Thread: Forces accomdation - General speaks out.

Some of the comments are horrid on the BBC's site, if those people had someone in the forces they would change their tune. Round them up, hand them a pair of C95's and tell them to go defend their nation.

The question is, what's going to be cut from the defence budget to pay for said improvements?

I am quite, quite confident we're not going to get any more cash to cover it!

The comments on the BBC website had me raging... I know I am an ex-servicemen , but this website and my reserve liability still make me feel very much part of the Army family... so I was utterly shocked at some of the comments on there... and I was also ashamed that students (a group that I am now a member of) actually think it is logical to compare their situation with that of serving members of the forces.

Originally Posted by the_matelot

Originally Posted by Moosaca

Bring back 'Changing Rooms', we want Charlie!!!!!. Why not contract them, they can revamp a quarter in less time then it takes to open a new 'HELP' line at MOD!

I seem to remember Changing Rooms did a remake of a messdeck onboard a ship a couple of years ago (I think it was a carrier). Anyway, as soon as they were gone, they ripped it all out and returned it to its original state due to it being a fire risk.

Where I am at the moment is a fcuking disgrace. I'm living in a portacabin and have been waiting for over 2 months to get a radiator fixed. I haven't got a drying room to use either! The RSM where I am is fully aware of the problems but doesn't give 2 shits about it. Whilst I can appreciate a lot has been done to the accomadation, why is it that every place I've been, the Juniors have far better accomadation?

One has only got to look at Chicksands to see this...

It was the Kent. I had to do a SSC on her a couple of months after, it was all falling to bits. MDF aint jack-proof!

I was concerned that the accom shown on the BBC albeit tatty wasnt scrubbed by the out going unit. In my day we moved into weeton camp which the RAF had condemned in 1965 so the Army took over. We could see outside without opening the windows (good as they usually fell out if you tried) and the ablutions were straight out of get some in. The blocks were though kept immaculately clean and the standard of cleanliness went down I believe when we got the new buildings next door a year later.
This smacks as much of poor planning and admin by the Army as tight fistedness by the MOD. If the quarters or seniors mess were so poor something would have been done about it. I have lived in far worse holes in the ground than have been shown. Most transit accom only needs living in permanently for it to be brought up to scratch.
I am concerned that the Army is letting standards slip possibly due to massive overcommitment on operations. The money was never an issue it usually required time and the effort of the lads to keep the accom in order. My discharge cert should have graded me as a housewife, house refurbisher and litter picker!
I suppose the lad doesnt want his substandard accom payments then.

Originally Posted by Howay_the_Lads

Anyone have the misfortune to reside in the Sgts Mess transit accom in Thiepval Bks Lisburn. That place was also a fekkin disgrace. Portacabins with double bunks, door-less lockers, no keys for the front doors, heaving sinks and showers that didn't work. Vitez in the 90's was superior to that shiite hole.

Heaving sinks are a cleaning problem and I am surprised that senior ranks let them get to that state!
Lisburn, short term on ops then that is normal, my first tour I didnt change my bedding as I didnt sleep between the sheets for 4 months!

It would be interesting to find out how much money is being wasted on demolishing a serviceable (correct me if i'm wrong) (at least adequate) office block at DLO Andover to make way for a gucci new build office block for HQs AG and LAND under Project Hyperion.

And, the criminal waste of money lighting bldg 300 day and night at Andover, including all over the Xmas period.

You can't polish a fcuking turd. Some people may be skiprats but many of us still live in houses that we keep clean but have serious problems that DE and MHS are SUPPOSED to take care off. Many problems we are unable to sort ourselves. I'm no pluber/sparky and we arn't allowed to carry out building work or even go into our own atticks. I've been waiting 12 months to get insulation in my house and paying through the arrse to keep the place warm.

Originally Posted by ADUX

It would be interesting to find out how much money is being wasted on demolishing a serviceable (correct me if i'm wrong) (at least adequate) office block at DLO Andover to make way for a gucci new build office block for HQs AG and LAND under Project Hyperion.

And, the criminal waste of money lighting bldg 300 day and night at Andover, including all over the Xmas period.

ADUX,

Unfortunately it seems you may be part of the problem and not the solution.

