Jim Scanlon (deceased)
Senior Staff 
FORUM CHAPLAIN
Commander South Texas outpost of the County Sligo Squadron
Currently: Offline
Posts: 5,075 
Location:
Joined: July 2007
Retired: USAF
NBA: Spurs
NFL: Niners
MLB: Giants
NHL: Penguins
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Nov 1, 2013 0:54:04 GMT 9
This story was in the AFA on-line Journal, this morning.
Take a look at the ammenities this new "dorm" has.
Whatever happened to living in Barracks, not college dorms?
Jim Too
Minot Opens Fourth New Dormitory
Officials at Minot AFB, N.D., opened the base's fourth new dormitory with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, according to a base release. Dorm 214, which will be living quarters for 168 airmen, "serves as a reminder of our dedication to caring for our airmen and ensuring an improved quality of life at Minot," said Lt. Col. Douglas Gilpin, 5th Civil Engineer Squadron commander, in the Oct. 28 release. The dorm opened its doors on Oct. 23. The $21 million dorm features 42 four-person unit modules, each containing private bathrooms and baths, along with a shared living room, kitchen, washer, dryer, full-size refrigerator, cook top, and microwave, according to the release. In contrast, the previous dorms provided limited shared space and only one kitchen and laundry facility for an entire building, states the release. Minot plans to renovate six dormitories by the end of 2020, states the release. (Minot report by SrA. Jose L. Hernandez)
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Post by Jim on Nov 1, 2013 5:56:29 GMT 9
This story was in the AFA on-line Journal, this morning.
Take a look at the ammenities this new "dorm" has.
Whatever happened to living in Barracks, not college dorms?
Jim Too
Minot Opens Fourth New Dormitory
Officials at Minot AFB, N.D., opened the base's fourth new dormitory with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, according to a base release. Dorm 214, which will be living quarters for 168 airmen, "serves as a reminder of our dedication to caring for our airmen and ensuring an improved quality of life at Minot," said Lt. Col. Douglas Gilpin, 5th Civil Engineer Squadron commander, in the Oct. 28 release. The dorm opened its doors on Oct. 23. The $21 million dorm features 42 four-person unit modules, each containing private bathrooms and baths, along with a shared living room, kitchen, washer, dryer, full-size refrigerator, cook top, and microwave, according to the release. In contrast, the previous dorms provided limited shared space and only one kitchen and laundry facility for an entire building, states the release. Minot plans to renovate six dormitories by the end of 2020, states the release. (Minot report by SrA. Jose L. Hernandez)
Thus eliminating the lessons that we old farts who are stuck in our ways and can't stand change, were taught in the 50s and saw begin to slowly disappear as the AF and to a certain the military began to be treated as nothing much more that an 8 to 5 or 8 hours a day job and comp time off for overtime....... Gone are the BARRACKS : Barracks chief, GI parties, junk on the bunk inspections, white collar beds (whoops bunks- double deck where necessary), latrine duty, CQ duties, metal wall lockers, foot lockers with rolled underwear and socks and personal items in order, 1st Sgt inspections- hell the last squadron I was in, the first shirt had never been in the "barracks" or the dormitories until I told him that I out ranked him and he would accompany me to the barracks to see the pig sty that he was allowing to exist.... The attitude that allowed this to exist was reflected in the attitude of the young airmen who worked for me and I had had enough. WHAT was lost? respect for others, self discipline, team work and pride in self and unit... an Old stick in the MUD Sgt......... |
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Post by adart on Nov 2, 2013 8:12:06 GMT 9
Mine was a 2 person room about the size of a small closet. 
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
Senior Staff
FORUM CHAPLAIN
Commander South Texas outpost of the County Sligo Squadron
Currently: Offline
Posts: 5,075
Location:
Joined: July 2007
Retired: USAF
NBA: Spurs
NFL: Niners
MLB: Giants
NHL: Penguins
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Nov 3, 2013 0:04:15 GMT 9
When I was at The SCAB, 1952 to 1959, I was only in the Open Bay Barracks for a fe months.
Our squadron was moved in the quarters that had been cleaned up, after years of being used by farmers to store corn and other things.
After WW2 nearly all of the Open Bay Barracks on base had been comverted in to apartments, for use of returning GIs attending colleges in Sioux City.
There were eight apartments in each building, four on each end, with an interior stairway going to the second floor on each end, which was between two apartments.
Each apartment had one large room, like a living room, a small kitchen and a private bath, with a shower, toilet and sink.
There were two smaller rooms, one larger than the other, for bedrooms.
The apartments when refurbished and the AF took them back, were capable of being used by five men.
In most cases there were seldom more than 3 in an apartment, so we all had private rooms.
The "living room", although not private, had the most space, and could be made in to a very nice place to live.
The two Open Bay Barracks on base were converted in to space for the base medical clinic.
There were also some of the same type buildings used for Family Housing.
The top floor had two apartments and the lower floor had four.
That way troops with larger families had the use of two apartments.
For that the batroom and kitchen in each one was removed and a larger single kitchen and a larger bathroom, including a tub/shower were installed.
So, even though our place of residence was still called a Barracks, we had a great deal of privacy.
We also had GI Parties and inspections.
There were no locks on the doors to keep people out, just on the inside of the bathroom door and that was it.
However, the First Shirt or his representative, would always knock before opening a door to a room.
Pretty nice way for a young airman to live in the early 1950s.
Jim Too
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Post by LBer1568 on Nov 3, 2013 3:50:22 GMT 9
Several years ago I was returning from a TDY overseas and stopped at McGuire for a layover before flying out of Philly the next day. When I checked into BAQ, they said they had VIP/Chiefs Quarters in Dorm near flight line. It turned out that it was our old 539th FIS Dorm. I actually had a suite in remodeled dorm on first floor. They had converted the old 3 man rooms with a sink into three room suites with private bath, bedroom and living room. My suite had been part of my old room, shared with two other MA-1 troops. But it also included two other rooms. So I had to myself a suite that used to house 9 airmen, and had a common latrine down the hall. At Lowry we had open bay dorms with common latrine on each floor. But the dorms also had about 4 or 5 private rooms for career status students. We had a couple AIC (E-4) and SSgts living in them. They were exempt from Inspections and work call. My only other dorm stay was at Chanute as a student, then as an Instructor. I was single when I first went to Chanute. My dorm as a SSgt Student was in old dorm next to the cornfields...Not the new modern 1,000 man dorms for fresh troops. It was January 3 1971 when I checked in and they issued 4 blankets. The wind coming off corn field blew the drapes away from the windows. I had a room mate, another SSgt. We did have a shared bath with the room next, also shared by two SSgts. After I was selected for Instructor, I was allowed to move into Permanent Dorm next to NCO Club. It was private room with a shared bath. It was small, but adequate. I never understood why they provided new recruits with modernized fancy dorms and put the mid-tier NCO's in dumps. At every base I was assigned I visited the dorms, usually as the NCO of day Or CQ. Those dorms were much better than anything I ever had. Ah the sweet memories of yesterdays. Lorin
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John Slover
F-106 Qualified
Currently: Offline
Posts: 16
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Joined: June 2008
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Post by John Slover on Nov 19, 2013 23:59:36 GMT 9
I miss the old barracks we had at the 5th in Minot. I was in room on North side second floor and seem,s to me the windows would freeze shut from Nov to Mar before you could open them again :-). Had to bleed radiator at least twice a week to get any heat. Still, it was GOOD times there.
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