’t even live in. The reason you have NCOs conducting inspections of your living quarters is because you don’t own that living space; it is either owned or leased by the military. The military is responsible for that property, so it is within their authority to ensure you are acting as a good steward of their property. On-post housing can be subject to the same scrutiny, if the agency which owns the property allows it. Also with regard to “freedom,” I am expected to be at work at the same time as those who live in the barracks, despite the fact that it takes me 30+ minutes to get to work, versus the 5 minute drive from the barracks. Neither as enlisted or as a Warrant Officer did I or do I get any breaks on my work schedule simply because I live off-post.
Let’s talk about the furniture that is provided to you at no cost, and is replaced for free as it becomes worn-out or broken (not as a result of negligence or recklessness). Living off-post means I get to pay to furnish my home. As an E-4, I had to buy couches, living room furniture, washer and dryer (and other appliances), tables, chairs, beds, dressers, etc. And do you know what happens when something breaks? I have to buy replacements. I don’t get to call housing when my water heater stops working; I have to pay to fix it or buy a new one.
My final thought is this (and this is my response to anyone in any profession who accepts a job and then complains about the pay, benefits, commute, or anything else): you knew what you were signing up for; and if you didn’t, you should have done your homework. This is how the military has operated for decades or longer. You should have known that, as a single Soldier, you’d be living in the barracks with another Soldier, while the married Soldiers and Single senior-NCOs and Officers get to live elsewhere. You should have known you’d be expected to keep your living space clean and up to standards.
If you are unhappy with your circumstances, you have options. As a college graduate, you have the option of transitioning to become a commissioned officer through various programs (“Green to Gold,” etc). With or without a college degree, you can apply to become a Warrant Officer (I have no college degree, and I am pilot. As the adage goes, “Flight School starts every two weeks.”).
Rather than complain about your situation, take action and forge a better future for yourself. But that’s just my recommendation.
First off, the idea that there is a pay disparity based simply on BAH, in my opinion, is misinformed. The cost of living off-post on the local economy is higher than I think you realize. BAH is published in open media sources, meaning anyone and everyone with internet access can see exactly how much Soldiers are paid for housing. Apartment complexes and landlords of single-family homes base their rental rates on this number. That BAH also weighs heavily into the economy as it relates to the cost of home ownership. All that to say, many married Soldiers (and single Soldiers who are authorized to live off-post) will pay every cent of their BAH on an apartment or home for rent. Now add in the cost of utilities (electric, gas, water, garbage pickup) which those who live in the barracks aren’t responsible for, and suddenly many of the off-post dwellers are paying out of pocket for their home.
Certainly there are less costly apartments out there that offer married Soldiers to save a little cash - typically if you’re willing to commute 30 minutes or longer to work, or if you don’t mind cramming a family of four into a tiny, 2-bedroom apartment/condo/townhouse.
Secondly, I’m personally unfamiliar with this “more freedom” you mention. As a married E-3, E-4, E-5, I was still expected to work staff duty shifts as the runner and SDNCO. I reported to work to conduct barracks inspections. I did “police calls” of the installation. I was even called in to do police calls of the barracks that I didn’t even live in. The reason you have NCOs conducting inspections of your living quarters is because you don’t own that living space; it is either owned or leased by the military. The military is responsible for that property, so it is within their authority to ensure you are acting as a good steward of their property. On-post housing can be subject to the same scrutiny, if the agency which owns the property allows it. Also with regard to “freedom,” I am expected to be at work at the same time as those who live in the barracks, despite the fact that it takes me 30+ minutes to get to work, versus the 5 minute drive from the barracks. Neither as enlisted or as a Warrant Officer did I or do I get any breaks on my work schedule simply because I live off-post.
Let’s talk about the furniture that is provided to you at no cost, and is replaced for free as it becomes worn-out or broken (not as a result of negligence or recklessness). Living off-post means I get to pay to furnish my home. As an E-4, I had to buy couches, living room furniture, washer and dryer (and other appliances), tables, chairs, beds, dressers, etc. And do you know what happens when something breaks? I have to buy replacements. I don’t get to call housing when my water heater stops working; I have to pay to fix it or buy a new one.
My final thought is this (and this is my response to anyone in any profession who accepts a job and then complains about the pay, benefits, commute, or anything else): you knew what you were signing up for; and if you didn’t, you should have done your homework. This is how the military has operated for decades or longer. You should have known that, as a single Soldier, you’d be living in the barracks with another Soldier, while the married Soldiers and Single senior-NCOs and Officers get to live elsewhere. You should have known you’d be expected to keep your living space clean and up to standards.
If you are unhappy with your circumstances, you have options. As a college graduate, you have the option of transitioning to become a commissioned officer through various programs (“Green to Gold,” etc). With or without a college degree, you can apply to become a Warrant Officer (I have no college degree, and I am pilot. As the adage goes, “Flight School starts every two weeks.”).
Rather than complain about your situation, take action and forge a better future for yourself. But that’s just my recommendation.
If you don't like the dfac fill out a 4187 for separate rations. The barracks will always be barracks, but single soldiers have more commradie because they live together. This kinda alienates the married soldiers who gave up their freedoms. So just embrace the sick, and don't give them a reason to harass you.
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