    Quality of Life for U.S. Soldiers Deployed in the Balkans
    (Correspondence, 12/14/2000, GAO/GAO-01-201R).

    U.S. Army ground forces have been deployed to the Balkans since December
    1995. For these deployed personnel, a tour of duty in this region poses
    a significant departure from life at their home bases in terms of living
    conditions and separation from family and friends. The Army has spent
    over $2 billion to develop camps and implement services to sustain
    deployed personnel. Much of what has been spent contributes to enhancing
    soldiers' quality of life. GAO examined (1) how the Army defines and
    views the quality of life of deployed soldiers in the Balkans, and (2)
    quality of life at three base camps in Bosnia, Kosovo, and Macedonia.
    GAO found that (1) the Army defines quality of life as the provision of
    equitable, adequate, and appropriate living, working, and leisure
    conditions consistent with available resources and political and
    military considerations, and (2) the Army is providing facilities in
    keeping with its established quality of life standards. GAO further
    found that a majority of soldiers were satisfied with the living
    conditions and, while not viewed as one of the three most important
    quality of life factors, most soldiers were satisfied with their
    recreational facilities.

    --------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

     REPORTNUM:  GAO-01-201R
         TITLE:  Quality of Life for U.S. Soldiers Deployed in the Balkans
          DATE:  12/14/2000
       SUBJECT:  Army personnel
    	     Quality of life
    	     Armed forces abroad
    IDENTIFIER:  Bosnia
    	     Kosovo
    	     Macedonia

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    GAO-01-201R

    Quality of Life in the Balkans

    United States General Accounting Office Washington, DC 20548

    December 14, 2000 The Honorable Tim Hutchinson Chairman The Honorable Max
    Cleland Ranking Member Subcommittee on Personnel Committee on Armed Services
    United States Senate

    Subject: Quality of Life for U. S. Soldiers Deployed in the Balkans. As
    agreed with your office, we are providing information on the quality of life
    for U. S. military personnel deployed to the Balkans. On December 1, 2000,
    we briefed Subcommittee staff on (1) how the Army defines and views the
    quality of life of deployed soldiers there and (2) the results of our
    assessment of quality of life at three base camps in Bosnia, Kosovo, and
    Macedonia. This report transmits the information we provided the staff at
    this briefing (see encl.). We obtained this information as part of a broader
    review that we conducted on whether there are opportunities to improve the
    use of contractors that support Balkan operations and reduce the costs of
    that support without jeopardizing mission success. We issued our report on
    the broader review in September 2000. 1

    U. S. Army ground forces have been deployed to the Balkans since December
    1995. For these deployed personnel, a tour of duty in this region poses a
    significant departure from life at their home bases in terms of living
    conditions and separation from family and friends. The Army has spent over
    $2 billion to develop camps and implement services to sustain deployed
    personnel. Much of what has been spent contributes to enhancing soldiers'
    quality of life.

    SUMMARY The Army defines quality of life as the provision of equitable,
    adequate, and appropriate living, working, and leisure conditions consistent
    with available resources and political and military considerations. To
    ensure an adequate quality of life for deployed soldiers, it has developed
    standards for facilities and services. One formal Army survey in Bosnia and
    Hungary in 1997 and other informal assessments indicated that soldiers enjoy
    a good quality of life in the Balkans. Our assessment

    1 Contingency Operations: Army Should Do More to Control Contract Cost in
    the Balkans (GAO/ NSIAD- 00- 225, Sept. 29, 2000).

    GAO- 01- 201R Quality of Life in the Balkans Page 2

    showed that the Army was providing facilities in keeping with its quality of
    life standards.

    The vast majority of soldiers we surveyed during April and May 2000 said
    that the Army's efforts to provide a good quality of life met or exceeded
    their expectations. The three most important factors to quality of life for
    the soldiers we surveyed were (1) housing, (2) the ability to communicate
    with family and friends back home, and (3) food services. The vast majority
    of the soldiers agreed that the Army met their expectations in these areas.
    While not viewed as one of the three most important factors affecting
    quality of life, the majority of all soldiers we surveyed were also
    satisfied with their recreational facilities, exchange facilities, medical
    and dental services, educational opportunities, and laundry services. Survey
    results and focus group sessions revealed that some soldiers were
    dissatisfied with the amount of space and privacy in the barracks, the small
    amount of time they had away from their job and the mission, and the cost of
    telephone calls to family and friends. To the extent possible, Army
    officials are taking steps to address these concerns.

    SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY To determine soldiers' views on the adequacy of
    facilities, services, and programs at U. S. camps in the Balkans, we visited
    the three headquarters camps in the Balkans- Camp Eagle in Bosnia, Camp
    Bondsteel in Kosovo, and Camp Able Sentry in Macedonia. Almost one- third of
    U. S. soldiers in Bosnia are based at Camp Eagle, the largest single U. S.
    camp; more than half of U. S. soldiers in Kosovo are based at Camp
    Bondsteel, the largest single U. S. camp; and all U. S. soldiers in
    Macedonia are based at Camp Able Sentry. We gathered data pertaining to
    quality of life at these camps using a variety of methods. These included
    personal observations of the facilities and programs at each camp,
    individual interviews with key personnel at each camp, and review of
    pertinent records supporting the Army's goals and plans for its quality of
    life programs.

    We also administered a survey to a cross section of soldiers at each camp to
    determine whether quality of life efforts met their expectations. The survey
    was administered separately to lower enlisted personnel, senior enlisted
    personnel, and officers at each camp. We held focus group meetings with each
    group after the survey was completed in order to gain additional insight
    into their responses. We surveyed 84 soldiers representing about 1 percent
    of the total personnel in the camps in May 2000. The results are not
    projectable. However, findings from this sample provide illustrative
    insights and are reinforced with information from individual and group
    interviews and personal observations.

    We reviewed this information with Army officials and made changes where
    appropriate. We performed our work between April and November 2000 in
    accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards.

    - - - - -

    GAO- 01- 201R Quality of Life in the Balkans Page 3

    We are sending copies of this report to the Honorable William S. Cohen,
    Secretary of Defense; the Honorable Louis Caldera, Secretary of the Army;
    and the Honorable Jacob Lew, Director, Office of Management and Budget. We
    will also make copies available to appropriate congressional committees and
    other interested parties on request. An on- line version of this report
    containing color photographs can be viewed on GAO's web site (www. gao. gov)
    by searching on the report number, GAO01- 201R, or by directly accessing the
    report at http:// www. gao. gov/ cgibin/ fetchrpt? rptno= gao.- 01- 201r.

    If you or your staff have any questions about this report, please call me at
    (202) 512- 5140. Principal contributors to this report were Steve Sternlieb,
    Assistant Director; Ray Carroll, Evaluator- in- Charge; Les Ward, Senior
    Evaluator; and Jack Edwards, Senior Evaluator.

    Sincerely yours, Carol R. Schuster Director, Defense Capabilities

    and Management Enclosures- 2

    GAO- 01- 201R Quality of Life in the Balkans Page 4

    Contents Letter 1 Enclosure I 5 Background 5 The Army's Standards and Views
    on Quality of Life 8 Our Assessment of Quality of Life 13 What is Most
    Important to Quality of Life 17 Soldiers' Views on Housing by Camp 18
    Principal Forms of Communication With Family/ Friends 24 Soldiers' Views of
    Food Service 28 Soldiers' Views of Other Factors Affecting Quality of Life
    30 Soldiers' Use of Off- Duty Activities 44 Soldier's Want a Break From the
    Routine 46 Effectiveness of Quality of Life Actions 48 Summary 50 Enclosure
    II 51 Questionnaire Administered to Personnel in the Balkans 51

    5

    Background

    About 11,000 U. S. personnel were deployed in Balkan and neighboring
    countries as of June 2000.

    – About half (5,500) were deployed in Kosovo and 4,400 in Bosnia.
    – The remainder were deployed in

    Macedonia and Hungary to support operations in Bosnia and Kosovo.

    Enclosure I

    6

    Major Army Locations in the Balkans

    Comanche Eagle

    Bondsteel Taszar

    McGovern Dobol

    Monteith Able Sentry

    Enclosure I

    7

    Quality of Life Services Provided by Various Groups

    The Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and one Army contractor, Brown and Root
    Services, were involved in building the base camps. A number of contractors
    provide

    services related to quality of life. The largest of these is Brown and Root
    Services, which provides food and laundry services and operates some
    recreational facilities.

