Living in shacks as a 30+ y/o

[NavyHopeful]

So, I have a few points, and I can sympathize having dealt with things of this nature both at the barracks and the apartment PMQ levels.

1. Reporting or pointing out that people are being little shits in shacks isn't "snitching" or "ratting" them out, unless you provide names. If you want to keep their names out your mouth, be prepared for everyone to embrace the punishment from a few little dickheads' antics.

2. See something, say something. Communal living is, unfortunately, a fact of life for many within the CAF (and in general). We ALL have to abide the rules, or suffer the consequences. We are all (supposedly) adults, and are expected to accept the consequences of our actions. Which leads me to...

3. You are in your 30s. They are not. Be a leader and step up. If your PAT platoon won't have the leadership to teach these children how they should act, YOU be their role model. They will either follow your example, or they will show everyone that they really are the shitheads you say they are.

4. If you think the "phantom shitter" is fun to deal with in shacks, be thankful you didn't go Navy and have to do cleaning stations after one. IYKYK...

5. There are other people you can reach out to in order to help. This may sound a bit unconventional, but reach out to your unit padre. They may not be able to actually DO anything directly, but every CO I have ever had will lean on the padre to gauge how the unit's morale is fairing out. And these kind of issues are enough to pique the CO's interest enough that your SM (Cox'n for the Navy folk) will start kicking rocks over and find out who's been passing the buck.

I apologize if this sounds like a "figure it out" speech, but realistically, there have been a number of great suggestions already posted. What it seems like, to me anyways, is that you are concerned the answer will already be no before you even make the request. If you don't ask, the answer will ALWAYS be no, so start staffing memos up that chain. Even if by pure volume of requests gets you a few minutes in front of a supervisor to air your concerns, it's better than sitting on your hands. And if they tell you to get stuffed, and you have the regs on your side, keep pushing upwards.

My main point is, in order to get the change you want, you have to actually try to do something about it. If one of my subordinates came to me with a problem, well then yeah, that's a problem. But if they came to me with a problem and three possible solutions, well I would be more inclined to sit down and see which solution would best fit their situation.

Good luck with it, and let us know how it goes.

 

[childs56]

Buy a wicked ghetto blaster and play Johnny Cash and or Stompin' Tom every morning extremely loud to wake everyone up.
Play it especially on the weekends, evenings etc. Even turn it on and leave the shacks. Lol that one will get a interesting response. Make sure its on loop play. Hopefully your room mate/s will understand.
Sometimes one has to think outside of the box when dealing with these things. If you cant beat them then join them. But be better at their game.

As for a person snoring, find a head set that ties into your phone for alarm clock. Get use to things like that.
Those shacks in Borden are something else. Hopefully you can figure out something quickly and get things patched up.

 

[Ignatius]

Believe me, coming from a Lifer here and 33 years Military and still serving. As a former CFSCE B39 member, THAT IS NOT NORMAL! There is obviously a leadership problem there too IMO. I mean, yes, we partied hard on the weekends, but we did not do that shit they are doing. We partied for fun and not shitting on stuff and things of that nature. No it is not normal and not part of the "experience". Whoever said that need their head examined. Part of this problem is the mindset and generation of kids. Long story short, when I was 22/23 going through CFSCE and B39, we had roommates who were for the most part mature and professional. Yes we had the scattered weirdo snorer and some guy who was up on all playing video games, but overall a great experience because our generation in the early 90's didn't have that attitude and crap that these current immature assholes got on the go now. I was by no means a fan of 4 to a room, but once I got posted to my first posting I was still living in barracks at the time, but I had my OWN ROOM and my Trade job was like a normal job you go to each day. Hopefully you will get posted to a place that has no barracks or you will have your own room. Ok, now let's look at your shitty situation from another standpoint.....that behaviour you are being subject is literally Mental toture and it can cause Stress, Sleep deprivation and other mental health issues all service-related and it can and is grounds for a VAC Claim down the road or now if you want....so keep that in mind and you might enjoy a cool $150,000 lol. Long story short-Mental abuse and mental torture by a bunch of immature loser assholes who have no respect. It's that generation man, believe me.

