World War II Barracks

[Salty]

On a FB page, there was a light discussion about the old WW II barracks - but then one SM made this comment:

"I did 14 weeks OSUT, at Ft Benning. These buildings were highly functional, shows how much cheaper the government can run when it has to. Really don’t know why they had to get rid of them."

So should the Army use the old WW II type billets for Basic and AIT?

Open for discussion

 

[padredurand]

Aberdeen Proving Grounds in 1979

 

[Van]

I have driven by some spiffy barracks on Camp Pendleton. And I visited the barracks of my grandson while in the Air Force basic training, very nice. One reason for upgrading them is that now we do not fill them with draftees.

Another reason is that while I was in basic training (1965), Fort Ord was closed due to a meningitis outbreak. To many guys too close together.

 

[Salty]

Another reason is that while I was in basic training (1965), Fort Ord was closed due to a meningitis outbreak. To many guys too close together.

Thus the reason for head-to-toe and sneeze sheets

 

[HankD]

I have driven by some spiffy barracks on Camp Pendleton. And I visited the barracks of my grandson while in the Air Force basic training, very nice. One reason for upgrading them is that now we do not fill them with draftees.

Another reason is that while I was in basic training (1965), Fort Ord was closed due to a meningitis outbreak. To many guys too close together.

Hi Van, I was in a similar situation - 1960 Lowry Air Force Training Base dysentery outbreak. Very unpleasant disease.

 

[Van]

Thus the reason for head-to-toe and sneeze sheets

Yeah, we slept head to toe but if someone in the top bunk would still sneeze directly onto to guy in the adjacent bottom bunk.
But, yes it was a good step, just not the end all.

 

[Van]

Hi Van, I was in a similar situation - 1960 Lowry Air Force Training Base dysentery outbreak. Very unpleasant disease.

I can only imagine, our latrine did not have privacy barriers between the row of toilets, so...

 

[Salty]

I can only imagine, our latrine did not have privacy barriers between the row of toilets, so...

and then there was the one urinal.

 

[HankD]

I can only imagine, our latrine did not have privacy barriers between the row of toilets, so...

Right, some of the men literally crawled to the latrine. I was pretty much doubled over in pain.
There was a total replacement of the ancient dishes at the chow hall.

HankD

 

[HankD]

For those of you who don't know in my day Lowry AFB was divided by the runway - Lowry I and Lowry II.
The dysentery was contained in Lowry II via quarantine.

HankD

 

[supersoldier71]

If the barracks are serviceable, not overrun with black mold or asbestos then...maybe.

The fact is that most servicemen in WW2 were drafted. Our entire force are volunteers. That doesn't mean that we can't, shouldn't or don't conduct tough, realistic training, but it does mean that some living standards that may have been barely acceptable for a conscripted force, don't even come close for an all-volunteer force, especially one that needs to retain talent down the line.

Would the savings on the front end cost us on the back end?

I don't know.