    Enclosure I

    8

    The Army's Standards and Views on Quality of Life

    The Army defines quality of life as “the provision of equitable,
    adequate, and appropriate living, working, and leisure conditions consistent
    with available resources and political and military considerations.”

    The Army's definition recognizes that – quality of life is affected by
    both

    working and leisure conditions, – facilities and services must be
    equitably

    provided, and – quality of life actions are constrained by

    available resources and political and military considerations.

    Enclosure I

    9

    Quality of Life Standards

    To ensure adequate quality of life for its personnel, the Army has developed
    standards for facilities and

    services in the Balkans.

    For Army base camps, the Red Book provides standards covering housing; unit
    facilities; soldier support facilities; and morale, welfare, and recreation
    facilities.

    The draft Blue Book is the Army's first effort to provide standards for
    services available to deployed personnel. Camp commanders are applying the
    standards, and U. S. Army, Europe (USAREUR) hopes to finalize them in
    December 2000.

    Enclosure I

    10

    Quality of Life Standards (Facilities)

    Published in 1997, the Red Book provides minimum standards for the
    construction of camp facilities. The standards are expressed

    in terms of – square feet ( e. g., 80 square

    feet of barrack space per soldier), – quantity ( e. g., one electrical

    outlet per soldier in the barracks), and – construction materials

    ( e. g., plywood exteriors and metal roofs).

    Exterior of SEAhuts at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo Interior of SEAhut at Camp
    Eagle, Bosnia Interior of SEAhut wooden barracks at Camp

    Bondsteel, Kosovo Enclosure I

    11

    Quality of Life Standards (Services)

    The draft Blue Book's minimum standards, which are being applied by camp
    commanders, specify

    – accessibility ( e. g., recreational facilities at each camp),
    – availability (e. g.,

    24- hour access to nonsecure e- mail and telephone systems), and –
    quality ( e. g., water

    temperatures for sleeping bags are specified to ensure thorough cleaning).

    Contractor laundry facility serving Camp Eagle, Bosnia E- mail center at
    Camp Able Sentry, Macedonia

    Ballfield at Camp Eagle, Bosnia Enclosure I

    12

    Army Quality- of- Life Assessments

    From August to November 1997, the Army's Community and Family Support Center
    surveyed 570 soldiers in Bosnia and Hungary.

    – Over 96 percent were satisfied with morale, welfare, and recreation
    (MWR) activities; – 66 percent reported using MWR activities and

    programs daily; and – the top five MWR activities were sports
    facilities

    (69%), recreation centers (40%), post exchanges (35%), rest and recuperation
    trips (21%), and commercial telephones (18%). The Army has not conducted
    formal quality- of- life

    or MWR assessments in Kosovo or Macedonia. Visiting military personnel and
    Inspector General teams

    routinely provide information obtained and observations to deployed
    commanders and other Army officials. Their trip reports cite a good quality
    of life for U. S. personnel in the Balkans.

    Enclosure I

    13

    Our Assessment of Quality of Life

    We obtained soldiers' views on the adequacy of facilities, services, and
    programs at Camp Eagle in Bosnia, Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo, and Camp Able
    Sentry in Macedonia. We gathered data pertaining to quality

    of life and satisfaction with the Army's efforts to provide for quality of
    life through

    – personal observations, – individual interviews with key
    personnel

    at each camp, – reviews of pertinent records, – a survey, and
    – focus group meetings.

    Enclosure I

    14

    U. S. Camps We Visited

    Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo Camp Eagle, Tuzla, Bosnia Camp Able Sentry, Macedonia

    Enclosure I

    15

    Our Survey of Quality of Life

    We administered a survey to a cross section of soldiers in each of the
    camps. The soldiers surveyed, grouped by pay grade at each

    camp, are shown below. We also held focus group discussions with each
    personnel group.

    The number surveyed represents about 1 percent of total personnel at the
    camps in May 2000, and the results are not projectable. However, this sample
    group provides illustrative insights that are reinforced with information
    from individual and group interviews and personal observations. Pay

    grade Camp

    Eagle Camp

    Bondsteel Camp Able

    Sentry Total E1- E4 17 16 11 44

    E5- E9 4 2 8 14 Officers 9 11 6 26 Total 30 29 25 84

    Enclosure I

    16

    First Page of Our Questionnaire Completed by Personnel in the

    Balkans

    The entire questionnaire is contained in enclosure II. Enclosure I

    17

    What Is Most Important To Quality of Life

    Soldiers who cited each factor as one of three most important.

