Group: N.C. Army Barracks Not Suitable

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FORT BRAGG, N.C., Oct. 22, 2009

Group: N.C. Army Barracks " Not Suitable "

Housing Conditions at Ft. Bragg a Longstanding Gripe for Many; Maintenance

Funding Inconsistent

*

* Photo

Deteriorating army barracks at Ft. Bragg, N.C. are seen in a 2008 file

photo. (CBS)

* Photo

Of the more than 12,000 in barracks at Fort Bragg, about 2,500 are in

those built in the 1950s, Army spokesman Boyce said. (AP Photo/Gerry

Broome)

* Photo

Deteriorating army barracks at Ft. Bragg, N.C. are seen in a 2008 file

photo. (CBS)

* (http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4060795n) _Play CBS Video_

(http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4060795n) Video _Army Shamed By

Shoddy Barracks_ (http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4060795n)

The Army was publicly shamed after an outraged parent posted photos on

Youtube depicting dilapidated conditions at the barracks of Fort Bragg.

reports.

* (http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4061157n) Video

_Unhealthy Barracks Exposed_ (http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4061157n)

Chen speaks with Ed Frowley, who posted images of unsanitary

conditions at his son's Fort Bragg barracks on YouTube, sparking an Army

investigation.

*

(javascript:PopUp('http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/military_101/framesource_101.ht\

ml',540,400)) Interactive _Military 101_

(javascript:PopUp('http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/military_101/framesource_101.ht\

ml',540,400))

Basic training to learn all about America's fighting force.

*

(http://www.cbsnews.com/elements/2007/03/07/in_depth_us/interactivehomemenu25422\

07.shtml) Interactive _Walter Woes_

(http://www.cbsnews.com/elements/2007/03/07/in_depth_us/interactivehomemenu25422\

07.shtml)

Revelations about care and conditions at army hospital prompt look into

entire military health-care system.

* Stories

* _Dad Recalls " Sad Situation " At Fort Bragg_

(http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/01/national/main4061147.shtml?source=rel\

ated_story)

* _Army Widens Probe Into Bad Barracks_

(http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/30/national/main4057753.shtml?source=rel\

ated_story)

(AP) A North Carolina group studying soldier housing at Fort Bragg says a

program to maintain barracks is undermined by inconsistencies and a lack

of resources.

The Fayetteville Observer reported Thursday that the group, part of the

2009 Fort Bragg Army Family Action Plan, said the barracks for the 17,000

single soldiers on post are " not a suitable " home. The group says the housing

doesn't meet the Army's standards for quality of life.

The program to fix and maintain barracks was started at Fort Bragg last

year after the father of a paratrooper _put a video showing poor barracks

conditions on the Internet_

(http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/01/national/main4061147.shtml) . The

video showed peeling paint and mold, a torn

toilet seat and a soldier trying to unplug a floor drain that appeared to be

clogged with sewage.

Col. J. Sicinski, the garrison commander, defended living

conditions, telling the paper that barracks in the Army " are better than they

have

ever been in the history of our armed forces. "

Fort Bragg has a dozen Korean War-era barracks. Eight have been

reconditioned, but need constant upkeep, Sicinski said.

He said the First Sergeants Barracks Initiative, created to address these

problems, is new and doesn't have all of its resources.

" We will probably have to double the size of the team, if not triple it,

to make it run effectively, " Sicinski said. " Once that happens, I foresee

less and less problems and soldier complaints like we heard some of today. "