{"id":2332637,"date":"2024-08-28T14:12:02","date_gmt":"2024-08-28T18:12:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pentagon-responds-after-troubling-photos-show-appalling-conditions-on-us-military-bases\/"},"modified":"2024-08-28T14:17:22","modified_gmt":"2024-08-28T18:17:22","slug":"pentagon-responds-after-troubling-photos-show-appalling-conditions-on-us-military-bases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pentagon-responds-after-troubling-photos-show-appalling-conditions-on-us-military-bases\/","title":{"rendered":"Pentagon Responds After Troubling Photos Show &#8216;Appalling Conditions&#8217; on US Military Bases"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpentagon-responds-after-troubling-photos-show-appalling-conditions-on-us-military-bases%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2332637&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A coalition of \u2064military resident advocacy groups has raised \u200dconcerns about \u200dthe poor living conditions faced by some \u2063service members in the U.S. These\u2064 hazardous conditions include issues like mold, contaminated\u200c water, and indoor\u2064 toxins, which \u200bpose serious health\u200d risks to personnel and \u200bpotentially affect national security.\u200d Rob Evans, founder of the advocacy group\u2064 Hots&#038;Cots, emphasized that these unresolved\u200c living \u2062conditions compromise the well-being and morale of military members. A 2023 Government\u200c Accountability Office report indicated that the Department of Defense (DoD) fails to adequately track \u2063or address the quality \u2064of barracks, leaving many service members in substandard\u2063 conditions. Although the\u2063 Pentagon\u2064 has launched a Housing Feedback System to gather complaints, Evans argued more proactive \u200cmeasures are\u200d necessary to improve living\u200c standards. Advocacy efforts seek\u2063 to ensure that military personnel can live in healthy and safe environments, reflecting the commitment to their service.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> <script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Many of America&rsquo;s service members are living in substandard conditions, according to a coalition of military resident advocacy groups.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The risks posed by these hazardous conditions, which include <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/climate-the-new-corona-britains-fauci-says-doctors-needed-to-fight-air-pollution\/\" title=\"Climate the New Corona? Britain&#039;s Fauci Says Doctors Needed to Fight Air Pollution\">poor air quality<\/a>, contaminated water, indoor toxins, pollutants, and carcinogens not only threaten the health of service members but also their resilience and readiness. This health threat poses a broader risk to national security,&rdquo; a release <a href=\"https:\/\/www.prnewswire.com\/news-releases\/department-of-defenses-growing-crisis-not-enough-action-taken-to-address-dangerous-living-conditions-for-military-service-members-302231792.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">posted online<\/a> by the advocacy group Hots&amp;Cots said. Names of the other groups were not listed.<\/p>\n<p>The release said that among the hazards plaguing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/surprise-accountability-office-inspections-find-grotesque-pattern-us-military-barracks-troops-deserve-much-better\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">military bases<\/a> are mold, poor air quality, contaminated drinking water, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senators-call-to-increase-housing-supply-as-affordability-plummets\/\" title=\"Senators Call To Increase Housing Supply As Affordability Plummets\">peeling lead paint<\/a>, pest infestations, and other hazards.<\/p>\n<p>The release said that the Department of Defense is not responsive to the crisis.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Department of Defense must act sooner rather than later to address the quality-of-life issues facing our service members,&rdquo; Rob Evans, founder of Hots&amp;Cots, said in the release.<\/p>\n<p>  <script> \t\t\t\tif( ! getCookie( 'ff_subbed' ) ) if( typeof FFADS.replace_ict !='undefined' ) if( FFADS.replace_ict ) eval( FFADS.replace_ict ); \t\t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Every day that these issues go unresolved is another day that the well-being and morale of those who serve are compromised,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/news\/investigations\/photos-us-military-bases-show-mold-mice-roaches-brown-water-rcna168368\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">NBC<\/a> noted that Hots&amp;Cots allows <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/us-navy-begin-allowing-recruits-use-personal-cellphones-basic-training\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">service members<\/a> to anonymously post images of their living conditions.<\/p>\n<p>Photos submitted show what is said to be mold on the ceiling of U.S. Army Garrison Red Cloud in South Korea and brown water from a tap at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This stuff matters,&rdquo; Evans said. &ldquo;If we are asking someone to enlist and serve their country, this matters.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gao.gov\/assets\/gao-23-105797.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2023 Government Accountability Office report<\/a> indicted the Pentagon overlooks the conditions in which service members live.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;DOD assessments of conditions are unreliable. GAO observed barracks that pose potentially serious health and safety risks &mdash; such as broken windows and inoperable fire systems &mdash; and that do not meet minimum DOD standards for privacy and configuration. Thousands of service members live in barracks below standards, according to officials,&rdquo; the GAO report said.<\/p>\n<p>The report said living conditions have not been a Pentagon priority.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;DOD does not track information on the condition of barracks or facilitate collaboration on initiatives to improve barracks. Insufficient oversight hampers DOD&rsquo;s ability to identify and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/american-troops-living-in-horrible-conditions-face-risk-of-diseases-and-poor-mental-health-watchdog\/\" title=\"US Troops Endure Terrible Living Conditions, Risk Disease and Mental Health Issues: Watchdog\">address long-standing challenges<\/a> in barracks conditions across the department,&rdquo; the report said.<\/p>\n<p>A Defense Department representative said the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/dod-education-officers-racial-justice-books-placed-front-service-members-children\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pentagon<\/a> has created a Housing Feedback System, allowing service members and their families to post complaints, according to NBC.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We have a moral obligation to ensure that the spaces where our service members and their families live are healthy, functional, and resilient,&rdquo; the representative said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The new feedback system will help improve installation conditions today and the quality standards Service members and their families deserve,&rdquo; the representative said.