Photos from U.S. military bases show mold, mice, roaches and brown water in living quarters and dining areas
Groups that advocate for military personnel want the Pentagon to fix what they say are poor living conditions on U.S. bases, including mold, mice and bad water.
Eight groups that advocate for military personnel and families are calling on the Pentagon to address what they say are unsanitary and dangerous living conditions on U.S. bases worldwide, including mold, bad air, contaminated water, lead paint, and roaches and other pests.
The effort, led by an organization called Hots&Cots, is meant to push the military to fix these issues now rather than wait for any renovations planned by the Pentagon, which the advocates argue could take years.
A photo submitted to Hots&Cots showing mold on the ceiling of a dining room. The anonymous poster said the image was from U.S. Army Garrison Red Cloud in South Korea.Hots & Cots“The Department of Defense must act sooner rather than later to address the quality-of-life issues facing our service members,” Rob Evans, founder of Hots&Cots, said Tuesday in a statement. “Every day that these issues go unresolved is another day that the well-being and morale of those who serve are compromised.”Photos collected by Hots&Cots and provided exclusively to NBC News reveal what the group says is mold covering the ceiling of an Army dining room in Korea, a roach on a counter at a Texas Air Force base, dark brown water flowing from a faucet on a New Jersey base and more.
A photo submitted to Hots&Cots shows brown water flowing from a faucet. The person who submitted the photo said it was shot at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.Hots & CotsNBC News has not independently verified the photos, but Evans said he and a team of volunteers evaluate and assess photos to ensure they are legitimate.In a statement, a Pentagon spokesperson noted that two weeks ago, on Aug. 12, the Defense Department had launched its Housing Feedback System, which lets active-duty service members and their families submit feedback about their housing.
"We have a moral obligation to ensure that the spaces where our service members and their families live are healthy, functional, and resilient," said the spokesperson. "The new feedback system will help improve installation conditions today and the quality standards Service members and their families deserve.”
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