Staff Reports
In a shocking turn of events, Fort Liberty, the largest Army base in the country, is experiencing a trash nightmare. Images of overflowing dumpsters and mountains of waste have surfaced, painting a picture of a base struggling to manage its rubbish. What’s to blame for this trashy situation? Unexpected equipment issues? Or is there something more to this story?
‘Makes Me Go Crazy’: Army’s Largest Base Tries To Handle Crippling Trash Build-Up @DailyCaller https://t.co/qtdkydYmud
— Micaela Burrow (@micaela_burrow) February 14, 2024
Officials at Fort Liberty are scrambling to tackle the trash problem, implementing a ‘phased approach’ to remove the waste. They even enlisted the help of local vendors to assist in the cleanup. But how did it get this bad in the first place? It seems like no one was taking out the garbage for months, leaving soldiers to suffer the stench and rotting mess.
The garrison commander, Col. John Wilcox, acknowledged that the situation is unacceptable and vowed to resolve the issue immediately. And he should be held accountable! Our soldiers, families, and civilian employees deserve clean and safe facilities. It’s about time that those in charge answer for their negligence.
While Task and Purpose verified the photos of dumpsters overflowing with trash bags, boxes, and furniture, it’s important to question why this problem wasn’t addressed sooner. Are we to believe that equipment issues are solely to blame? Or is there a lack of management and oversight at play here? It’s unacceptable that our troops have to deal with such squalid living conditions.
Fort Liberty, hosting up to 10% of the Army’s active duty force, has become a breeding ground for garbage. With roughly 40,000 people living on the base and generating 25,000 tons of garbage annually, one can only wonder why more effort hasn’t been put into waste management. It’s not rocket science to realize that when you have that many people in one place, you need a strong plan in place to handle the rubbish.
Soldiers have been forced to take matters into their own hands, stomping on trash and cramming it into trucks to dispose of it elsewhere. This is an outrage! Our soldiers deserve better than to act as glorified garbage collectors. It’s time for Fort Liberty to get its act together and provide the basic amenities and services our brave men and women deserve.
The excuses from base officials are just not cutting it. They claim to be diligently working to resolve the issue, but where was their diligence in preventing this trash crisis from happening in the first place? Soldiers should not be expected to exercise patience while living amongst mounting trash. It’s a basic expectation to have clean and well-maintained living conditions.
We believe in personal responsibility and accountability. It’s time for those in charge at Fort Liberty to take responsibility for their lack of oversight and management. Our soldiers sacrifice so much for our country, and the least we can do is provide them with a clean and healthy environment. Let’s hope this trashy tale serves as a wake-up call and prompts real change at Fort Liberty.
