When living on a Military Base, do you get your own room?

In the US military, generally single junior enlisted (E-1 thru E-4) live in the barracks and can be housed in either single or double occupancy rooms. It depends on the station and what the housing is like. If there is an abundance of people, chances are you'll get a room mate. If not, you'll be by yourself.

The military doesn't issue TVs, laptops, or any other creature comforts. You buy those yourself. They supply you with a room, a bed, a bathtub, a toilet and that's about it. Maybe sheets and a blanket, but do keep in mind that government issued linens are notoriously uncomfortable...they're these thick green/grey wool blankets that are scratchy and not conducive to a good night's sleep. You'll want to buy yourself some nice bedding after you've left basic/AIT.

The rooms will be wired for cable and some places, even internet. Most places offer you the opportunity to sign up with the local provider, which is usually a cable internet access. You will have to pay for the cable and/or internet service yourself. The military doesn't pay for that for you. However, there are times when the Civil Engineer troops get a hold of the key to the cable closet and wire up EVERYONE'S room with free basic cable because they want it themselves and don't want the authorities to know who did it. It only lasts so long before the cable company finds out and disconnects everyone who isn't paying.

If you don't have a TV, you can always go to the Day Room/Common Room where there's usually at least one large screen TV and many times at least 1 or two pool tables, vending machines, cooking/kitchen area, microwave, bathroom, pay phones, etc there for your use and consumption.

Living in the single barracks, there are rules. Such as no lit candles, no cooking appliances in the room, etc to cut down on the possibility of fire which can kill dozens if not hundreds of troops in a single incident. No loud music after such hours, no littering (no littering ANYWHERE on a military base), etc. Every now and then, all the occupants will take shifts doing details cleaning up the barracks. They'll tell you before hand that you and probably a handful of other soldiers who live there (can be more depending on the size of the barracks) will take a day off of work to clean and maintain the building/facility because it gets trashed every now and then.

If you live on base and are single, you will be entitled to eat at the dining/chow halls. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. Note that you are not required to eat there at all. It's there if you want it, though.

You can buy your own food, but it will have to come out of your measly base pay if you are not entitled to BAS (basic allowance for subsistence). BAS is a non-taxable allowance given to those who live off-base (either single or with their families) and was around $250 when I left in '03. This is given to you in addition to your normal base pay (if you live off-base).

Every base has what's called a BX/PX (base exchange/post exchange) where you can buy consumer goods like clothes, DVDs, TVs, computers, etc tax free. It's equivalent to maybe a K-Mart or Wal-Mart (not the SuperCenter with the grocery section). For groceries, there is the Commissary. The goods there are also sold tax free.

If you are off duty, and feel like going off base to eat, you are free to do so. You are not kept at the base like a prisoner (once you are permanent party and assigned to your permanent duty station and not a trainee/recruit anymore). You are allowed to travel up to 50 miles in any direction without having to ask for permission or take authorized leave to go further.

Note that there are many establishments that are off limits to military personnel. These places are black listed by the military for many reasons that may or may not include: drug use, violence, discrimination towards military personnel, illegal activities, etc. The base commander usually sets the conditions for this and people who are found to frequent these places against orders can and will be punished according to the UCMJ. A list of these places are posted visibly everywhere.

Social life is like anywhere else. Except, most everyone wears a uniform to work. You meet new people at the barracks when you first get there and people at your work place. Military folks come from all walks of life and so you'll see an abundance of different people all working together. If you don't want to date someone in the military, most bases have a thriving civilian population around the base. Military bases offer great jobs for civilians, so the civilian population grows steadily along with the base. You'll have access to night clubs, bars, restaurants, movie theaters, etc like anywhere else.

Most post Army barracks are 1+1. Meaning you will have your own room in a suite, and you will have a suite mate who has his own room, but you will share a common area and bathroom. Its better than a college dorm but not by much. If you want a tv or computer you will have to provide it. The only thing the Army gives you is your furniture and maybe a minifridge and microwave. Depending on your mess hall you might have 3 or 4 meals a day. The 4th being midnight chow. When not on duty you can leave the post, go into town and do anything you want, although at overseas posts there might be more restrictions. Most soldiers especially new ones, have a social life outside post. Going partying and clubs and whatnot. On post its usually limited to barracks parties (not a good suggestion) and playing xbox.

Depends on your rank and which branch you're in, and also the location.

I have a roommate and I am still an E-5, which is an NCO. The reason is because it's a hassle to move all my stuff from my room, and my command is allowing me to keep my room with my E-4 roommate since I'll be PCS'ing in a couple months. But, NCOs in my unit have their own room that is like 12 feet by 14 feet. My room is like 15 by 13 or something feet with a shared bathroom.

In my room, we have my 32" TV and we both have laptops that run off the wireless we pay for (I just give him half the cost and it comes out of his check).