    62 58 46

    27 24 21 13 12 10 8 7 6 0 10 20

    30 40

    50 60

    70 80

    90 100

    Housing Communications w

    ith family/ friends Food Service

    Recreation Facilities Show

    ers Entertainment

    Post Exchange Medical/ Dental

    Other Educational Opportunities

    Religious Services Laundry

    The three most important factors to quality of life for those surveyed were
    (1) housing, (2) ability to communicate with family and friends at home, and
    (3) food services.

    Percent

    Enclosure I

    18

    Soldiers' Views on Housing by Camp

    48 69

    28 48

    27 64

    4 3 8 0 10

    20 30

    40 50

    60 70

    80 90

    100 Excellent/ Very Good Satisfactory Unacceptable

    Camp Eagle, Bosnia Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo Camp Able Sentry, Macedonia

    SEAhut at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo Barracks building, Camp Able Sentry,
    Macedonia Enclosure I

    19

    Soldiers' Views on Housing

    The housing soldiers occupy in the Balkans meets Red Book standards,
    according to Army officials.

    More than 90 percent of soldiers surveyed rated their housing as
    satisfactory or better. In Bosnia and Kosovo, the Army's
    “SEAhuts”

    are unpainted wooden barracks with wooden floors, a single heating/ air
    conditioning unit, and no partitions. While amenities vary by rank, most
    personnel share bathroom facilities. Soldiers assigned to Camp Able Sentry,

    Macedonia, are housed on a former Yugoslav base in concrete barracks.

    Enclosure I

    20

    Adequacy of Housing Space and Privacy

    SEAhut interior at Camp Eagle, Bosnia

    Soldiers who believe that their housing is adequate.

    SEAhut interior at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo

    90 72

    50 77

    52 50 0 10

    20 30

    40 50

    60 70

    80 90

    100 Space Privacy Camp Eagle, Bosnia Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo Camp Able
    Sentry, Macedonia Percent

    Enclosure I

    21

    Adequacy of Housing Space and Privacy

    The majority of soldiers we surveyed believed their housing was adequate in
    terms of space and privacy, with those assigned to Camp Eagle being the most
    satisfied. 48 percent of respondents at Camp Bondsteel

    and 50 percent at Camp Able Sentry said their housing was inadequate in
    terms of privacy. Focus group participants reported sharing their

    SEAhuts with two to seven soldiers. More than one- quarter of the
    respondents at

    Camp Bondsteel and one- half of the respondents at Camp Able Sentry said
    their housing was also inadequate in terms of personal space.

    Enclosure I

    22

    Some Soldiers in Kosovo Live At Remote Outposts Under Spartan

    Conditions

    Soldiers guarding a school in Kosovo live in an abandoned, unfinished house

    Spartan living conditions for soldiers guarding a church in Kosovo

    Soldiers guarding a monastery in Kosovo live in a floored tent

    Enclosure I

    23

    Some Soldiers in Kosovo Live Under Spartan Conditions

    Nearly 40 percent of the soldiers deployed in Kosovo live outside the main
    camps to protect people and buildings from attack. Soldiers assigned to
    remote sites normally

    remain there for up to 2 weeks and are then relieved by another unit. The
    Army's quality- of- life standards do

    not apply to these remote locations. Soldiers live in abandoned, unfinished
    houses or buildings and tents. At some locations there is no running water,
    hot water, or shower. The Army's contractor provides water and portable
    toilets for sanitation and brings in one hot meal per day from Camp
    Bondsteel.

    Enclosure I

    24

    Principal Forms of Communication With Family/ Friends

    Telephone center at Camp Eagle, Bosnia E- mail center at Camp Able Sentry,
    Macedonia

    Enclosure I

    25

    Principal Forms of Communication With Family/ Friends

    Soldiers most frequently communicate by email, using government provided
    computers. Soldiers at all U. S. camps in the Balkans have

    access to computers for e- mail and to telephones. The majority of soldiers
    told us that their wait to use either computers or telephones is generally
    15 minutes or less.

    – Since our visit, the Army has installed cameras on some computers to
    allow soldiers to videoconference with their families, who go to family
    centers at home station. 86 percent of soldiers reported communicating

    with family and friends by e- mail at least 10 times in the 30- day period
    preceding our survey, and 31 percent of this group reported doing so every
    day during the period.

