Since Spc. Justin J. Lex has lived at Fort Drum, he has endured water leaks, a heating system failure and a habitually clogged toilet in his barracks.
But every time a soldier complained, he said, a maintenance crew was there within 48 hours.
"We were never neglected in any way," said Spc. Lex, of the 630th Sapper Company, 7th Engineer Battalion.
The unsuspecting soldier was cornered Wednesday by reporters visiting Fort Drum to inspect living quarters after reports this week that the Army had ignored substandard conditions inside barracks at Fort Bragg, N.C. The problems there included sewage-blocked drains, rampant mold and peeling paint.
When Fort Bragg fell behind in constructing new living quarters, the Army placed soldiers returning from deployment in 1950s-era barracks that officials there intend to demolish. It was in one of these barracks that the substandard conditions were first exposed.
James W. Corriveau, Fort Drum public works director, said that like Fort Bragg, his post was forced to use World War II-era barracks again about three years ago because of space issues. He estimated that 440 soldiers, or 8 percent of the base's barracks population, live in these 30-person units, which the base refers to as "World War II wood."
"We're looking forward to getting out of them. Because to us, this is not acceptable," he said.
Mr. Corriveau called the Fort Bragg situation "particularly egregious," adding that barracks here had no similarly unsuitable conditions.
"There are no mold situations," he said. "There are no life, safety, health issues in our barracks inventory, top to bottom."
Mr. Corriveau said the Army will spend $120 million this year to build five new barracks, which the base refers to as "one-plus-one" units. The new living quarters are expected to be done by Christmas.
"Any soldier that's been deployed for a year or 15 months comes back to a landscape that's improved," he said.
Barracks, new or old, are available only to single soldiers who are lower in rank than staff sergeant.
The director said 550 to 825 soldiers already live in "one-plus-one" barracks, which he referred to as "top of the line" and "the new standard for buildings."
Those barracks feature rooms with two separate sleeping spaces, plus a common bathroom and kitchenette. The rooms are about 450 square feet each.
Sgt. Joseph G. Taylor II said he hasn't had one maintenance issue since moving into an 18-month-old "one-plus-one" in January.
"It seems like they keep up a good maintenance at this barracks," said Sgt. Taylor, of Alpha Company, 710th Brigade Support Battalion. "All the facilities work. It's pretty nice, actually."
Mr. Corriveau said most of the single soldiers are living in "legacy barracks," the name given to housing that was built in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Those feature a "two-plus-two" construction, where a two-person room shares a bathroom with a second two-person room.
"The quality of the barracks is really excellent," said Spc. Ambrose Bob, who hasn't had a single maintenance issue since moving into a "two-plus-two" a few months ago.
Spc. Bob, of Alpha Company, 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, said he was happy to move from a "World War II wood" barracks. He has a lot more personal space and no longer is forced to use an open-bay shower.
"It's just a lot better," he said.
Mr. Corriveau said there is a fourth kind of barracks, which was built in the 1970s and features three-man rooms. Those are being renovated while most of the occupants are deployed.
"It's cheaper and easier to get the work accomplished when the building is empty," he said. "And it's a better product for when they return."
Bathrooms are being redone, air conditioning and kitchenettes are being added and a new heating system is being installed, he said.
The Army committed $10 million to renovations in those barracks. Work is due to be completed by Christmas.
