We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Home

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are Barracks?

By Tara Barnett
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 9,623
Share

Barracks are a specific type of military housing in which many members of a military organization are housed together. Similar to dormitories, this form of housing serves a specific population and is defined more by its inhabitants than its structure. The purpose of these edifices is to fully envelop members of the organization in the philosophy of that group, which may include specific eating, sleeping, and working times. Additionally, by separating the members of the military group from the civilian population, this kind of living situation encourages members to bond with one another. These buildings are also useful because they keep all members of the group in a single location, allowing for all members to be contacted or even deployed at a single time.

One of the distinguishing features of these buildings is that they are almost always intended to be permanent structures. Barracks are built in areas where there is an expected need for permanent military housing. The architecture of military housing is dependent on where it is located and often reflects the style of the surrounding buildings. On the other hand, military buildings are often assembled rapidly and shoddily in times of need, leading to an association of barracks with bad architecture.

This kind of housing often features large bays for housing low-level members of the organization. The higher the ranking of the member, the fewer members with whom he or she is usually expected to share a room. Some barracks even feature private bathrooms for the highest members of the group. Normally, kitchen facilities are not included in rooms, as members dine together in a communal area. Most barracks design living areas only for sleeping, often having few, if any, amenities.

Barracks are often used for training and may feature adjacent grounds designed specifically for this purpose. The building may be located next to obstacle courses, shooting ranges, or other military training grounds. Some military training operations are dangerous for civilians, so barracks are frequently located in areas where noise and activities related to the military will not be disruptive.

These buildings are designed to foster community through communal living and have become popular all over the world. The idea that members of a military organization must live together in training in order to bond is nearly universal. When deployed, members of these groups live in conditions at least as restrictive as they experience while living in the barracks. It can be said that life in this kind of housing is often an essential part of training for military action.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-are-barracks.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.