More than 1,200 Fort Bragg soldiers to be relocated because of barrack conditions
FORT BRAGG — More than 1,200 Fort Bragg soldiers will be relocated from barracks because of inadequate air conditioning systems, according to a statement from post officials.
The decision comes after Army and installation leaders inspected the living quarters near the Smoke Bomb Hill area of Fort Bragg, the news release stated.
Military.com first reported that Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Grinston was part of the inspection “that did not go well” last week and that Grinston “scolded local leadership” for the condition of the barracks that have been riddled with mold issues, and one room had a hole in the wall with exposed pipes.
According to the Fort Bragg release, a preliminary assessment found that 10 to 12 of the barracks, which were built in the 1970s, “do not meet today's HVAC standards.”
Fort Bragg officials said relocating the soldiers will be a deliberate, phased approach.
“Army leaders have committed substantial resources to address the barracks issues to ensure our soldiers are taken care of throughout the process,” the release stated. “Our enduring obligation at Fort Bragg and as Army leaders is to take care of our people — our soldiers and their families. Their health and welfare is of the utmost importance to our Army readiness.”
The latest move is not the first time concerns have been raised about barracks or that soldiers have been moved.
In December, U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina wrote a letter to Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth after a Fort Bragg soldier contacted his office about mold in the barracks.
Fort Bragg barracks: Sen. Thom Tillis urges top Army officials to address Fort Bragg barrack conditions
“It has come to my attention that many unaccompanied housing installations at Fort Bragg, North Carolina are experiencing issues due to mold and outdated infrastructure,” Tillis wrote.
Unaccompanied housing structures are living quarters, usually called barracks, for single soldiers.
In Tillis’ letter to Wormuth, he wrote that the recent photos are not the first instance of barrack concerns.
In October 2020, about 200 soldiers under the 1st Special Forces Command's 528th Special Operations Sustainment Brigade were temporarily moved after faulty heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems caused moisture and mold in two barracks buildings.
Mold in barracks: More than 200 Fort Bragg soldiers moved after mold found in barracks
In a previous statement to The Fayetteville Observer, Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue, who was commander of the 82nd Airborne Division at the time, said that mold was found in two barracks buildings in early January 2021, but the mold was immediately addressed.
“We take these types of issues very seriously and we’re constantly inspecting our paratroopers’ barracks to ensure they are maintained to the high standards they deserve, just as we did after 1st Brigade’s historic deployment to Afghanistan in August,” Donahue previously said. “Taking care of our paratroopers is a paramount concern of every leader in this division that we focus on daily.”
Former Fort Bragg garrison commander Col. Scott Pence said that mold reported to Directorate of Public Works officials is remediated within five days.
Fort Bragg: Officials say no health issues reported after mold found in barracks
In Tillis’ letter to Wormuth, he said that as a member of the Senate Armed Service Committee, he will work to ensure the Army is effective in receiving funding to modernize and replace substandard barracks by 2030.
During a virtual town hall meeting in October 2020, Grinston announced that the Army was investing $9.5 billion to upgrade barracks through fiscal year 2030.
Pence said 24 of Fort Bragg’s oldest barracks were either undergoing renovations or scheduled for renovations this year.
Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Why Fort Bragg officials are moving 1,200 soldiers from barracks