I assume you are talking about demolishing Bldg 200 or parts of 300. However, it matters not. Running on 'serviceable' and 'adequate' facilities is what has brought us to the current position, not only in terms of infrastructure, but with fighting equipment and vehicles too.

PAW

post from the BBC

As a former Royal Marine, I am standard of personal admin held by these army ranks. If any of these serving ranks were to catch a disease from this unhygienic squalor then they would not be able to perform the job that they are all paid (Volunteered) to do. Get a grip lads and clean up after yourselves. The government should channel their money on supporting the front line troops with equipment and rations. After all this is where moral really matters.
No comment regards the student accom.

Dennis, Arbroath

Just a cheap shot from this cabbage head. I hope this hom chokes on his boyfriends c0ck!

Originally Posted by pombsen-armchair-warrior

Originally Posted by ADUX

It would be interesting to find out how much money is being wasted on demolishing a serviceable (correct me if i'm wrong) (at least adequate) office block at DLO Andover to make way for a gucci new build office block for HQs AG and LAND under Project Hyperion.

And, the criminal waste of money lighting bldg 300 day and night at Andover, including all over the Xmas period.

ADUX,

Unfortunately it seems you may be part of the problem and not the solution.

I assume you are talking about demolishing Bldg 200 or parts of 300. However, it matters not. Running on 'serviceable' and 'adequate' facilities is what has brought us to the current position.

PAW

Sorry, but you've kind of missed my point. I find it a bit rich when the most senior people issue trite phrases about how we should honour the military convenant and tut tut as to how appalling soldier's living conditions are yet happily see serviceable office accomodation be demolished only to have a new building put in its place. OK, the current office block may not be the 'gold plated' solution for LAND & AG but surely, in a tight financial climate (when there will never be enough money), the resources (cash) would be better spent on our soldier's living accomodation and accept slightly lower standard office space for HQ staff. After all, it is the HQ's (and Government) that are saying 'we need to do something about it'. My previous post was aimed at the hypocrisy within.

Have seen many posts on the BBC site from people saying "in their time they never saw any bad accomodation". Well I don't know where they were looking, as six months into Sandhurst on an RAMC visit we were show accomodation at Aldershot. I remember talking to one of the Officers about it being utter shite and how could they expect people to live there, to which he agreed and said it was a disgrace. Mind you the mess at Keogh wasn't much better either...

There is a big waste of money with how the MoD spends its money, when they built a new sgts mess in NI about 10 years ago the cost per mess room was a staggering £50k, (I cant remember the totals but the cost of the mess was something like £5m for 100 or so rooms) they were not en-suite, as a comparison the unit cost of travelodge room was £12k (cheap but well proven modular build).

To give some idea of the scale of this lunacy, the cost per unit of a JR married quarter at about the same time was £30-40k (around York). This was before PFI, now the cost would be maybe double....?

When the Army took over a certain RAF base north of York, I was involved in doing the pre-checks of plans, and doing the Board of Officers inspections when works were completed, we removed the RAF single room accomodation, replacing it with 6 man rooms, at a significant cost. Because the RAF accomodation was in excess of JSP's for JR's.

Being a lowly but well meaning SNCO my comments on this waste were ignored...

Ratcatcher

Huw Edwards has just reported on News24

Brought into question several times that serviceen pay less than their civvie counterparts. Personally I would contest this - my cousin in Sheffield lives in a house due for demolition (and so in the mid range of equivelent MoD grottyness) but pays just over £200 for a three bedroom house - with council tax thrown in.

How does this compare to MoD charges.

He also reported that the MoD is admitting that just under 50% of barracks living accomodation is of grade 4 quality, but they said they have a 1 billion pound, 10 year plan in place.

Whats this fkn mamby pamby Army on about. Just get on with it.

Yes, I understand prisoners probably get better accommodation and don't deserve it, but we're soldiers who should use prisoners for tgt practise.

When I joined my Regt we lived in tin shed spider blocks and 14 to a room and we loved it - still do. I even basha up in the garden, cook and brew on hexy, stag-on and challenge any civvi who dares to come near just to keep my routine up to scratch. Even go Hard Routine so use gas and eat cold food

Must admit I do have some modern things like "Real Tree Camo" suit etc.

BT