Exclusive housing program is a powerful tool for Navy leadership

[unhappycamper]

The often industrial environment aboard warships in port is one reason why junior enlisted sailors like having a barracks bed through the Homeport Ashore initiative. USS Blue Ridge sailors also have the chance to live in Jyuban Tower, with private kitchens and balconies.


Exclusive housing program is a powerful tool for Navy leadership
By Allison Batdorff, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Wednesday, February 20, 2008

YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — A refrigerator in her room. A framed photo of her family above the television. Her choice of air freshener.

Simple pleasures, sure. But Petty Officer 3rd Class Ana Escajeda was willing to work for them through her ship’s Homeport Ashore program at Yokosuka Naval Base.

With more junior sailors than beds to put them in, barracks rooms are a privilege, not a right. Yet. Eventually, the HPA initiative aims to get all qualified sailors ranked E-4 and below into barracks rooms to improve their “quality of life.”

The alternative for these junior sailors is to live in a ship’s berthing area in and out of port — with dozens, and in some cases hundreds, of roommates.

“You work on the ship. You eat on the ship. You live on the ship. You sleep on the ship. That can be really stressful,” said Escajeda, who’s assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=52603

[mvccd1000]

1. I lived on a ship for five years as an E4 / E5. There were pros and cons.

Pros:
- I could get up five minutes before quarters in the morning, and still make it to the flight deck on time for muster.
- Free rent, free parking, no commute.
- Could pass out drunk and not worry about oversleeping and being late (although I didn't drink, so that one didn't help me).


Cons:
- If something broke during the night, you can be assured that they would come and get you, even if it wasn't your duty night.
- Disturbed every night by in-port fire drills.
- Disturbed most nights by the people who DID want to come in drunk and pass out. :)


It's probably an improvement for the sailors, but I wasn't overly traumatized by living on a ship.