    Enclosure I

    26

    Adequacy of Ability to Communicate With Family/ Friends

    53 52 60

    27 21

    12 20

    28 28 0 10

    20 30

    40 50

    60 70

    80 90

    100 Excellent/ Very Good Satisfactory Unacceptable

    Camp Eagle, Bosnia Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo Camp Able Sentry, Macedonia
    Percent

    Enclosure I

    27

    Adequacy of Ability to Communicate With Family/ Friends

    Well over half of the soldiers in each camp rated their ability to
    communicate with family and friends as satisfactory or better. Between 20
    and 28 percent of respondents at

    each camp said communications were unacceptable because of cost of available
    telephone service.

    – At the time of our visit, calls using phone cards cost nearly $1
    dollar per minute. A typical comment we received was, “[ We need]
    phone cards that offer more time for less money, 26min/$ 20 is
    unacceptable.” – Since our visit, the Army has switched

    telephone service providers, and the cost has been reduced to 50 to 75 cents
    per minute, depending on location. In contrast to the frequent use of e-
    mail, one

    quarter of the soldiers reported they had telephoned family or friends twice
    or less in the 30 days preceding our survey.

    Enclosure I

    28

    Soldiers' Views of Food Service

    60 24

    88 37

    69 8

    3 7

    4 0 10

    20 30

    40 50

    60 70

    80 90

    100 Excellent/ Very Good Satisfactory Unacceptable

    Camp Eagle, Bosnia Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo Camp Able Sentry, Macedonia

    Dining facility at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo Dining facility at Camp Able
    Sentry, Macedonia

    Percent

    Enclosure I

    29

    Soldiers' Views of Food Service

    More than 90 percent of the soldiers rated food services at their camp as
    excellent, very good, or satisfactory. The dining facilities at all U. S.
    camps

    operate 24 hours a day. Numerous selections are available to

    the soldiers at each meal. Sandwiches, soups, and beverages are always
    available. Unit officials in Bosnia said that the

    quantity and quality of the food is so good that personnel are gaining
    weight.

    Enclosure I

    30

    Soldiers' Views of Other Factors Affecting Quality of Life

    Note: Figure reflects responses from soldiers at all the camps we visited.
    Survey results by individual camp are shown in the following sections.

    Soldiers who rated other quality of life factors as satisfactory, very good,
    or excellent

    93 88 88 87

    98

    10 20

    30 40

    50 60

    70 80

    90 100

    Recreation Facilities Exchange Facilities

    Medical/ Dental Services Educational Opportunities

    Laundry Services Percent

    Enclosure I

    31

    Soldiers' Views of Other Factors Affecting Quality of Life

    The majority of soldiers we surveyed were satisfied with

    – recreational facilities, – exchange facilities, –
    medical and dental services, – educational opportunities, and –
    laundry services. The level of satisfaction varied among the

    camps, especially regarding the adequacy of exchange facilities.

    Enclosure I

    32

    Soldiers' Views of Recreation Facilities

    59 28

    36 41

    66 48

    7 16

    0 10

    20 30

    40 50

    60 70

    80 90

    100 Excellent/ Very Good Satisfactory Unacceptable

    Camp Eagle, Bosnia Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo Camp Able Sentry, Macedonia

    Fitness center at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo Recreation Center at Camp Able
    Sentry, Macedonia

    Percent

    Enclosure I

    33

    Soldiers' Views of Recreation Facilities

    The Army has provided a wide array of recreational facilities at all the
    camps. These include

    – outdoor running trails, volleyball courts, and ballfields; –
    game rooms with pool tables, board games,

    and tables for playing cards; – physical fitness centers with weights
    and

    exercise machines; – library centers with books and videos; and
    – movie theaters that offer several movies per

    month. Nearly all the soldiers we surveyed

    indicated that recreation facilities were at least satisfactory.

