Fort Jackson, South Carolina - A recent inspection of the Fort Jackson barracks in South Carolina have turned up several environmental and health problems, including asbestos and mold.

According to officials, fixing the problems at Fort Jackson-and other locations across the country-would require a significant amount of money.

Last week, images of Fort Bragg were posted online by the parent of a soldier at the facility. The images showed unsanitary and uncomfortable conditions, including a major sewage backup at the camp.

The publication of the images prompted the U.S. Army to visit several bases across the country, including Fort Jackson. A local news service also visited Fort Jackson last week.

WIS News talked to Commanding General Jim Schwitters, who said of the facilities, “What you see here is 50 years old. We’re not proud of the floor covering, but it is sanitary, it is functional and it is healthy.”

Commanding General Schwitters did admit, however, that keeping the Fort Jackson barracks sanitary as well as functional is difficult.

The 1950s-era barracks have rusted tiles, chipped paint, and stained walls, and with 50,000 soldiers coming through each year it’s difficult to stay on top of maintenance problems.

“Keeping ahead of plumbing problems, we’ve all encountered overflowing toilets, blocked drains, we deal with that every day,” said Schwitters.

Drainage and maintenance problems, as well as asbestos issues, will cost a significant amount of money to fix, and until then it’s likely that conditions may get out of hand, as shown in the Fort Bragg photos that were published online. Those images showed bathroom drains clogged with sewage, as well as severe cases of mold.

The Fort Jackson barracks are of a similar age to those at Fort Bragg, but officials say that the Fort Jackson barracks will be replaced. Newer-style barracks include a central hub with barracks surrounding it.

In the meantime, however, soldiers are living in simple-but functional-conditions that occasionally become unsanitary.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 13th, 2008 at 4:18 pm and is filed under Asbestos Exposure, Jobsite Exposure, South Carolina. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed. Responses are currently closed, but you trackback from your own site.