Army Spc. Jacob Cingolani, a preventive medicine specialist at Army Public Health Center, tests a barracks for carbon monoxide levels June 6, 2022, at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. Cingolani and other Army Public Health Center Soldiers evaluated a variety of environmental samples as part of a routine field training exercise. (Army photo by Graham Snodgrass) The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
By: FEDweek StaffThe Army remains committed to improving barracks, the senior-most civilian official in charge of housing told lawmakers during a recent hearing on Capitol Hill.
“We recognize the linkage between the quality of our facilities and the ability to retain a ready force,” Rachel Jacobson, Assistant Secretary of the Army for installations energy and environment, told the House Armed Services readiness subcommittee on Feb. 7, as reported by the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA).
Jacobson said Army leadership agrees with lawmakers’ contention that problems with barracks need to be fixed as soon as possible.
“Our commitment is evidenced by our proposed investment in permanent party barracks, which now exceeds $1.5 billion per year across the Future Years Defense Program, Jacobson told the panel. In total, investment in all forms and components would equal roughly $2.1 billion annually, she said.
The Army is taking action, AUSA reported, in the aftermath of a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report issued last September that blamed shoddy barracks conditions for negatively affecting soldiers’ quality of life and readiness.
Jacobson specifically cited the service’s maintenance backlog, issues with ineffective management and the large number of buildings that need up-keeping. She added that her shop has asked sergeants major to canvas their troops for suggestions about improving their living conditions.
“We will maximize every dollar we spend on barracks. Our funding must be focused on bringing as many barracks as possible out of [the] poor and failing category,” Jacobson told the panel. “Now is the time to roll up our sleeves and fix the problem.”
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