 

[CountDC]

No wonder retention is low because who in their right mind would live like this, the only thing I can see if that these kids come right from their parents place and this is their "College Experience", I've gone to a MO actually and he told me "not being able to sleep around others is grounds to be released from the CAF"

hmmm. Maybe under the "not suitable for military service" release.

No wonder retention is low because who in their right mind would live like this, the only thing I can see if that these kids come right from their parents place and this is their "College Experience", I've gone to a MO actually and he told me "not being able to sleep around others is grounds to be released from the CAF

Makes sense I guess if you put it that way because it's no way to live. And If living in a building that's falling apart and riddled with asbestos is luxury then I must of been lied to my whole life lol

In my time asbestos was a luxury. It was insulation to help keep you warm in the winter, was fire resistant and reduced noise. Anything prior to 1990 has a high risk of having it if a clean up wasn't done. It was only something like 10 years ago that the government actually moved to ban it. If you are buying an old house you might want to include a check for it in your inspection. Although sellers are supposed to reveal this you are trusting them to be honest plus it may not have been revealed to them.

 

[CountDC]

Buy a wicked ghetto blaster and play Johnny Cash and or Stompin' Tom every morning extremely loud to wake everyone up.

I like that but..... we had a member that set his alarm clock to go off everyday before the rest of us were ready to wake up. We dealt with it for the weekdays as everyone has their own schedule and you learn to deal with it. The problem was when the weekend came, he screwed off and the clock was still sounding. First weekend he was asked to be courteous and turn it off for the weekends. second weekend he was told to turn it off or else. third weekend he returned to a smashed up alarm clock laying on his bed.

so keep that in mind and you might enjoy a cool $150,000 lol. Long story short-Mental abuse and mental torture by a bunch of immature loser assholes who have no respect. It's that generation man, believe me.

$150,000? How do I get that? Haven't received anything near there for my claims.

Thinking anyone that joined prior to the 90's experienced the mental abuse and torture by immature loser assholes, we called them instructors and supervisors.

 

[NavalMoose]

Um, why didn't anyone tell me this before? How do I get rid of them?

No hazmat barrels under the hut? They are providing luxury these days. Probably have hot showers too.

Think of it this way and it may help. All the crap is motivation to ensure you pass your training so you can get out of that system and into actually working in your trade.

You have my sympathy although my case wasn't as bad. I was 23 with a bunch of teens from high school that was still use to mommy taking care of them. Kids on their own for the first time are a pain.

then again there is always soap in a pillow case....... only kidding!! Maybe...kinda....is that a plane I see?

I guess I was lucky then. I VOT'd from Navy to ATIS in 2003 and was thrown in with a mix of VOTs and new youngsters but we each had a single room in the block near the JR's Club and were allowed to eat at SR's mess. Went to St Lawrence College for my course and didn't really have much dealings with staff at CFSCE but even in the small interactions with the staff, I would say they were pricks but having been in for 20 years already, they couldn't get my goat...lol

 

[Aatrox666]

OP, I feel you. Hope you find a solution asap.

I started my process to join the reserve, and let's say that after reading this thread, I don't wanna join anymore.
If BMQ wasn't given part time on week end, I wouldn't have thought about joining.
Having to do DP1 is new to me.
I can handle anything in BMQ, physical and mental, but living with high schoolers for 4 months for DP1 at CFB Borden, forget it. I would go nuts.
I would enlist if living out of base is allowed. My will to serve is greater than anything but living with irresponsible people.

 

[Furniture]

OP, I feel you. Hope you find a solution asap.

I started my process to join the reserve, and let's say that after reading this thread, I don't wanna join anymore.
If BMQ wasn't given part time on week end, I wouldn't have thought about joining.
Having to do DP1 is new to me.
I can handle anything in BMQ, physical and mental, but living with high schoolers for 4 months for DP1 at CFB Borden, forget it. I would go nuts.
I would enlist if living out of base is allowed. My will to serve is greater than anything but living with irresponsible people.

The alternative way to view it is this; You have the opportunity to be a leader and encourage the youth of today, who will one day be leaders, to be better.

Take all horror stories like the OPs with a grain or two of salt. People with complaints are loud. People who are satisfied tend to be far quieter. If the average BMQ/DP1 experience was as described by the OP, nobody would join or stay.

 

[Aatrox666]

The alternative way to view it is this; You have the opportunity to be a leader and encourage the youth of today, who will one day be leaders, to be better.

