I’m familiar with some of those problems. Somebody has really dropped the ball on this and needs to be fired. Then there’s the other part, soldiers should be responsible for keeping their quarters maintained and repaired regardless how old the building is.
During the 60s on our shore bases, we were in WW2 barracks (Navy) and just about every base I was at, everything not only had to work but shine like the new morning sun, no excuses.
Conditions at some of the barracks I’ve seen are a disgrace, they look like some run down housing project in the slums. No excuse for lights being out or not working, windows broken and not replaced, doors off the hinges and generally shabby, unsafe and unhealthy conditions. Disgusting. I’ve seen that myself. Made me ashamed with the lack of discipline and pride.
In today’s PC world, it seems like everyone is afraid to MAKE folks take responsibility for themselves. The soldiers on this forum will know what I’m talking about if they have been to any of the posts lately.
It would never occur to most of today’s armed forces to repair a facility...that’s what base maintenance is for. Funds for housing go to new buildings, no renovating or maintaining low profile transient facilities, and most of this only comes to light when forces deploy and return and reservists are called up, as during peacetime many simply live off base.
My understanding is that these days all repairs must be done by civilian contractors. To use GI’s such as SeaBees would be competing with local contactors. I don’t think that is tolerated.
“Then there’s the other part, soldiers should be responsible for keeping their quarters maintained and repaired regardless how old the building is.”
Clean yes, but how are soldiers to perform repairs? Do they have AC systems or new doors issued to them?
Every enlisted Army barracks I’ve seen has been pathetic. Not from abuse or lack of cleaning. Pathetic from the general condition of the buildings and their age. I’ve seen buildings condemned by the Air Force re-utilized as-is by the Army.
The Army does not place a priority on the living quarters of their soldiers.
The military is first and foremost a bureaucracy. The iron rule of bureaucracies is to accumulate power and disperse responsibility.
I’m from your time in the Navy. You are exactly correct.
Right now the Navy needs to take a look at the Dam Neck, Virginia base schools.
Respiratory infections are eating up the sailors, the buildings are seldom repaired and the sailors are buying their own cleaning supplies.
In addition there’s no sick call. A sailor has to call a civilian to make an appointment for it to be determine if he needs to be seen by a nurse or a doctor. This information was correct as of about seven months ago. I doubt if the place has changed much.