Shabby conditions of Barracks

Roadking

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My younger son is attending a sports camp at West Point this week, and I was very surprised how shabby and run-down the Sherman barracks were. Obviously no AC so it was hot as hell....but furniture is old and the bathroom was truthfully disgraceful. So old and outdated, rusting metal etc... The kicker is that the campers and counselors were killing the cockroaches in the showers and bathroom so the kids could shower. The roaches are in the rooms too. I was just really surprised, you don't see this on the West Point tour. FYI
 
the barracks at USNA NASS were far better than USMA SLS

at SLS we were told the USAFA's dorms were lined in gold and silk
 
That is exactly how it was for us at SLS and no one was complaining. A cockroach isn't going to hurt you. It is just more reason to keep your room clean.
 
The barracks at USNA and USMA are very old. USNA recently did a renovation and the barracks are much nicer now. Not to mention the addition of air conditioning (that would of been a nice addition as a Mid!). Yes it may be eye opening and suck for a sports camper, but for Mids and Cadets it is part of the experience. All Mids and Cadets spend a great deal of time in the barracks because that is essentially where we live, study, stand watch, hang out, etc. It would be great to be updated, but it is expensive and the logistics of where Mids and Cadets live during those renovation is not the easiest tasking. And for those who have seen where our Sailors, Soldiers, Marines and Airmen live... these aren't that bad in some cases.
 
My younger son is attending a sports camp at West Point this week, and I was very surprised how shabby and run-down the Sherman barracks were. Obviously no AC so it was hot as hell....but furniture is old and the bathroom was truthfully disgraceful. So old and outdated, rusting metal etc... The kicker is that the campers and counselors were killing the cockroaches in the showers and bathroom so the kids could shower. The roaches are in the rooms too. I was just really surprised, you don't see this on the West Point tour. FYI

There is a new barracks being constructed and a follow on plan to renovate old barracks.

There was a side discussion on how much we were spending for the new barracks.

What's the problem with furniture being old? My guess is that the mattresses are no older than 20 years old (I remember getting new mattresses when I was cadet) :shake:. On a serious note, funcationalty is what is important, not the age.

Same thing goes for the showers and bathroom, is the water coming out rusty?

I would say the living standard at West Point is maybe little better than what regular basic trainees have.
 
I guess when someone stands up and tells an audience at an awards ceremony that the appointment to West Point is worth 400K (Give or take), People may expect a bit more.

Rage_14,
Its the military, suck it up and move on.

So you can make this statement based on your vast knowledge and experience. I'm sure the parent that posted will take the advise of a cadet and as you say "Suck it up and Move on"
 
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This post isn't sitting great with me either. My dd is currently at beast. She did 2 overnight visits and didn't complain and so far hasn't complained in her cards home.

Uf has older dorms without ac and that's FL albeit north Florida.

The worse is the roaches. I'm hoping they aren't the big ones that fly.
 
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The leadership does the best they can with what they have. There is a war on you know? Much military construction and maintenance across DoD has been deferred. Many (not all) of the dorms at great schools are a bit dated. If you are picking a school based on that rather than the experience and education, then you have different values and priorities. My son called one day last winter and joked about how the heat was out again and they were all wearing their winter gear in the barracks but were making the most of it and had adapted. The hot water goes out every now and then and the electric infrastructure was built in many of the buildings long before computers came around. I realized he had finally internalized part of the Army spirit one day over spring break when I complained about something and his answer was “ Maybe the Chaplin cares dad, suck it up and drive on” My wife cracked up laughing as I stood there. Right now they are on the FTX at Buckner eating one meal a day and sleeping under ponchos in the pouring rain and are having a great time. He is learning to “ embrace the suck” as he said right before he left. Those conditions are palatial compared to some of the FOBs in Afghanistan right now. Oh, and as they said when I was a cadet and still do, “It is a $400,000 dollar experience, shoved up your butt a nickel at a time” but most wouldn’t trade it for anything once its done.
 
After your daughter returns from the field she will think they are the greatest rooms ever because there is a bed, toilets and a shower. Soon enough she will have Internet!

Storage of food is always made a big deal at the Academies because of roaches, mice, etc. During the summertime the little suckers tend to get more brazen because there are less Cadets around. Once the Cadets return they hide for their lives.
 
the barracks at USNA NASS were far better than USMA SLS

at SLS we were told the USAFA's dorms were lined in gold and silk

DS spent time at all three academy's barracks. Yep, USMA was rougher/older.

Comes with the territory. Some of the buildings date from Civil war times and have largely been in continuous usage. That presents mtc challenges that USNA and USAFA don't have to deal with. (Heard an interesting briefing on this)

But he left the academy visits with a clear lock on USMA, having nothing to do with the barracks. And since, like most cadets, will tell you it's not great, but just not an issue.

And by the end of 1st semester, they can sleep on the floor, in a bed's storage compartment. Just does not matter.

The cadets I know do gush a bit about civvy showers when they get home, though.

By the way, we were told the new barracks is including AC facilities suitable to handle the other barracks over time. Just need to get the new barracks space deployed before they can start on the old ones.
 
