The Army Wants Congress to Supercharge its Barracks Budget to Fix Soldiers' Poor Living Conditions
The Army is eyeing a massive increase in its funding to maintain aging barracks and build new base housing for junior troops in one of its most dramatic single budget requests to Congress in recent years. In its proposed budget, the Army is seeking a total of $2.35 billion for barracks in 2025, a major […]
Army Eyes Privatized Barracks as It Struggles to Find a Solution to Poor Living Conditions for Soldiers
The Army is hoping privatization can fix the myriad quality-of-life issues facing its barracks, at least partly because it has few other ideas. In December, key service leaders had a barracks summit to draw up plans to get soldier housing back up to standards following months of media reports on rampant mold and other problems, […]
US Military to Screen All New Recruits for Heart Conditions Under Must-Pass Annual Defense Bill
Beginning next year, the U.S. military is expected to screen all potential recruits for cardiac anomalies under a new program designed to reduce deaths at boot camp and beyond. The current version of the fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, expected to pass Congress this month, requires the Defense Department to launch a pilot program […]
Army Plans Boost in Barracks Spending as Military Grapples with Squalid Living Conditions
The Army is crafting a new plan to improve barracks following mold and health issues, as well as a damning report from a government watchdog last month that found squalid base housing across the services — including bad plumbing, brown water and insect infestations. The plan, which has not yet been approved by Army Secretary […]
Bedbugs, Brown Water, Squatters: Military Barracks Blasted over Horrid Living Conditions, Lack of Accountability
Military barracks with plumbing so bad that the entire building smelled of methane, and water so disgusting it wasn’t considered safe to drink. Those were among the findings by the Government Accountability Office after it visited 12 military installations to examine the living conditions of troops in base housing. The watchdog agency published the conditions […]
Arlington Horses Are Getting Improvements After Deaths. But Other Army Animals Also Face Poor Conditions, Review Found.
The Army said Wednesday it has a long-term plan to rehabilitate the horse platoon tasked with funeral services for fallen service members following the deaths of four animals last year. But a recent service-wide Army review also found poor conditions for horses, mules and donkeys maintained at various facilities across the country — the latest […]