In a major shift affecting soldiers on lengthy deployments, the U.S. Army ended its long-running policy of free storage for personal items, raising concerns about how this applies to different deployment types and often leaving soldiers with “frequently uncovered or non-climate controlled” storage options.
Where to Store?
The U.S. Army has ended its policy of offering free storage for soldiers’ personal items during extended deployments, a change that impacts those on prolonged assignments, though it’s not clear if this applies to all types of deployments.
New Rules for Soldiers
In response to this decision, the Army is actively working on a policy to adapt to possible changes, yet details regarding its implementation and timing are still vague.
“We understand the burden this could potentially place on soldiers, and HQDA G-1 [The Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Department of the Army] is drafting policy that would enable such storage,” noted Sgt. Pablo Saez, a service spokesperson.
Storage Budget Cut
Saez informed Military.com that the Army Sustainment Command, responsible for the force’s logistics, has stopped allocating funds for storing soldiers’ vehicles and belongings during deployments.
Quiet Move
Although this decision was made in October, it hasn’t been widely reported in the media until now, and the order hasn’t been extensively circulated among the force.
Online Backlash
It was only after Military.com’s initial query in early December that Army officials started working on a policy to provide storage at no cost to soldiers. This policy change, a response to the move’s widespread online backlash, wasn’t mentioned to the publication when they first reached out.
A Perk of the Past
Historically, the Army has provided vouchers for soldiers to store their belongings during deployments. Often, soldiers would end apartment leases and use an Army-subsidized storage locker to cut down on rent.
Suggestion, Not Requirement
As of October, the Army G-1, led by Lt. Gen. Douglas Stitt and responsible for personnel policy, interpreted current travel policies as only suggesting—not requiring—the storage of soldiers’ belongings, as stated in an internal memo by Col. Heather Carlisle, the director for support operations at Army Sustainment Command.
End of Storage Entitlements
In an Oct. 23 memo, Carlisle stated: “HQDA G1, the proponent for [storage] entitlements, recently determined that the Army would no longer support [storage] entitlements because there is no Army policy explicitly authorizing storage in support of soldiers deployed for contingency operations.”
Unexpected Orders
Two abrupt decisions by the Army’s G-1 have stirred discontent among both the rank and file and some service leaders. In October, an unexpected directive sent hundreds of noncommissioned officers to a recruiting school at Fort Knox, Kentucky, due to a failure in tracking recruiter numbers., risking deployments close to the holidays.
Motor Pools: Soldiers’ Only Option?
For now, soldiers can store their vehicles in motor pools, though these areas are usually filled with tactical vehicles and frequently don’t offer covered or climate-controlled spaces.
What’s Next?
As the U.S. Army grapples with the effects of this major policy alteration, many uncertainties remain. How will this shift impact the morale and logistics of soldiers already facing the challenges of extended deployments? What will be the long-term consequences for those who have traditionally relied on these storage options?
The Army’s move to craft a new policy nods to these growing concerns, yet the exact details are still a puzzle waiting to be solved.
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