Americans Living in Military Barracks
Hundreds of thousands of American service members live in military barracks throughout the United States and bases overseas.
Source: Wikimedia
While some are modern, with clean facilities and comfortable living arrangements, others have been left to deteriorate over the years and now exhibit unsanitary conditions that have led to considerable backlash from advocacy organizations.
Founder of Hots&Cots Speaks Up
Rob Evans, the founder of Hots&Cots, discussed the living conditions observed at several military barracks and argued that military officials must commit to urgent renovations.
Source: Wikimedia
“The Department of Defense must act sooner rather than later to address the quality-of-life issues facing our service members,” said Evans.
Horrendous Living Conditions at US Military Bases
NBC News shared a selection of photos that showcase a mold-infested ceiling in Korea, roaches running across kitchen counters in Texas, and repulsive brown water running from a faucet in New Jersey. All of these conditions speak to the horrendous living conditions at several military bases.
Source: Freepik
“Every day that these issues go unresolved is another day that the well-being and morale of those who serve are compromised,” said Evans
Do American Military Barracks Receive Sufficient Funding?
Despite NBC’s inability to independently verify the plethora of photos taken by Evans, he explained that a group of volunteers had evaluated the images, and they appeared legitimate.
Source: Freepik
For a nation with the world’s largest military budget, coming in at $916 billion in 2023, images of this nature may lead to public outcry from groups who may argue military homes are not receiving their fair share of funding.
Pentagon Releases a Statement
In light of the controversy, the Pentagon released a statement revealing that on August 12 of this year, the Defense Department began collecting feedback from active service members currently living in military housing.
Source: Freepik
“We have a moral obligation to ensure that the spaces where our service members and their families live are healthy, functional, and resilient,” said the spokesperson.
The Pentagon New Housing Feedback System
The Pentagon spokesperson suggests that the newly implemented Housing Feedback System will provide valuable insight into the daily lives of service members living in military homes, helping them improve their conditions in the future.
Source: Wikimedia
“The new feedback system will help improve installation conditions today, and the quality standards Service members and their families deserve,” they said.
Report Suggests DOD Is Lacking Oversight
Last year, the Government Accountability Office released a report that highlighted the poor living conditions of numerous government-owned barracks and military housing owned by private companies.
Source: Freepik
The report detailed several unsatisfactory living conditions, including homes with mildew and mold, overflowing sewage, and broken windows. In conclusion, the GAO proposed that the Department of Defense perform better oversight at military homes.
GOA Reports Lead to the Creation of the Hots&Cots App
In their report, the GOA identified several fundamental problems, one of which was that the DOD provided no clear standards for upholding in the homes or instructions for residents to address the issues.
Source: Freepik
After reading this report, Evans created the Hots&Cots app, which allows military personnel to anonymously upload photos of their accommodation, showcasing the good and the bad.
Helping With Poor Living Conditions
Evans formerly served in the Army Reserve and Army National Guard for over a decade. He created the app so that active duty service members could share proof of their poor living conditions and potentially receive help.
Source: Freepik
“This stuff matters,” he said. “If we are asking someone to enlist and serve their country, this matters.”
Former Soldier Claims Individuals Want to Help Fix the Poor Living Conditions
Despite admitting he never experienced anything like the worst photos during his time in the military, Evans admits some of the housing units he stayed in were “not ideal.”
Source: Freepik
The Tots&Cots founder added that it was “very disappointing” that the military has yet to make an announcement addressing many of the obvious issues that have been shared online. However, he doesn’t doubt that specific individuals within the military genuinely want to help.
Evans is Back Up by Richard Hudson
Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., backed Evans during a statement, stating. “Every year, the Army appropriates money for improving our soldiers’ housing.”
Source: Wikimedia
He added, “The problem is that these funds are not being used efficiently to ensure necessary basic living conditions for our service members. The Army needs to get serious about addressing the appalling conditions our soldiers are living in on bases like Fort Bragg/Fort Liberty.”