This post isn't sitting great with me either. My dd is currently at beast. She did 2 overnight visits and didn't complain and so far hasn't complained in her cards home.

Uf has older dorms without ac and that's FL albeit north Florida.

The worse is the roaches. I'm hoping they aren't the big ones that fly.


Yes, but the dorms at U of F you refer to (Buckman) do allow you to have an AC floor unit and from the sounds of it its much cleaner too.

I hope they are the barking roaches - lol
 
The leadership does the best they can with what they have. There is a war on you know? Much military construction and maintenance across DoD has been deferred. Many (not all) of the dorms at great schools are a bit dated. If you are picking a school based on that rather than the experience and education, then you have different values and priorities. My son called one day last winter and joked about how the heat was out again and they were all wearing their winter gear in the barracks but were making the most of it and had adapted. The hot water goes out every now and then and the electric infrastructure was built in many of the buildings long before computers came around. I realized he had finally internalized part of the Army spirit one day over spring break when I complained about something and his answer was “ Maybe the Chaplin cares dad, suck it up and drive on” My wife cracked up laughing as I stood there. Right now they are on the FTX at Buckner eating one meal a day and sleeping under ponchos in the pouring rain and are having a great time. He is learning to “ embrace the suck” as he said right before he left. Those conditions are palatial compared to some of the FOBs in Afghanistan right now. Oh, and as they said when I was a cadet and still do, “It is a $400,000 dollar experience, shoved up your butt a nickel at a time” but most wouldn’t trade it for anything once its done.

Very well stated! I sincerely appreciate the sense of priorities and a tremendous sense of humor - both apprear to be strong characteristics of those who "cooperate and graduate". Thanks again for your insight!
 
Without trying to join the dogpile on the OP:

During Marine week PROTRAMID 2010 (and the NROTC types who followed us later in the summer on CORTRAMID) we stayed in barracks that were to be torn down as soon as we left. I knew it was going to be a little different from the Navy BEQ we'd stayed at before, but got nervous when our Gunnery Sergeant mentioned that they "hadn't been renovated since [he] was a Lance Corporal." As I walked over to get settled I saw a weasel scurry out of the barracks carrying a dead squirrel in its mouth.

I'm not sure what was worse: staying there, or realizing that not too long before us enlisted dudes actually had to live there. The moral of the story is "it could always be worse."

From a more practical standpoint as well, like NavyHoops pointed out, mice and roaches are a fact of life both in the dorms and dining halls. It's also difficult to schedule renovations when the buildings are in constant use. It can get done over the summer because there's fewer people around, but the point is that it's a lengthy process. There's not (or maybe there is, it's USMA, who knows...) any negligence or willful disregard for the well-being of sports campers/cadets going on.
 
I AM WITH OLDCORPSDAD,
Money has been very tight due to two wars and much money being spent on national social programs.
I am surprised at these complaints - the WP education experience is - in my opinion - the best in the world. If you feel that the barracks are not to your standards please make-way for the thousands of highly qualified yourg men and women who would do almost anything to be a West Pointer.
There are complainers and there are people who make the best of the situation and drive on. West Point and the Army need the second type.
Good luck at the AFA or USNA.
 
I think some or most of you are missing my point....As a retired police sergeant (NYPD ESU/SWAT) and the son of a paratrooper (82nd Airborne) I am as patriotic as anyone could be. I am also aware of the bravery, toughness and all around brilliance of our armed forces. I know that Cadets and enlisted men must deal with adversity and even embrace it, but I didn't realize that my 10 year old son would have to deal with the bugs in the shower and bedroom at a sports camp. Just to update he hasn't complained since the first night and is having a great time making new friends and competing. I am just hoping for some regular visits from the exterminator! GO ARMY!
 
I think some or most of you are missing my point....As a retired police sergeant (NYPD ESU/SWAT) and the son of a paratrooper (82nd Airborne) I am as patriotic as anyone could be. I am also aware of the bravery, toughness and all around brilliance of our armed forces. I know that Cadets and enlisted men must deal with adversity and even embrace it, but I didn't realize that my 10 year old son would have to deal with the bugs in the shower and bedroom at a sports camp. Just to update he hasn't complained since the first night and is having a great time making new friends and competing. I am just hoping for some regular visits from the exterminator! GO ARMY!

AGREE !
 
Bugs in a publicly-funded dormitory...in the summertime....say it ain't so!
 
I think some or most of you are missing my point....As a retired police sergeant (NYPD ESU/SWAT) and the son of a paratrooper (82nd Airborne) I am as patriotic as anyone could be. I am also aware of the bravery, toughness and all around brilliance of our armed forces. I know that Cadets and enlisted men must deal with adversity and even embrace it, but I didn't realize that my 10 year old son would have to deal with the bugs in the shower and bedroom at a sports camp. Just to update he hasn't complained since the first night and is having a great time making new friends and competing. I am just hoping for some regular visits from the exterminator! GO ARMY!

not to hijack the thread, but what camp is your son attending? Mine went to the Baseball Camp every year for several years and it was always a thrill for him to be there in the barracks when the new Cadets arrived on post. (there were cockroaches in the latrine 12 years ago too- just another experience!:wink:)
 
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