Congressional team evaluates Airmen's living quarters

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Scott Wagers
  • Defense Media Activity-Europe
KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany (AFNS) --  A two-person House Appropriations Committee Studies and Investigations team spoke to Airmen and inspected dormitories on Ramstein Air Base and Kapaun Air Station in Germany in October. 

The inspection, conducted by Keith Baker and Adam Johnson are House Appropriations Committee staff delegates, was part of a Department of Defense-wide probe to evaluate how military services are using funding for maintenance and upkeep of facilities.

Lt. Col. Bobbie Moore, the 435th Civil Engineering Squadron commander who is responsible for unaccompanied personnel housing and oversight of base facilities, said the inspection team was also here "to really take a good look at how we are taking care of our unaccompanied personnel across the services."

Colonel Moore further said there's been "a lot of interest" in the condition of dormitories since video footage, released earlier in the year, revealed substandard living conditions in Army barracks at Fort Bragg, N.C.

After visiting U.S. Army Europe installations at Heidelberg, Mannheim, and Rhein Ordnance Barracks, the inspection team came to Ramstein AB where a six-hour tour led them through five different dormitories and gave them face time with senior base leaders and a 25-member executive dormitory council. 

Airman 1st Class Amber Grantham, the medical group dorm council president, took part in the inspection team's 90-minute question and answer session where no one above the rank of senior airman was allowed to attend.

A list of more than 20 dorm resident "concerns" was assembled in advance and the top three ranking issues were presented to the investigation team, Airman Grantham said.

"Our top concerns are security, utilities and plumbing, and quality of life," she said.

Many of the Airmen cited the installation of security cameras as the solution to curbing vandalism, theft and possible assault. There was also shared acknowledgement that the older dormitories experience more frequent utility and plumbing problems to which the repair process seems slow.

"We also want to live in a place that looks and feels more like a home -- a place that we're proud to bring our parents to," said Airman 1st Class Angeline Deocales-Pearce, assigned to the 435th Logistics Readiness Squadron.

Some Airmen suggested a more modern floor plan or the addition of creature comforts like wireless Internet access. Other Airmen cited the need for dorm residents to actively network and organize community activities to create a homier feel.

"We know we have it good. We're not just complaining and acting like spoiled brats," Airman Deocales-Pearce said. "Change right now comes from us and we hope our suggestions benefit future Airmen."

Colonel Moore said base leaders provided the investigation team with a profile on base infrastructure that detailed the various ages of each dormitory and chronicled any associated fiscal spending. Most Ramstein AB dorms were built in the 1950s and only six have been built since the 1980s. The newest dorm was built in 2005.

Base leaders also outlined an eight-phase $273 million plan to replace eight dorms on Ramstein AB and one dorm on Kapaun AS. The first construction project is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2009 and will feature shared underground parking and an upgraded campus area, Colonel Moore said.

"We're building better facilities with more of an improved 'Airman's mall' or an improved campus feel," the colonel said. "We're trying to provide those touches of home that our Airmen are looking for." 

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