Hots&Cots: The App Giving Military a Voice with Rob Evans | S.O.S. #218

When you're a young service member preparing for your first PCS, finding honest information about where you'll live and eat can be nearly impossible. Military barracks and dining facilities remain one of the most significant blind spots in our support system for junior enlisted personnel.

Rob Evans, an Army veteran and software developer, experienced this firsthand during his 12 years of service. After transitioning to civilian life, he noticed something critical was missing: a platform where service members could openly discuss the conditions of their living quarters and dining facilities. This realization, coupled with a 2023 Government Accountability Office report highlighting widespread problems in military housing, sparked the creation of Hots and Cots – an app that's transforming how we address quality of life issues for our troops.

During our conversation, Rob shares powerful stories of service members living with mold-covered ceilings, broken HVAC systems, and unreliable dining options who found their voices through his platform. The app's anonymity feature has proven crucial, allowing personnel to document conditions without fear of retaliation. What began as a simple idea has now collected over a thousand reviews and caught the attention of military leadership at the highest levels – including the Secretary of the Army.

Perhaps most compelling is how Hots and Cots creates accountability where traditional systems have failed. Rob describes instances where installation commanders reached out directly after seeing negative reviews, resulting in immediate fixes to problems that had lingered for months. His recent addition of a leadership dashboard allows vetted military leaders to engage with reviews and address concerns while maintaining user anonymity.

As someone who's witnessed the transformative power of good leadership and proper resources, Rob's mission extends beyond building an app – he's building a bridge between those who serve and those who lead them. His work reminds us that taking care of our service members isn't just about equipment and training but ensuring they have decent places to live and nutritious food to eat.

Ready to see what's happening at military installations nationwide or share your own experience? Download Hots and Cots today and join the movement to improve quality of life for those who serve our country.

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