Take all horror stories like the OPs with a gran or two of salt. People with complaints are loud. People who are satisfied tend to be far quieter. If the average BMQ/DP1 experience was as described by the OP, nobody would join or stay.

Thanks for the motivation and the positivity.

Am gonna pass. I will speak with the recruiter to see if I would be allowed to live out of base at Borden.
I've heard that some people work in the reserve without doing DP1, so I will get more info on that as well.

 

[PuckChaser]

Thanks for the motivation and the positivity.

Am gonna pass. I will speak with the recruiter to see if I would be allowed to live out of base at Borden.
I've heard that some people work in the reserve without doing DP1, so I will get more info on that as well.

Don't bother, with this attitude I don't think you're a good fit for the CAF. You don't always get to choose your teammates and these last few posts give me the impression you believe you're better than them. If one person complaining on the internet about a situation you will likely never encounter makes you second guess your choice to join, I'd hate to see what happens the first time you're on BMQ in a stressful situation you can't control.

Best of luck in your civilian career path.

 

[Aatrox666]

Don't bother, with this attitude I don't think you're a good fit for the CAF. You don't always get to choose your teammates and these last few posts give me the impression you believe you're better than them. If one person complaining on the internet about a situation you will likely never encounter makes you second guess your choice to join, I'd hate to see what happens the first time you're on BMQ in a stressful situation you can't control.

Best of luck in your civilian career path.

I do agree with you, if I was applying for the regular forces.
For the reserve, I believe I would be fine. I can work with people very well, it's just the living space aspect that I have no tolerance with.
For BMQ since it's only on week ends, I will be patient, no problem.
In regards of the comment of me thinking being better than teammates, BMQ is supposed to fix that.

 

[PuckChaser]

At least you're self aware, but if your plan is to live off base during a full time DP1 or just never attain your basic trade qualifications because you can't tolerate a group living situation, then don't bother joining.

 

[Aatrox666]

At least you're self aware, but if your plan is to live off base during a full time DP1 or just never attain your basic trade qualifications because you can't tolerate a group living situation, then don't bother joining.

Could you please elaborate ?

Because from what I was told at my local reserve, i am required to attend one evening per week, and one field training per month.
In what situation do you think my intolerance of group living would be an issue to me or others ?

I see you're a WO, so whatever you say I will quote you on it.

 

[RangerRay]

If you’re lucky, you’ll get to do BMQ at your home unit and go home every night. Me, I did a 12 week combined QL2/3 over the summer in lovely Wainwright with 30 other guys in shacks. And that was one large room with rows of metal bunks. Personally, I think it was a better “true” army experience than a weekend course.

Even if you get a weekend BMQ course, if you want to advance in your trade and/or to leadership positions, you will need to take courses away from home living in shacks.

The OP’s situation is different in that, if I understand correctly, he is Reg Force and in shacks with other randos such as transients, PAT platoon, TD, etc., along with some course mates. I could be wrong on the exact circumstances.

Difference is, if you’re on a reserve course and in shacks, and in the same shacks as your course mates, then everyone will be too busy studying, preparing and cleaning just like you. And you’ll be helping each other out.

But if you can’t hack any kind of communal living, you may need to reevaluate your career choices.

 

[Aatrox666]

If you’re lucky, you’ll get to do BMQ at your home unit and go home every night. Me, I did a 12 week combined QL2/3 over the summer in lovely Wainwright with 30 other guys in shacks. And that was one large room with rows of metal bunks. Personally, I think it was a better “true” army experience than a weekend course.

Even if you get a weekend BMQ course, if you want to advance in your trade and/or to leadership positions, you will need to take courses away from home living in shacks.

The OP’s situation is different in that, if I understand correctly, he is Reg Force and in shacks with other randos such as transients, PAT platoon, TD, etc., along with some course mates. I could be wrong on the exact circumstances.

Difference is, if you’re on a reserve course and in shacks, and in the same shacks as your course mates, then everyone will be too busy studying, preparing and cleaning just like you. And you’ll be helping each other out.

But if you can’t hack any kind of communal living, you may need to reevaluate your career choices.

This is reassuring, thank you. It's great to know that the OPs situation is unique.

