Congressional leaders are demanding answers about housing and other living conditions of junior sailors and Marines.
The top enlisted leaders for each of the services are expected to testify Monday, before the House Armed Services Committee Quality of Life subcommittee.
Hampton Roads has been ground zero for many of the Navy’s concerns, with conditions at the shipyards prompting the Navy to pledge in May to improve the lives of junior sailors. Their suggestions at the time included things like allowing sailors to move off ships during construction.
Shannon Gonzales is a military spouse in Virginia Beach. When their family moved here last year, they were told some families wait up to two years for military housing.
“I feel the shortage of military housing is an even bigger deal here than it is in other parts of the country,” she said.
Her husband, Eric Gonzales, is a staff sergeant at the Naval School of Music on Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek–Fort Story. Eric sees young Marines struggling with poor quality food at dining facilities.
“The galley here, the chow hall, the food for lower enlisted,” he said. “Probably some of the worst service I've experienced in the Marine Corps.”
Enlisted leaders are expected to address the living conditions throughout the services at the Congressional hearing. Many of the solutions require more money for new facilities.
Part of the problem could be solved by making advocating for young troops a higher priority, Eric Gonzales said. Younger sailors and Marines are often afraid to speak up when dealing with landlords, for example.
“When it comes down to you having a crappy housing situation, I can go advocate for you to these folks. That never happens, right?” he said.
Complaints about mold in the barracks, aging dining facilities and inadequate childcare are common throughout the services. The General Accounting Office issued a report in 2023 that again called for greater accountability over privatized military housing.
The week before the top enlisted leaders testify before Congress, the services have been touting their efforts to make life more livable for younger troops.
The Sgt. Major of the Marine Corps Carlos Ruiz announced during a podcast that he is pledging to get 17,000 Marines out of sub-standard barracks this year.
The Navy announced they will begin offering high-speed WIFI at 12 unaccompanied housing facilities in Hampton Roads starting Feb.1.
The upcoming testimony comes just weeks after more money was included in the latest defense bill to improve access to childcare in the region.
Fifty-seven million dollars was earmarked to expand childcare facilities at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story to serve another 300 children and funding was added for a Child Development Center at Naval Station Norfolk.
