Marine Commandant Gen. Eric Smith thinks “it’s a 10-year problem to get out of the barracks issue that we’re in,” he said Friday, according to Military.com. One reason is that construction costs are too high, he said.

Earlier in the week, Smith and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Carlos Ruiz toured barracks at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, along with Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro and Reps. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.) and Greg Pence (R-Ind.). Smith told Marines during the trip he wants Congress to double the barracks budget.

Smith also said he and Ruiz are working to “professionalize our barracks managers” so experienced technicians are tasked with maintenance and repair.

“I don’t want to put a corporal or a sergeant who’s not a barracks manager in charge of that barracks. That’s how you fix the public works – with a professional to a professional,” Smith said.

A Government Accountability Office report released last month detailed poor barracks conditions across the military.

Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Antonino Mazzamuto