The smell of stinky barracks is an issue that does not go unaddressed in the military. After all, military barracks are provided with shower stalls that soldiers must use daily, to avoid strong unpleasant smells emanating from their quarters.

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Some new recruits though, insist on staying away from the showers for a number of days. If so, they can be subjects of complaints that if proven valid, will result to some mild disciplinary actions. Apparently, unpleasant smells released as body odor by enlisters who do not take a bath tend to cling to everything, especially inside closed-in quarters. So much so that the clothes and beddings of those who regularly take a bath will also have an unpleasant smell.

What do First Sergeants Do Once a Room Starts Reeking with Unpleasant Smell?

The First Sergeant being the military personnel in charge of developing and grooming enlisted soldiers for active duty, is expected to address problems about smelly quarters. Otherwise, if a Commanding Officer gets a whiff of the smell, the First Sergeant and not the stinky soldiers will be reprimanded.

Some 1st Sgts. go as far as hauling errant enlisters to the stalls to make sure they are taking proper baths. He or she may even post a roster on a wall to keep track of those who took a bath and those who did not.

To instill discipline, enlisters found as original carriers of unpleasant body smells will be tasked to scrub the walls and floors with bleach and water as a daily routine, or until the foul smell has completely disappeared. To give the room a fresh clean scent, they have to wipe wooden furniture and floors with a pine-scented cleaner. If the smelly condition is so severe, a First Sergeant’s punishment may include washing the smell-infected uniforms of roommates. An enlisted personnel therefore will have more cleaning tasks to perform, other than just simply cleaning his or her body.

Do First Sergeants Maintain Bathing Rules During Field Missions?

Being on field mission is not an excuse to keep one’s self dirty and smelly. In fact, the First Sergeant will see to it that even an improvised washing and bathing station is in place. The tenet that must be constantly observed is that cleanliness keeps soldiers fit and healthy. After all, field environment tends to be different, particularly in tropical jungles where disease-causing microbes or fungi thrive.

Soldiers engaged in out-of-the-wire assignments are prone to come in contact with plant and water-borne microbes that can cause skin rashes or foot fungus. If bathing is next to impossible, washing with soap and water or even a good scrub of wet wipes can help remove unseen microbes. Besides, keeping body areas such as groins and armpits clean will prevent clogging skin pores where unpleasant body smells often develop.

Mothers Faced with No-Bathing Problems

Mothers faced with raising children who are too busy doing everything, except bathing and keeping their room clean, may want to adopt the same disciplinary rules observed in military barracks. It is a battle of wills that mothers must aim to win with determination. That way, their children will not be objects of pun and ridicule for being smelly.

First off, as housewives, they play an important role as models of cleanliness. Children growing up in a clean environment will likely develop appreciation for fresh, crisp fragrances. Another critical weapon to use is information about disease-causing bacteria. Early enlightenment of children about such elements immediately stresses the importance of personal hygiene.

Antibacterial soaps are great, yet allowing kids to wallow in the luxury of fragrant bath salts, body wash, and body creams like those sold by Grain and Gram, can make them more excited about taking daily baths.