Weeks after troops had to be moved at America’s biggest base, barracks infestations have come to light at another major garrison
Even as the US Army juggles growing security risks around the world, it’s reportedly struggling to eradicate a persistent foe that could jeopardize the health of troops at some of America’s largest military bases: mold.
Weeks after mold infestations in more than a dozen barracks forced the Army to relocate about 1,100 soldiers at its biggest base, North Carolina’s Fort Bragg, a viral TikTok video has exposed similar issues at Fort Stewart in Georgia. The website Military.comA pattern of mold damage was reported Friday “across the Army,” and there’s no easy solution. The outlet stated that Fort Stewart was the best. “Army officials have no plans other than wait a decade for new facilities.”
Steve Beynon of Military.com interviewed 20 soldiers and found that one enlisted member returned home from Europe after serving a lengthy deployment. “mold had completely consumed his room.” The walls were covered with mold, the bed had turned black and green, and most of the soldier’s belongings were destroyed.
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An earlier clip that was uploaded to a TikTok account. ‘US Army WTF! Moments’ showed someone opening two closet doors to reveal walls that were apparently covered with black mold. Captioned video ‘Fort Stewart barracks’.
One commenter claimed that there was a “six-inch mold carpet” on the ceiling when he was stationed at Fort Stewart years ago. Some others claimed they’d experienced the same or worse infestations at US bases such as Camp Pendleton, California and Fort Gordon in Georgia. “But our government is sending money, lots of it, to Ukraine when our military can’t get a safe place to sleep,” another observer said.
Fort Stewart’s leaders and Hunter Army Airfield are blaming mold problems on their outdated HVAC systems, high humidity and poor ventilation. In response to recent infestations, they ordered more room inspectionsThe troops, their enlisted commanders and the soldiers will carry out cleanup and clean-up work. By the end 2033, all affected barracks should be restored.
“We’ve got to be held accountable,” Sergeant Major Quentin Fenderson, the senior enlisted leader for the 3rd Infantry Division, told Fort Stewart’s top noncommissioned officers. “We’re going to identify what we need to do, we’re going to fix it, and we’re going to move forward. I’m going to walk through your barracks. I need you to do your jobs; I’m going to do mine.”
Fort Stewart provided the majority of the 7,00 troops President Joe Biden sent to Germany in early this year’s response to Russia-Ukraine.
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