<\/p>\n<p>Evans told the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fayobserver.com\/story\/news\/military\/2023\/11\/16\/is-hotscots-app-the-military-version-of-google-reviews\/71516328007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fayetteville Observer<\/a> that founding the reporting website was personal, because although he was a third-generation service member, barracks conditions made him think twice about recommending a military career.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Soldiers who join the military are wanting a better life for themselves,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Me, personally, I grew up in a pretty poor house &mdash; mold, bugs and didn&rsquo;t have running water at times. So when I enlisted in the military, I wanted a better life, and it wouldn&rsquo;t feel right for somebody to try to get out of that situation to go to an equally bad position where they&rsquo;re living with rodents or mold.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m hoping that the military will put me out of business, so they have something like this for soldiers and for the public to see,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I want the better barracks and dining facilities for soldiers and also to have some sort of accountability.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Republican Rep. Richard Hudson of North Carolina said he wants <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/americas-service-members-denied-true-wage-increase-thanks-bidens-inflation-surge\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">action<\/a> on making improvements, according to NBC.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Army needs to get serious about addressing the appalling conditions our soldiers are living in on bases like Fort Bragg\/Fort Liberty,&rdquo; Hudson said. &ldquo;As the representative of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/overdoses-now-a-leading-cause-of-death-for-fort-bragg-soldiers\/\" title=\"Overdoses Now a Leading Cause of Death for Fort Bragg Soldiers\">largest military base<\/a> in the world, I will continue to hold Army Secretary [Christine] Wormuth accountable until our troops receive the high-quality housing they deserve.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> <label>* Name<\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> <\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> <label>* <\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> <\/div>\n<p> <label>* Message<\/label> <br \/> <textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea>  <\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> <input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\">  <\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script>  <\/div>\n<p>   <script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<style> \t\t\t \t\t\t.insticator-unit.type-commenting{margin: 0 10px 25px 10px}@media screen and (max-width:1060px){#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{margin: 0 auto 25px auto !important;}}#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{height: 280px !important; width: 336px !important} \t\t<\/style>\n<div class=\"insticator-unit type-commenting\">\n<div class=\"insticator-ads\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<div class=\"insticator-ads additional\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>According to a coalition of military resident advocacy groups, many service members in the United States are living in inadequate conditions. A statement from the advocacy group Hots&amp;Cots highlighted that hazardous living environments\u2014characterized by poor air quality, contaminated water, indoor toxins, pollutants, and carcinogens\u2014endanger not only the health of these service members but also their resilience and readiness. This situation poses a broader risk to national security. The release pointed out various hazards present on military bases, including mold, poor air quality, unsafe drinking water, peeling lead paint, pest infestations, and more. It criticized the Department of Defense for its lack of responsiveness to this crisis. Rob Evans, founder of Hots&amp;Cots stated that immediate action is necessary to improve the quality-of-life issues faced by service members: \u201cEvery day that these issues go unresolved is another day that the well-being and morale of those who serve are compromised.\u201d NBC reported that Hots&amp;Cots allows service members to anonymously share images depicting their living conditions; submitted photos included mold on ceilings at U.S. Army Garrison Red Cloud in South Korea and discolored tap water at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey. Evans emphasized the importance of addressing these issues for those who enlist: \u201cIf we are asking someone to enlist and serve their country, this matters.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>A 2023 report from the Government Accountability Office indicated that the Pentagon neglects housing conditions for service members. The GAO found unreliable assessments from DOD regarding barracks conditions which pose serious health risks such as broken windows and non-functional fire systems; many barracks do not meet minimum standards for privacy or configuration according to officials&#8217; statements. The report noted that improving living conditions has not been prioritized by Pentagon leadership.<\/p>\n<p>The report further stated: &#8220;DOD does not track information on barrack conditions or promote collaboration on initiatives aimed at improvement,&#8221; highlighting insufficient oversight as a barrier to addressing long-standing challenges within military housing.<\/p>\n<p>In response to concerns raised about housing quality among service members\u2019 families posting complaints through a newly established Housing Feedback System was mentioned by a Defense Department representative who asserted: &#8220;We have a moral obligation&#8230;to ensure healthy living spaces.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>Evans shared with Fayetteville Observer his personal motivation behind creating this reporting platform; despite being part of a military family himself he felt compelled due to subpar barrack experiences during his own time serving which made him hesitant about recommending military careers based solely on better opportunities elsewhere.<\/p>\n<p>Republican Rep Richard Hudson from North Carolina echoed calls for improvements stating: \u201cThe Army needs serious action regarding appalling base living situations like Fort Bragg\/Fort Liberty,\u201d pledging accountability until troops receive adequate housing standards they deserve<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2332638,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Military-Base.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[39556,39555,3761],"class_list":["post-2332637","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-appalling-conditions","tag-military-bases","tag-pentagon"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Military-Base.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2332637","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2332637"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2332637\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2332638"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2332637"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2332637"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2332637"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}