    Enclosure I

    34

    Soldiers' Views of Post Exchange (PX) Facilities

    53 45

    12 47

    55 48

    40 0 10

    20 30

    40 50

    60 70

    80 90

    100 Excellent/ Very Good Satisfactory Unacceptable

    Camp Eagle, Bosnia Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo Camp Able Sentry, Macedonia

    Interior and exterior of the PX at Camp Eagle, Bosnia

    Percent

    Enclosure I

    35

    Soldiers' Views of PX Facilities

    All the soldiers surveyed at Camp Eagle and Bondsteel said their exchange
    services were satisfactory or better. Facilities appeared to be adequate in
    size

    and well stocked with items similar to those of other military exchanges,
    including military items and clothing, snack foods, souvenirs, and
    electronics. At Camp Able Sentry 40 percent of the

    soldiers said that the exchange was unacceptable due to its small size and
    high prices.

    Enclosure I

    36

    The PX Facility at Camp Able Sentry

    The PX at Camp Able Sentry The interior of the PX

    Enclosure I

    37

    Limitations of the PX Facility at Camp Able Sentry

    The exchange facility at Camp Able Sentry is about 1/ 10th the size of the
    PXs at Camps Eagle and Bondsteel. The size of the force stationed at Camp
    Able

    Sentry is much smaller than that at Camp Eagle or Bondsteel, but a large
    number of transient personnel are processed through Camp Able Sentry,
    increasing the number of people using the exchange. The number and selection
    of items available for

    purchase are very limited compared with those of other camps. Camp officials
    said that the camp did not have

    enough room for a larger facility, but the PX has been remodeled since our
    visit. Also, unlike at Camp Eagle and Bondsteel, soldiers can sometimes shop
    in nearby Skopje on Saturdays.

    Enclosure I

    38

    Soldiers' Views of Medical/ Dental Services

    Medical facility at Camp Eagle, Bosnia Medical facility at Camp Able Sentry,
    Macedonia

    50 45

    32 27

    48 64

    20 7

    4 0 10

    20 30

    40 50

    60 70

    80 90

    100 Excellent/ Very Good Satisfactory Unacceptable

    Camp Eagle, Bosnia Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo Camp Able Sentry, Macedonia
    Percent

    Enclosure I

    39

    Soldiers' Views of Medical/ Dental Services

    Medical facilities at the major camps in Bosnia, Kosovo, and Macedonia
    provide full medical and dental services. Ninety percent of survey
    respondents said

    that the services met their quality- of- life expectations. Only 13 percent
    of respondents reported

    having to postpone any medical or dental procedure while in the Balkans. The
    procedures that were reported as postponed were routine teeth cleanings and
    eye examinations.

    Enclosure I

    40

    Soldier's Views of Educational Opportunities

    Education Center at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo Education Center at Camp Able
    Sentry, Macedonia

    52 35

    80 17

    59 20 24

    7 0 10 20

    30 40

    50 60

    70 80

    90 100

    Excellent/ Very Good Satisfactory Unacceptable

    Camp Eagle, Bosnia Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo Camp Able Sentry, Macedonia

    Percent

    Enclosure I

    41

    Soldiers' Views on Educational Opportunities

    The majority of all soldiers surveyed said that educational opportunities in
    their camps were satisfactory or better. Officials at all the camps we
    visited mentioned the

    education center as one of their priorities. Education centers at all the
    camps provide access to

    Army correspondence programs via Internet, testing services for college
    admission and military certifications, and college courses through on- line
    distance learning from a number of universities. All soldiers deployed to
    the Balkans receive 100

    percent tuition assistance for college courses up to $189 per credit hour.

    Enclosure I

    42

    Soldiers' Views of Laundry Services

    73 52

    56 27

    45 40 3 4 0 10

    20 30

    40 50

    60 70

    80 90

    100 Excellent/ Very Good Satisfactory Unacceptable

    Camp Eagle, Bosnia Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo Camp Able Sentry, Macedonia

    Contractor laundry facility serving Camp Eagle, Bosnia

    Percent

    Enclosure I

    43

    Soldiers' Views of Laundry Services

    Almost all of the soldiers we surveyed said that the contractor- operated
    laundry service in their camp was satisfactory, very good, or excellent.
    Laundries at all the camps are open 12 hours

    per day, 7 days per week. Soldiers may have 20 pounds of clothes laundered
    per week. Turnaround time for laundry ranges from 1 to

    3 days, depending on location. Where current turnaround time is 3 days, the
    Army's goal is to reduce it to 2 days. Some soldiers wanted access to self-
    service

    washers and dryers. The Army's draft Blue Book for operation standards plans
    for this.

