Quality of Life for Single Marines
Ask any single Marine what he or she thinks of the barracks and you are very likely to get a negative answer. The Marine Corps has realized that the barracks is a big complaint among enlisted troops and leadership at all levels is tackling this problem head on.
When I lived in the barracks, there wasn’t much as far as amenities in the room or out. Rooms were small, furniture aging, and infrastructure such as heat and air was prone to failure. Over the last several years, the Marine Corps has placed barracks renovations and new construction very high on the list of priorities.
Rooms are getting more spacious, higher quality infrastructure is being installed, and the grounds around the barracks are becoming places to enjoy time with comrades. The placement of grills, basketball and volleyball courts, and other forms of recreation has brought Marines out of their rooms to enjoy time together and increase unit cohesion.
The Marine Corps is doing the right thing for our single Marines. For years, the mindset of what we have is adequate is being replaced by the mindset of let’s make it better for them. Marines will perform better when they feel they are taken care of on and off duty, and a big part of taking care of Marines is where they live.
This first step in making the lives of single Marines better is a great step forward. Let’s hope the Marine Corps continues these steps.
