Barracks: Setting up your room

New sailors/family members may be wondering, what is a barracks room?

Similar to college dorms in size and appearance, barracks rooms typically house single junior enlisted service members.

But what’s most notable about the barracks? Frequent shenanigans and a sense of community, much like dorms.

Also similar to dorm rooms, your space is small and bare when you arrive. You’ll need some essentials to get set up.

BY USING THE LINKS PROVIDED ON OUR PAGE, YOU ARE SUPPORTING THE SALTY RACK SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO GROW & OFFER RESOURCES TO SERVICE MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

Bedding:

Your mattress will most likely not be anything fancy, you’ll very likely be wanting a mattress topper to assure you get a good night’s sleep. Comfortable bedding and pillows are also going to be some of the basics you’ll need to get started.

Bathroom

You will need all your toiletries of course, but you may not realize you’ll also need some of your bathroom essentials such as organizers, towels, ect. Be sure to grab the basics ahead of time!

Cleaning

Your barracks is essentially your “house”. You’ll need to keep it clean and have the supplies to do so.

Kitchen

There is of course the galley or All American (the restaurant on base), but it’s still important to have some basics to be able to feed yourself too. I definitely recommend something that isn’t too fancy, plastic or paper seems to be best.

Decor

A rug and lamp are some of the more basic decor items I recommend — but there is of course a “culture” in the barracks. People love a fun neon sign, cute lights, or LED strip to add some character to their room.

Entertainment

A lot of sailors struggle with what to do with themselves after the work day. Many find that sitting around or going to a bar with friends proves to be bad for their mental health and pretty boring after awhile.

Many sailors enjoy gaming in their free time. It lets them connect with friends and gives them a mental break.

But you also don’t want to sit around gaming the entire time. It’s really good to get out and do activities with friends. I loved paddleboarding, having a bbq, and games like Slammo.

extra

A couple simple things sailors with barracks recommended I add.