Dorm life do's and donts

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Katrina Heikkinen
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  First-term Airmen may wonder what is permitted and prohibited as a tenant in the dormitory complex.

Although new residents must attend a dormitory briefing, where they're required to sign several base memorandums, some rules may be easily forgotten.

Dorm don'ts

One of the required memorandums is a Malmstrom Air Force Base Dormitory Resident Responsibility Brochure. It outlines unauthorized items with an emphasis on weapons including knives with blades longer than four inches, ammunition and paint-ball guns.

"One of the major reasons Airmen get in trouble is for having ammunition in their room or vehicles," said Staff Sgt. Joshua Hicks, 341st Civil Engineer Squadron Central Dorm Management Office dorm manager. "Individuals know they can't have a firearm; but don't realize ammunition is classified the same way."

The 341st Missile Wing Commander's tobacco use policy states tobacco use is prohibited in all Malmstrom facilities, government owned or leased vehicles, and all government furnished or contractor occupied facilities. Tobacco use is allowed in clearly marked designated smoking areas. This policy has been coordinated with union representatives of local American Federation of Government Employees. For more information, Air Force Instruction 40-102, [Tobacco Use in the Air Force], covers smoking policies for in the dormitory residents.

Violators may be punished under Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which is failure to obey a direct order, and can have Article 15 consequences for tobacco violations, according to Hicks.

"Another problem we have is Airmen don't understand the guest policy," Hicks said. "The AFI is very clear, regardless of gender."

Outlined in AFI 2.20, [Social Visits], guests must be at least 18-years-old and escorted at all times. Guests are prohibited in dorms between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m.

Another issue staff members of CDMO have seen is cooking in the dorms.

The policy states, under Air Force Attachment 7, [Unaccompanied Housing Resident Brochure Template, Section D - Fire Protection], to never leave cooking unattended.

"We brief this, but every time a smoke detector is set off in a dorm room, it sets off the entire building, which sends a signal to the fire department," Hicks said. "When this happens, two fire trucks, a fire chief and two security forces vehicles are dispatched. They block off the entire block and evacuate the building. This happens on average three times a week. It's a huge waste of assets because it can always be avoided."

When Airmen have concerns ranging from noise complaints to issues with other residents, they are encouraged to resolve it at the lowest level, according to Hicks.

"The dorms are automatically in 'quiet status' 24/7," said Senior Airman Michelle Smith, 341st Medical Operations Squadron bio-environmental technician and Bldg. 635 dorm chief. "This is because Airmen in different squadrons work non-traditional shifts."

"Everyone needs to be cognizant of the fact that the person across the hall from you may not have the same shift as you," Hicks said. "We prefer Airmen handle the situation at the lowest level. If someone has their music too loud, 99 percent of the time that issue can be resolved simply by knocking on their door. If the individuals cannot resolve it, call CDMO."

Dorm residents can call the 24/7 CDMO line at 788-8674. Individuals are reminded that CDMO performs lock-outs only during a door or common access card malfunction.

Dorm dos

From room modifications, to dorm councils, to utilizing the dayrooms, first-term Airmen have opportunities to make their stay in the dorms a positive one.

"We want Airmen to be active in the dorms," Hicks said. "The Dormitory of the Quarter program rewards dorm residents for exceeding the standards. Every quarter, $1,500 is set aside to the dormitory that leadership chooses as the best. From there, residents come to us and request items for their dorm."

An important step in making improvements to a dorm is having a dorm council. Although less than 50 percent of Malmstrom's dorm complex has a council, Hicks emphasizes that the council is the voice of the residents. Those who live in a building without a dorm chief or council are encouraged to contact CDMO to help form one.

Residents can also make their room feel like home by making changes.

"Residents can submit a Form 332 for modifications such as painting their walls," Hicks said. "Modifications must be approved first and individuals are required to pay for any mess and must make sure the room is back to original condition upon moving out of the dorm."

Those interested in modifying their room can pick up a Form 332 at CDMO.

Another positive component to living in the dormitories is a rental database that will be available April 15. Residents will have the chance to rent movies, blue-rays and video games at CDMO for 78-hours at no cost. Also starting April 15 is a CDMO Facebook that will have contact information, important rules and will be used as an avenue for residents to ask questions and receive answers.

"The design of staff members at CDMO is not to get individuals in trouble, it's simply to mentor the Airmen and ensure they have some form of leadership that is easy to get a hold of and can help solve day to day issues," Hicks said.

For more information about dorm regulations, call CDMO at 731-4239.