Legislators call for responsibility following the release of a report on unsanitary military housing.
Thousands of the U.S. military’s most junior enlisted personnel are facing serious health and safety risks not on some foreign battlefield but in the very barracks where they live.
The Pentagon is facing accusations of not adequately addressing the issue, which includes mold in the showers, broken windows and air conditioners, rodent infestations, and non-functioning fire systems.
An official from the Government Accountability Office stated during testimony on Wednesday that numerous Department of Defense officials show no interest in seeking input from the enlisted troops residing in the barracks. A significant portion of these troops are young individuals who have recently graduated from high school.
Elizabeth Field, the director of the GAO’s Defense Capabilities and Management Office, stated that officials believe this particular demographic is not dependable when it comes to participating in surveys or responding to emails or phone calls. Consequently, they deemed it not worthwhile to seek their opinions. However, Field discovered that these service members actually have a great deal to express and are enthusiastic about finding someone who will lend an ear.
The congressional watchdog agency’s investigators dedicated a period of five months to analyze the state of the barracks in ten military bases nationwide. Following the release of their report, GAO officials presented their findings during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Wednesday.
A number of U.S. military bases are located in the South where the summers can be fierce. However several barracks the GAO investigators examined lacked working air conditioners.
Ms. Field informed lawmakers that a Marine expressed experiencing frequent nighttime awakenings due to excessive heat, discomfort from bed bugs, and a sensation of suffocation.
The GAO investigators were informed by military personnel that they did not feel safe in the barracks, likening them to a dilapidated motel or a correctional facility.
“I cannot reword”
Rep. Don Bacon, a retired Air Force brigadier general, said he would have been fired if the barracks where his junior airmen lived matched the squalid descriptions described in the GAO report.
“Is there any responsibility being taken for these barracks? Will anyone be held accountable?” questioned the Nebraska Republican. “How can we ensure that this is rectified and improved?”
A few years ago, Congress had to intervene due to similar concerns regarding the condition of military housing for families that were under the management of private landlords. During that time, children were falling ill and some military personnel were worried about facing consequences from their civilian landlords if they reported these issues to their superiors.
“I cannot reword”
Ms. Field concurred that the issues observed in the barracks today resemble the ones previously documented by GAO investigators in military family housing units.
She stated that the Defense Department has faced more pressure in recent years to address issues in family housing compared to addressing problems with barracks.
The Army officials expressed their dedication to ensuring that all military personnel have access to secure and high-quality housing, including both junior enlisted barracks and larger family complexes. Carla Coulson, the assistant Army secretary for installations, housing, and partnerships, informed the lawmakers that the Army has already put into action numerous recommendations from the GAO in the past.
Ms. Coulson stated that the Army is dedicated to enhancing the well-being of soldiers by resolving maintenance issues in unaccompanied housing. In an unprecedented move, the Army conducted inspections on all 6,700 rooms and barracks buildings in the autumn of 2022 to address identified concerns related to life, health, and safety.
She stated that the Army has made a commitment to allocate a minimum of $1 billion annually towards enhancing barracks across the entire service.
Robert Thompson, the principal deputy assistant secretary of the Navy responsible for energy, installations, and environment, expressed that his department has achieved significant and concrete advancements in enhancing the living conditions of service members residing in privatized housing.
Mr. Thompson acknowledged that there is a substantial amount of work to be done in improving the quality of our unaccompanied housing for sailors and Marines. It is important to ensure that these places are safe, clean, reliable, comfortable, and dignified.
Rep. Marilyn Strickland, Washington state Democrat, represents Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Seattle, one of the largest military installations on the West Coast. She asked how much money it would take to make all service barracks safe and habitable again.
“I cannot reword”
Ms. Strickland mentioned that although the majority of barracks are government-owned, the Defense Department should consider investigating the potential benefits of private-sector housing for junior enlisted personnel in order to enhance their quality of life.
She stated that it may not be a perfect solution, but we should utilize all available resources.
