Question about Camp Acommodations

[Sylwester]

Hi,
I am Polish soldier and need to ask:
if there are some regulations on restrictions concerning the accommodation of for instance privates and sergeants in one tent
is this possible?
We are preparing the camp for US soldiers, that's why i am asking

 

[frank1515]

You could always ask the Americans! Sylwester, this is a Canadian site. We have a few members that have served with the US, but might I suggest going through official channels vice a public forum?

 

[JackD]

Hi. I directed Sylwester to this site as it is a chance to get the Canadian prospective. The question is yes, left field, but legitimate as the cultural norms between Poland and North America differ (Having lived in Poland for 14 years... I know this... too... well). Basically, he is asking for the North American perspective on behaviour and notions of familiarity between  senior and junior ranks. From my viewpoint, I am hoping more Polish servicemen/women do so. As this is Sylwester's second language, there is some inevitable miscommunication, so please bear with his requests for information and insight. If there are legitimate or perceived opsec infringements, please inform him of these or deal with the issue via private message, Txs.

 

[medicineman]

Frank - You'll also notice that the subforum is "US MIlitary", so I'd cut him a little slack.

MM

 

[frank1515]

I wasn't trying to be a douchebag, au contraire! Simply directing him to the proper channels. If he is indeed preparing a camp for US soldiers and he wants to know what is proper and what is not, this is not the place to ask for a definitive answer. If he wants the opinion of the people on the forum, then by all means! I was simply trying to help the guy!

 

[CountDC]

Been a few years since I was in the field and I am Canadian but at that time the answer was Sgts and Privates usually had seperate tents.

We use to set up as

RSM

MWO's

Sgts/WO's

Ptes/Cpls/MCpls

Officers were a similar breakdown

CO

Snr Officers

Jnr Officers

Don't know of any regulation stating it has to be done but that is what we usually did when setting up a camp.

 

[Blackadder1916]

A suggestion would be to provide tented accommodation along unit lines not by rank.  Depending on the size/type of the American unit you are hosting and the size/type of the tents used, break it out by squad/platoon.  It may be appropriate to provided separate tents for the officers (altogether, not individually) and the "Senior" NCOs, but in the US Army not all "sergeants" are Staff NCOs.  While the US military are not fanatics about keeping one's place in the social hierarchy they do (in my rather dated opinion and experience with them) accept that there is benefit in maintaining certain distances.  However, you can rarely go wrong with the Americans when you keep their organizational structures intact.

If, however, there is to be significant integration with Polish units/soldiers and they are to be accommodated together then it makes sense for individuals of similar rank and position (more importantly position) to be billeted together.

edited to add

The last time I spend time under canvas with a US Army unit (it was a long time ago) my assigned tentmate (actually we each provided a shelter half) was a private specialist, I was a Captain.  It wasn't out of the ordinary.

 

[Sylwester]

Thank You all for help

 

[a_majoor]

While not about bivouacs, this is interesting i terms of US garrison living:

http://strategypage.com/htmw/htmoral/articles/20111123.aspx

It Worked For The Romans

November 23, 2011: The U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army are having trouble getting troops to eat the free food available to them at their bases. As a result there are increasingly desperate efforts to improve the military supplied chow. But the air force found that more than half the troops living in barracks were not eating at the air force run dining facilities. Things were not much better in the army. In the navy, a large portion of the sailors are at sea, where there are fewer dining options besides the government supplied meals (which, to the navy's credit, have always been pretty good.)
All this is because higher pay for the troops has led to some unexpected behavior. One of these changes was that more and more unmarried troops (who comprise about half the force) don't eat at the "dining facility" (formerly known as the Mess Hall). While the official chow has been getting better, the troops prefer fast food, restaurants, or using a microwave back at the barracks. The unmarried troops no longer live in traditional "barracks" (a large room with a few dozen beds and wall lockers), but in rooms and suites competitive with those found in college dorms. Microwaves, and even small refrigerators, are common items, and this enables troops to do without the mess hall.