Am just like everybody, I want to live in a clean environment and sleep well at night. Let's be 30 in the room, but let's agree to keep the place clean and limit noise at 11pm. I don't mind.

 

[PuckChaser]

Could you please elaborate ?

Because from what I was told at my local reserve, i am required to attend one evening per week, and one field training per month.
In what situation do you think my intolerance of group living would be an issue to me or others ?

I see you're a WO, so whatever you say I will quote you on it.

If you want to quote a random person on the internet, go ahead. I do have 22 years experience including working as course staff on numerous occasions so please take this as some guidance on how to integrate into a team environment.

Firstly, your needs are not above that of the team. If day 1 you start setting up rules for everyone else to follow, you will rapidly lose the team from listening to you at all. In fact, some folks may deliberately break your rules to prove a point. On a course, the course staff will set the rules for silent hours and typically a barracks has silent hours on the weekends as well. Duty NCOs will police the area at least once after the silent hours but they get to sleep too so don't expect them there 24/7 unless of course they are living downstairs. As stated, the OP is living in a different situation where its not a course barrack but just random people and some act like kids/parents in a hotel on a hockey trip. Its also probably the absolute worst case scenario of barracks life and really is an exception not the norm. If people are being douchebags, you need to toe the line between being a narc and also being a collaborative neighbour. Calling the duty NCO because someone slammed a door at 2315 on night 1 is not a way to do that.

Secondly, our barracks suck. They are living accommodations from the 1950s are have not been kept up to modern standards unless you get a more modern building constructed in the 1990s or early 2000s. You will be 2 or 4 or even more to a room and you need to figure that out. Some people are dirtbags, some people are clean freaks and most people fall in the middle somewhere. If you're joining the Army its likely the best accommodations you'll get, and ask some of the RCN folks about shipboard sleeping arraignments and personal space. Even the RCAF in expeditionary mode will have group living arraignments of some type despite their popular myth about hotels everywhere. Personally I love sleeping in and if someone time-creeps an alarm clock 30 minutes before we actually have to be awake I have threatened to brain them with said alarm clock. We came to an agreement on a room alarm clock timing.

If group accommodations or living arraignments is a non-starter for you, do not bother going through the recruiting process. Yes it's a challenge, no its not impossible or even the worst thing you'll encounter.

Thanks for coming to my TED talk.

 

[Aatrox666]

If you want to quote a random person on the internet, go ahead. I do have 22 years experience including working as course staff on numerous occasions so please take this as some guidance on how to integrate into a team environment.

Firstly, your needs are not above that of the team. If day 1 you start setting up rules for everyone else to follow, you will rapidly lose the team from listening to you at all. In fact, some folks may deliberately break your rules to prove a point. On a course, the course staff will set the rules for silent hours and typically a barracks has silent hours on the weekends as well. Duty NCOs will police the area at least once after the silent hours but they get to sleep too so don't expect them there 24/7 unless of course they are living downstairs. As stated, the OP is living in a different situation where its not a course barrack but just random people and some act like kids/parents in a hotel on a hockey trip. Its also probably the absolute worst case scenario of barracks life and really is an exception not the norm. If people are being douchebags, you need to toe the line between being a narc and also being a collaborative neighbour. Calling the duty NCO because someone slammed a door at 2315 on night 1 is not a way to do that.

Secondly, our barracks suck. They are living accommodations from the 1950s are have not been kept up to modern standards unless you get a more modern building constructed in the 1990s or early 2000s. You will be 2 or 4 or even more to a room and you need to figure that out. Some people are dirtbags, some people are clean freaks and most people fall in the middle somewhere. If you're joining the Army its likely the best accommodations you'll get, and ask some of the RCN folks about shipboard sleeping arraignments and personal space. Even the RCAF in expeditionary mode will have group living arraignments of some type despite their popular myth about hotels everywhere. Personally I love sleeping in and if someone time-creeps an alarm clock 30 minutes before we actually have to be awake I have threatened to brain them with said alarm clock. We came to an agreement on a room alarm clock timing.

If group accommodations or living arraignments is a non-starter for you, do not bother going through the recruiting process. Yes it's a challenge, no its not impossible or even the worst thing you'll encounter.

Thanks for coming to my TED talk.

Thank you for taking the time to write this. I will take some time to think about this before I continue my recruiting process.