Posted on Jun 20, 2023
Can anyone just come into my Barracks room even after I say no?
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Barracks
Soldier
Enlisted
Policy
Responses: 49
Can your chain-of-command (below the unit Commander) do an informal walkthrough during your off-duty hours? No.
Can your unit Commander who is responsible for the barracks conduct an informal walkthrough during your off-duty hours? Yes.
Can your chain-of-command (below the unit Commander) do an informal walkthrough during your off-duty hours IF the Commander has delegated that authority to do so? Yes.
Bottom line: The Commander 'owns' the barracks and is the only one that can authorize entrance for formal or informal inspections of a "private" living area (put in quotes as it is technically "more private" than "public"). HOWEVER, Commanders usually delegate this (I always did) down to first line leaders (for informal inspections).
There is no restriction on WHEN or HOW OFTEN a Commander (or those he delegates authority to) can do inspections, however they will have to use their judgement on what is 'too lax' and what is 'too onerous' and starts to affect morale.
There is a difference between a "spot walkthrough" for general cleanliness/upkeep and a more formal health and welfare inspection. If the latter, then those have to be systemic and applied across the board throughout the unit and are usually scheduled (not 'announced to the unit') by the Commander.
Can they "just come into my room" to do "inspections"? Again, it depends. Is it an informal "Just doing a quick check on you" or is it a more formal "Health and Welfare"? Yes to the former and No to the later.
There will usually be a unit or installation policy (typically called a "Barracks Management Policy") that governs when walkthroughs/inspections can occur.
Can your unit Commander who is responsible for the barracks conduct an informal walkthrough during your off-duty hours? Yes.
Can your chain-of-command (below the unit Commander) do an informal walkthrough during your off-duty hours IF the Commander has delegated that authority to do so? Yes.
Bottom line: The Commander 'owns' the barracks and is the only one that can authorize entrance for formal or informal inspections of a "private" living area (put in quotes as it is technically "more private" than "public"). HOWEVER, Commanders usually delegate this (I always did) down to first line leaders (for informal inspections).
There is no restriction on WHEN or HOW OFTEN a Commander (or those he delegates authority to) can do inspections, however they will have to use their judgement on what is 'too lax' and what is 'too onerous' and starts to affect morale.
There is a difference between a "spot walkthrough" for general cleanliness/upkeep and a more formal health and welfare inspection. If the latter, then those have to be systemic and applied across the board throughout the unit and are usually scheduled (not 'announced to the unit') by the Commander.
Can they "just come into my room" to do "inspections"? Again, it depends. Is it an informal "Just doing a quick check on you" or is it a more formal "Health and Welfare"? Yes to the former and No to the later.
There will usually be a unit or installation policy (typically called a "Barracks Management Policy") that governs when walkthroughs/inspections can occur.
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PO1 Robert Ryan
My barracks surer in hades was not under the post housing authority. E-5 and above only had separate rooms. I was fortunate enough as a Buck sergeant to have my own room. Before that it was open bay barracks . Or don't they have those barracks any more. CQ duty I was required to check on the barracks as part of CQ duties. Guess I am Old School.
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I don't know how long you've been with the unit, but when I was in, as a SP4, I was instructed by my section chief to do informal room inspections on the new guys. I wasn't to scream or discipline, just correct and report. Once we knew the new guy wasn't a slob, that stuff stopped.
On the obverse, I've seen some nosy barracks rats who just want to see what you got.
On the obverse, I've seen some nosy barracks rats who just want to see what you got.
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SSG Bill McCoy
PO3 Rob Laity - When it comes down to "Constitutional" rights, a unit INSPECTION, if authorized, has no bearing or Constitutional restrictions. A service member does not own his barracks room ... and the only time Search and Seizure issues arise is if the Military Police were to arrive, especially after so-called duty hours. Then, they would either have to have a formal Search Warrant, OR have the Commander's approval (Company Commander) and his or his NCO representative present since it's the Company Commander's area of responsibility/authority.
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LCDR (Join to see)
SSG Bill McCoy - I think you hit it on the head by specifying a search warrant OR CO's approval. For many things, the CO -is- the magistrate.
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MAJ Ronnie Reams
Reminds me of my company clerk days on an exclusive federal post, a deputy Sheriff comes by the orderly room with a warrant for PVT Snuffy and I let him have him. OM reamed (no pun intended) me out and told me no one could have one of his soldiers without his permission. Sometime later on a Wednesday afternoon, golf time, two FBI SAs came by with a warrant for a soldier. I said that the OM said you cannot have him. They asked where he was, and I looked and figured on the fifth or sixth hole at the OClub golf course. In a bit they came back with him and took the soldier away. OM said if FBI comes again, give them whatever they want.
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You said Spc and below, there are no leaders or supervisors in that group, unless the SPC is in an NCO billet and the Commanders policy allows First line sups to check healthy md welfare.
Bottom line is the should be a unit SOP on barracks inspections and walkthroughs. Again that is almost always delegated to the NCO support channel, but with specific guidelines your cello section mates have no business in your room.
Bottom line is the should be a unit SOP on barracks inspections and walkthroughs. Again that is almost always delegated to the NCO support channel, but with specific guidelines your cello section mates have no business in your room.
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CSM Darieus ZaGara
Well "Dude" I was responding to a question by a Soldier not a Marine. Anyone who served as long and at the levels that I have knows the difference clearly. spc in the Army can be temporarily assigned as an acting supervising NCOIC (acting) for a period of time. In any case it was a service specific question.
Have a happy Tday.
Have a happy Tday.
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SGT Tom Carlson
SPC David C. - You are confusing E-4 in the Corps versus E-4 in the Army. E-4 is a paygrade and not a rank.
Specialist and Corporal are both E-4 paygrade in the Army. Only one of those is thought of as a quasi-NCO in the Army.
Specialist and Corporal are both E-4 paygrade in the Army. Only one of those is thought of as a quasi-NCO in the Army.
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CPO Nate Hambone
Marines live a very different life than most other service members. Devil Dogs police their own. Military Bearing is genetic by the time you leave Boot Camp. But... if you are an E-4 in any service, and you don't know your rights and responsibilities, you have been elevated beyond your abilities. If your barracks room or bay or berthing are not at least clean and there is no contraband out or you're not watching something inappropriate for groups, there should never be an issue. I was never a big fan of barracks or berthing inspections, but they definitely had a purpose and a need. As a matter of fact, in most cases its a check in the box and out the door.
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CSM Darieus ZaGara
CPO Nate Hambone I assure you that this whole barracks living thing is a huge swing from just a few years ago. All services including Marines have had policy changes. The great news is that all we have to do now is provide insight and advice where we can, and where we are not sure we guide them to the appropriate authority.
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