My base doesn't have a DFAC, so we get paid BAS which is allowance for buying food. At my last duty station, we had a DFAC and you get three meals a day which is what I prefer.

My room has a fridge and we buy the food for it. We also have a small kitchen on each floor.

Outside our barracks, we have a little BBQ pit and we all hang out on the weekends. Usually you'll roll by our barracks and see like 30 or 40 of us just chillin' and having a good time. We're black, white, Asian, Hispanic just all chilling from different units on base.

the air force dorms i can tell you from experience are more like college style. you usually have a suite mate you share a bathroom and kitchen with. there is a laundry room and common room you can relax in. mine even had a mini gym. if you're on a meal plan, then yes you would be covered for three square meals a day at the chow hall (unless you're a shift worked and the chow halls are closed during your duty hours, you are put on BAS) and then whatever other food you wanted, you'd have to buy it. they do not provide you with a tv or computer. mine did come with a fridge, recliner, desk, entertainment stand for a tv, walk in closet, microwave, stove, sink. social life is what YOU make of it. there's lots of intermural sports. etc. as for going off base, if you do something stupid to lose the privilege, then yeah you wouldn't be able to go off base.

During boot camp, you will be housed in barracks along with your unit. Like the other person said, you get a bed in a bunk. There's not much personal time.

However, once you get passed boot camp (which you have to graduate...it's not a sure thing...if you can't pass the exams, then they won't let you graduate), then your housing will depend on your unit, your assignment, etc.

Standard military base housing for singles (unwed soldiers) usually have you sharing a room with another soldier of the same sex. It would be like 2 guys sharing a dorm room. You each have your own bed, but you probably have a communal bathroom/shower facility down at the end of the hall where folks in the other rooms also use.

Or, if you get stationed in a less built-up base, you may end up in more barracks housing...bunk beds and multiple folks in the room. They boot camp you in barracks, so you'll get used to that kind of sleeping arrangement since barraks are very easy to mobilize and setup when out in the field. When out on operations, you don't have the luxury of private accomodations. You are first and fore-most a military personnel, and it's your job to be mobile and willing to make sacrifices to do your duty.

As far as base life goes... during boot camp you will have some down time, but for the most part you will be baby-sat for most of the time. The first few weeks of boot camp can be a non-stop baby-sitting...they will escort you from place to place, get your gear, take you to classes, have you perform conditioning drills, marching, etc. But as boot camp progresses, the drill seargent will give you down time to use as you see fit. It's usually a good idea to use this time to inspect your gear and clean it, because you never know when you might get stuck with an anal retentive CO that likes to make surprise inspections.

After boot camp, then you will have a duty assignment. Again, this can vary. Sometimes it's like having a regular 9-5 day job...like if you're giving physicals at the MEPS. Other times it can be guard duty working various hours. You will have down time, and you can use it as you see fit.

The commisary will provide as much food as you can eat. You can stop by for snacks if you want. You can go off-base if your assignment allows. There's almost always a "general store" on base that sells stuff you may want, like junk food, computers, etc..it's sort of a military version of Wal-Mart.

Some military personal get laptops and internet and play video games. Others like watching TV. You'll find that after boot camp the military can be fairly "normal". But you can get duty assignments that you'll need to be very strict on. It all depends.

As for being black...once you're in the military, race isn't really an issue. Sure, you may find the occasional racist, but that usually gets culled out of them in boot camp. You learn to be a cohesive unit, regardless of race. However, you will find other cliques showing up. For instance...smokers vs. non-smokers. Military is all about ranks and differences, so it's just natural for folks to segregate more in the military than in civ life. But it's almost never having to do with race. It's more about having to do with rank, assignment, whether you drink or don't, smoke or don't, etc.

BEQs range from open bays(30 or 40 cots in a room) to set ups similar to college dorms.. you could have a roommate or two, or your own BR and share a common area or bathrooms. you will be provided a bed, a desk, possibly a TV stand and a dresser. you must provide your own TV laptop, etc. you pay for phone cable and internet inthe room.

the Galley is open for set meass ..usually 4 times per day. when not otherwise on dduty you may go off base to get yoru Subway Fix.

your skin color has exactly ZERO impact on your social life. in fact nobody gives a damn about it in any way shape or form.

Wow, life in the barracks! If u want to drink, there is ALWAYS somebody drinking! Better invest in an xbox and a car to. Being black, I wouldn't know. The military not a bad route! I just got out and make 3k a month just going to school. And they pay for the school to. Some key info though, but it is illegal. U think I'm joking, contract marriage and get an apt with somebody out in town.

You don't get your own room in the barracks. You get a single bed in a room full of twelve to twenty other men.

yes actually like if you join the navy you can apply for navy housing where they let you live in a house if you have a family or an apartment if you have a gf or alone. you don't have to pay for anything other than food i guess.

probly not on basic but you should when you start core training