Some services/bases allow you to use your own furniture. Others are very strict about using the provided Government furniture, only. Even if you are required to use Government furniture, you can have your own stereo, television, or computer system.
All in all, most single enlisted people look forward to the day when they can move out of the dormitory.
Moving Out. At most locations, single members can elect to move out of the dormitory and get a place off-base at their own expense. That means the government will not give them BAH (Housing Allowance), nor will the government give them a food allowance (discussed in the next chapter). Unless you get a roomate (or two) it can be hard to make ends meet, living off base, with just your base pay.
By law, the services cannot allow single members to move off base at government expense, unless the base-wide dormitory occupancy rate exceeds 95 percent. That means over 95 percent of all dormitory rooms on the base must have people living in them before anyone can be allowed to move out of the dormitories and receive a housing allowance.
Unfortunately, dormitory/barracks spaces are usually allocated to specific units (squadrons, divisions, companies, etc.), and commanders are notoriously against allowing members of their units to live in other unit's dormitories/barracks. Therefore, it's entirely possible for your particular unit to be overcrowded in the dormitory (thereby mandating that you have a roommate), while another unit has plenty of space. Unfortunately, unless the BASE-WIDE occupancy rate exceeds 95 percent, your commander can't authorize you to move off-base at government expense.
When the base-wide occupancy rate does exceed 95 percent, the way it is usually done is that the base offers the chance to move off base to dormitory residents, based on rank. That is, the person (base wide) with the most rank is offered the chance to move out first, followed by the person (base wide) who has the next most rank, etc., until the base-wide occupancy rate falls below 95 percent.
That means, it's entirely possible that your particular dorm may be overcrowded, but the person given the chance to move off base may be in another dorm, which is not nearly so crowded, and there you are -- stuck with a roomate, because your commander won't let you move to another unit's uncrowded dormitory. The solution to this problem is to periodically reallocate dormitory spaces, but this is a major hassle, and most bases, in my experience are reluctant to tackle the project any more often than every five years or so. This mismanaged system is the source of more frustration among single military members than any other factor of military life that I'm aware of.
On-Base Housing
Most places have limited on-base housing, so there is usually a waiting list (sometimes, more than one year!) To qualify for on-base housing, you must be residing with a dependent (in most cases, that means spouse or minor children). The number of bedrooms you'll be authorized depend on the number and age of the dependents residing with you. Some bases have very, very, nice housing -- on other bases the housing barely qualifies for slum status. Utilities (trash, water, gas, electric) are normally free. Cable TV and phones are not. Furniture is normally not provided (although many bases have "loan closets," which will temporarily loan you furniture). Appliances, such as stoves and refrigerators, are usually provided. Many on-base houses even have dishwashers.
Clothes washers and dryers are usually not provided, but most units -- at least in the states -- have hookups. Additionally, many bases have "Laundry-mats" located close to the housing area. Overseas, many housing units are "Condo-Style," and there is a laundery room with washers and dryers located in each "stairwell."