    Enclosure I

    44

    Soldiers' Use of Off- Duty Activities

    93 83

    88 67

    83 68

    73 55

    75 48

    41 36

    10 20

    30 40

    50 60

    70 80

    90 100

    Sports facilities Newspapers

    Videotapes USO shows

    Camp Eagle, Bosnia Camp Able Sentry, Macedonia Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo

    Soldiers who use recreational and entertainment activities

    Percent

    Enclosure I

    45

    Soldiers' Use of Off- Duty Activities

    Most soldiers at all the camps take advantage of recreational and
    entertainment opportunities. Available sports facilities are used the

    most, and soldiers said they are outstanding. Newspapers and videos are also
    widely used. USO shows are used the least by soldiers

    at all the camps. Comments suggested that the types of performances and the
    occasional cancellation of performances affect usage. Army officials said
    that 90 percent of cancellations are due to transportation problems.

    Enclosure I

    46

    Soldiers Want a Break From the Routine

    17 11 8

    50 46 44 33

    43 48 0 10

    20 30

    40 50

    60 70

    80 90

    100 Very effective Somewhat effective Ineffective Camp Eagle, Bosnia Camp
    Bondsteel, Kosovo Camp Able Sentry, Macedonia

    Soldiers' perceptions of the effectiveness of quality of life actions in
    breaking the routine

    Percent

    Enclosure I

    47

    Soldiers Want a Break From the Routine

    The Army does not have a policy on time off because task force commanders
    determine work schedules and off- base leave policies. The majority of
    soldiers stated that the Army's

    quality- of- life activities effectively provided a break from their daily
    routine. One- third to nearly one- half of the soldiers at each

    camp, however, said that the Army's quality- of- life activities were
    ineffective in providing a break in daily routine. The most frequent
    complaints involved the lack of

    time away from the job and the inability to leave the camps when off duty.
    Commanders in the Balkans said that these issues

    are affected by force protection needs and troop ceilings.

    Enclosure I

    48

    Effectiveness of Quality of Life Actions

    17 14 16 73

    69 52

    10 17

    32 0 10

    20 30

    40 50

    60 70

    80 90

    100 Very effective Somewhateffective Ineffective Camp Eagle, Bosnia Camp
    Bondsteel, Kosovo Camp Able Sentry, Macedonia

    Effectiveness in helping to improve morale

    17 14 12 70

    59 60 13

    28 28 0 10

    20 30

    40 50

    60 70

    80 90

    100 Very effective Somewhat effective Ineffective CampEagle,Bosnia
    CampBondsteel,Kosovo CampAbleSentry,Macedonia

    Effectiveness in helping to control stress

    Percent Percent

    Enclosure I

    49

    Effectiveness of Efforts to Provide a High Quality of Life

    The Army's efforts to provide a high quality of life in the Balkans have
    helped to control stress and enhance morale. Among the minority that viewed
    the Army's programs

    and services as ineffective, there were important differences by camp, with
    the fewest people expressing concern in Camp Eagle and the most people
    expressing concern in Camp Able Sentry. At the time of our visits, the
    principal reasons for

    concern at Camp Able Sentry were the restrictive rules related to dress,
    firearms, and off- base access, given what soldiers saw as a more secure
    environment in Macedonia. However, since our visits, soldiers at Camp Able
    Sentry have been allowed day passes into Skopje and 4- day passes to other
    locations. Commanders are limited in what they can do to relieve

    stress and improve morale because of mission and force protection
    requirements.

    Enclosure I

    50

    SUMMARY

    The Army has devoted a significant amount of attention to quality- of- life
    programs in the Balkans. The vast majority of soldiers we surveyed said

    the Army's efforts met or exceeded their quality- of- life expectations. Our
    survey, focus group sessions, personal

    observations, individual interviews, and reviews of documents revealed some
    areas of potential concern for commanders. These included

    – lack of space and privacy in the barracks, although Red Book
    standards were being met; – the small amount of time soldiers have

    away from their job and the mission; and – the cost of telephone calls
    to family and

    friends. Enclosure I

    51 Questionnaire Administered to Personnel in the

    Balkans Enclosure II

    52 Questionnaire Administered to Personnel in the

    Balkans Enclosure II

    53 Questionnaire Administered to Personnel in the

    Balkans Enclosure II

    54 Questionnaire Administered to Personnel in the

    Balkans Enclosure II

    350003
    *** End of document. ***