Dorm living 101

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Terri Barriere
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  Much like being in college, the dormitories offer single-unaccompanied airmen ranks E-1 through E-4 the opportunity to live rent-free while enjoying the convenience of being close to work, the dining facility and other base facilities such as the fitness center and bowling alley; however, living in the dorms also comes with its share of responsibilities.

The Barksdale dormitories are home to more than 650 airmen. With so many Team Barksdale members living in one place, the 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron Dorm Management office reminds tenants of the importance of being good neighbors and following the rules.

According to Tech. Sgt. Victoria Monroe, 2 CES unaccompanied housing superintendent, when airmen in-process the dorms, they are given the rules and regulations for which they are expected to adhere to during their stay.

"Following rules and regulations is part of being in the Air Force," said Monroe. "We don't make rules just for the sake of making them; they are put in place to protect the airmen, their belongings and the facilities."

According to Monroe, the largest infractions are airmen smoking and burning candles inside the rooms and leaving cigarette butts on the grounds -- all things that could potentially be fire hazards. Per the code of conduct, smoking is only authorized in designated areas outside the dorms, and butts must be placed in the ashtrays provided. Additionally, candles and incense are also prohibited.

Monroe said to mitigate those and other reckless behavior, airmen will now be expected to pay for any damages caused to their rooms due to misconduct on their part.

Another area of concern is unauthorized guests. Guests are allowed in dorm areas only when accompanied by the tenant, and guests are not authorized to stay overnight -- a rule Monroe said is for the protection of the guests as well as the other residents.

"The rules are in place to try to protect our airmen and provide a safe environmental," she said.

Dorm inspections and morale visits should be performed by supervisors and commanders, though dorm leaders are authorized to enter rooms when necessary to perform maintenance and dorm checks when warranted.

"Supervisors' and commanders' involvement in the dorms is crucial to good order and morale," said Staff Sgt. Kimberly Cooper, dorm manger. "Supervisors should definitely check on their airmen to make sure they are keeping their living areas clean and maintaining a good quality of life."

Cooper said periodic visits to the dorms would also give an airman's leadership a chance to intervene before possible problems escalate.

The dorm managers advise checking on airmen's rooms even if they are deployed or on temporary duty. This way, problems aren't left to fester while the airman is away, and maintenance issues can be reported sooner than later. Airmen are also required to contact the dorm office to report their deployment.

Though many view staying in the dorms as merely a mandatory part of being a young airman, Monroe believes it's actually a good stepping stone to help them transition to being on their own.

"I think living in the dorms teaches airmen how to live with others, be respectful and courteous of their neighbors and teach them the responsibilities of being on their own," she said. "It also gives them a chance to slowly integrate into the military, learn financial responsibility mature. Some of these 18 year old airmen come into the military having never been on their own before. Living in the dorms provides them the opportunity to get that experience without having to be totally independent."

Many airmen are anxious to live off base as soon as they arrive on station, but Monroe said living in the dorms first also allows a built-in trial period for supervisors to monitor them and ensure they are responsible enough before sending them off base to live.

Airmen with questions regarding dormitory rules and regulations or needing to report a maintenance issue should contact the dorm management staff at their office located in Bldg. 4261, via e-mail at 2CESDormManagement@barksdale.af.mil, by phone at 456-2779/3071 or Facebook.