Dorm disasters: First sergeants tell all

  • Published
  • By Airman Ryan Conroy
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  Rats, ferrets, knives, nun-chucks, garbage and roaches might be something you find on an episode of Hoarders, but these are just a few of the items found by first sergeants during no-notice dormitory inspections.

Airmen living in Air Force dormitories are subject to an inspection once a month to ensure health and safety standards are adhered to, however, it is also the responsibility of commanders and first sergeants to administer no-notice inspections to determine if their Airmen are maintaining government quarters according to standards.

"It is their home," said Senior Master Sgt. Juancarlos Cueto, 31st Security Forces Squadron first sergeant. "We need their support in taking care of their room. No one comes into my home and starts going crazy, so I give Airmen the same respect. But, their room does need to be clean. Be aware that the dorms are subject to inspection 24/7. If we're going to pop into your room, we expect it to be clean."

During these no-notice inspections, first sergeants can recall the most extreme cases of failures, ranging from disgusting and unhealthy to downright outrageous. These stories include animals, weapons, food and illegal paraphernalia.

"When we give notice for inspections, Airmen will do a heck of a job cleaning their room," said Master Sgt. Steven Mountz, 31st Comptroller Squadron first sergeant. "But no-notice inspections give us an opportunity to really see how they live."

"You name it, I've found it," said Cueto. "The purpose of the inspection is not to pry and try and check on how you're living, it's to make sure you're adhering to health and safety standards."

For health and safety reasons, dormitory residents and guests are not allowed to bring any animals onto the dormitory campus. According to dormitory managers at Aviano Air Base, common animals found in dorms are cats, dogs and the occasional bird. But, sometimes Airmen try to push the envelope.

"I once found an Airman trying to keep a pet rat," said Cueto. "At first I didn't see it, but I looked into the fridge and found rat food. The first question that popped into my head was, 'well if there's rat food, where's the rat?' She reluctantly admitted to having the rat but she heard I was doing inspections and kept it in her car. I'm just glad I didn't find it scurrying around."

"I remember one time, I walked into a room and everything looked pretty squared away," said Mountz. "Then, I saw something moving underneath the covers of their bed. I ripped off the covers and found two stinky ferrets staring at me.

"That was the end of the room inspection for me," he added

In addition to animals, no weapons of any type will be stored or displayed in resident rooms, according to the Unaccompanied Housing Resident Handbook issued to all Aviano dormitory residents, "I've found knives, swords and nun-chucks," said Cueto. "A lot of them are display items and Airmen don't see the harm in it. But, according to regulation, we can't have those types of things in the dorms."

While weapons can pose an obvious safety risk, improper food and garbage handling can present a serious health concern for Airmen. Residents are expected to keep food in sealed plastic containers, remove trash and garbage from rooms daily, and discard empty paper bags and boxes as quickly as possible to take preventive action against insects.

"The craziest thing I found as far as cleanliness was not only pizza boxes, but pizza that had been sitting there for days," said Cueto. "Chicken wings with meat still on the bones everywhere, even on the bed and in all the drawers. Things like this have a tendency to attract rodents and roaches"

Roaches are not the only unwelcome guests found living in the dormitories. In accordance with Aviano dormitory regulation, cohabitation is unauthorized and Airmen are not allowed guests in the dorms under the age of 18 and from the hours of 12 to 6 a.m.

"I once did a no notice room inspection in the middle of the night," said Mountz. "I found a female in a male Airman' s room. She was trying to hide in a wall locker when I came in. Usually people go for under the bed.

"You're allowed to do whatever you want with whoever you want in your room, but within the hours specified. We look at it as free room and board whenever you keep someone over for the night, the government doesn't pay for them to stay here."

If dormitory residents are expecting friends and family to visit, arrangements can be made with lodging.

Residents are reminded that room inspections are not in place to invade private life, but to check on Airmen's health and safety.

Each automatic failure during room inspections create safety, health or security threats including a disconnected or covered smoke alarm, evidence of smoking, burned candles or incense, power cords daisy-chained or overloaded, unlocked doors or windows and trash not emptied.

"A lot of young Airmen never learned to clean their own stuff," said Mountz. "They don't have anyone cleaning up after them anymore and they need to learn."

For more information concerning dormitory inspections, refer to the Unaccompanied Housing Resident Handbook, supervisors or squadron first sergeants.