The Marines rolled out a plan to inspect all of the barracks throughout the Corps to determine the living conditions for junior Marines.
The inspections are part of a Marine Corps initiative called Barracks 2030. The plan, which has been released in a series of social media posts over the last several days, would use existing funds to improve facilities.
Older barracks will be shuttered, including at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.
Roughly 3,000 Marines are assigned to facilities in Hampton Roads. Some live in Navy housing but the Marines operate their own facilities inside Dam Neck Naval Base and at other installations in the region.
“None of this will happen overnight but this inspection is an important first step,” said Gen. Christopher J. Mahoney, assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, in a video statement.
The Marines plan to inspect every barracks and squad bay by March 15, according to the Marines.
Sgt. Major of the Marine Corps Carlos Ruiz outlined some of the details in a video released online in January, where he toured a newer barracks at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown Virginia, which have more privacy and modern amenities like a 24-hour fitness center.
“So you want to knock down the older buildings in order to take the funding that's going into upkeep of those older buildings (and put the money) into buildings like this, and hopefully even building brand new construction,” Ruiz said.
The Marines also intend to ask Congress for more money to build new facilities.
A General Accounting Office study released in September said at least 17,000 junior Marines live in substandard barracks through the force. Unaccompanied housing, like barracks, are typically reserved for the youngest, unmarried sailors and Marines.
The GAO found none of the services could reliably determine the overall living conditions of their housing for junior enlisted personnel.
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy James Honea told Congress last week that the Navy has no housing for roughly 800 junior sailors per aircraft carrier. Junior sailors are often forced to continue living on their ships, even after returning home from deployment.
The Marines barracks are at roughly 55% capacity, giving the service flexibility to shut down older buildings and move the remaining Marines to newer quarters, according to a Marine spokesman.
The Marines are expected to move thousands of young Marines to better maintained facilities in coming months.