The remaining dining facilities (largely staffed by civilians) have been told to increase attendance, or be closed. With this incentive, there has been a lot of creativity and catering to all sorts of dining preferences (including vegetarians and regional preferences.)

Commanders have been noticing the sparsely populated dining facilities, and in some cases have been forced to close them (by the accountants, which the military has plenty of.) When that is done, the troops sometimes (when a base has no more mess halls) get extra pay each month with which to buy food. This comes to nearly ten bucks a day. And on some bases, common kitchens have been added to some barracks. Unlike civilian roommates, there are NCOs and officers around to order everyone to do their part to keep the kitchen clean.

Letting the troops feed themselves is cheaper than running the dining facilities, and is a return to a policy that existed for thousands of years, until about a century ago, when the military took over the "food service" task. Now the troops are back to "foraging and preparing" their own meals. Hey, it worked for the Romans.

 

[Stoker]

While not about bivouacs, this is interesting i terms of US garrison living:

http://strategypage.com/htmw/htmoral/articles/20111123.aspx

Interesting. On the base in Halifax they were having a similar problem getting the pers to eat at the mess, so they linked rations and quarters together. So quarters are something like $200 with $700 rations.

 

[tomahawk6]

In the field NCO's and officers sleep with the troops. At least thats what we did back in the day,but I dont see it that much different today. Garrison setting would be different of course.

 

[tomahawk6]

Interesting. On the base in Halifax they were having a similar problem getting the pers to eat at the mess, so they linked rations and quarters together. So quarters are something like $200 with $700 rations.

Pdf from one installation covering separate rations.Its usually a local policy.Some commands may allow E4 and above separate rations in the US military are.

Enlisted: $325.04 a month
Officers: $223.84 a month

http://www.wood.army.mil/wood_cms/Policy_2010-04_Separate_Rations.pdf

 

[PMedMoe]

Interesting. On the base in Halifax they were having a similar problem getting the pers to eat at the mess, so they linked rations and quarters together. So quarters are something like $200 with $700 rations.

  I'd be moving out if I couldn't delink rations.

 

[Pat in Halifax]

  I'd be moving out if I couldn't delink rations.

Or eating my face off to get my money's worth! 'Course then I'd have to buy a new wardrobe!
All this said, and I do not know if the US military is like this but I find the CF differentiates between RCN/RCAF/CA. From my colleagues in eartentones, junior personnel in some cases actually get 'extras' I suppose because they are generally required to do the dirtier stuff. I cannot say within the RCAF, but (and I hate to admit it), the RCN is still in Nelson's day in regards to rank segregation. We are the only environment with stewards after all.
I suppose if it were me, I would tend to prepare a little overboard - You can always backpeddle a little whereas if you do not do enough, well, first impressions are everything.

 

[Stoker]

  I'd be moving out if I couldn't delink rations.

There are other accommodations where you can delink, but are usually for more senior personnel.

 

[tomahawk6]

The cost per meal is:
You would pay this if you receive BAS.Those not on BAS would show their meal card and sign for the meal.

** Meal Rates **
    Breakfast   $2.30
    Lunch   $4.25
    Dinner   $4.25

Thanksgiving meal was $7. Good value for the money.
Here is an example of a recent menu.

http://www.belvoir.army.mil/dol/documents/Thanksgiving%20Flyer%202011-2.pdf

 

[Pat in Halifax]

The cost per meal is:
You would pay this if you receive BAS.Those not on BAS would show their meal card and sign for the meal.

** Meal Rates **
    Breakfast   $2.30
    Lunch   $4.25
    Dinner   $4.25

Thanksgiving meal was $7. Good value for the money.
Here is an example of a recent menu.

http://www.belvoir.army.mil/dol/documents/Thanksgiving%20Flyer%202011-2.pdf

That's the way it should be.
Unfortunately, with the exception of special occasions, meal prices at the C+POs (in Halifax anyway) are comparable to a mid-end restaurant downtown.