May Hots&Cots Newsletter

Author

Rob Evans
May 03, 2025

Hots&Cots

Welcome to the May edition of the Hots&Cots Newsletter! The past few months have been packed with momentum—more reviews, more visibility, and more leadership engagement than ever before. We’ve officially crossed 11,000 downloads and are closing in on 1,000 reviews—thank you for helping us hit this major milestone.

Hots&Cots is about more than just ratings. It’s about accountability, advocacy, and amplifying the voices of service members on the ground. With every story shared and every issue surfaced, we’re helping shape a future where quality of life is prioritized—not ignored.

We’re glad you’re here. Let’s keep pushing for progress, one review at a time.

Recent Reviews

Landstuhl Medical Center & AFFESS

One of the most talked-about issues this month came from Landstuhl, where service members raised concerns about what appeared to be double pricing for the same meals—one rate for patients and another for staff and troops. After this was surfaced through the app and social media, Exchange was quick to respond.

I’m happy to say that they were receptive to the feedback and have taken steps to clarify pricing policies and improve transparency moving forward. This kind of responsiveness is exactly why Hots&Cots exists: to elevate concerns that might otherwise go unheard and foster meaningful conversations between troops and leadership.

If you’ve noticed something similar at your installation, let us know. Your voice matters—and it can lead to real change. 🔗 Check out the review!

Fort Johnson Turning Troops Away

Fort Johnson made headlines after reports emerged that soldiers recently returned from deployment were being turned away from the dining facility—not due to capacity, but because of a CAC entitlement issue. These soldiers were told to speak with their S1 to resolve it—only to find the office closed for the weekend, leaving them without a meal option.

This wasn’t just a news story—it was an opportunity for action. After the issue was raised through Hots&Cots and gained national attention, I connected with leadership at Fort Johnson to offer feedback and advocate for better planning and accountability. To their credit, they took the matter seriously and are working to ensure soldiers aren’t left without access again.

This is exactly why platforms like Hots&Cots exist. When real issues are surfaced, supported by data and lived experience, we can push for meaningful, timely change.

A meal card foul-up at Fort Johnson underscores a bigger Army problem

Soldiers said they were turned away from a dining hall due to an administrative foul-up at Fort Johnson, Louisiana.

taskandpurpose.com/news/fort-johnson-dining-hall

Hots&Cots

Denied food at Fort Johnson, Louisiana

hotscots.app/api/og?id=d6698810&title=Denied%20food%20%20at%20Fort%20Johnson%2C%20Louisiana&imageID=EB45DC88-DAA8-4450-9DD1-7D5DE0381459_bmsskvm

What’s new in the App

Rate DPW Satisfaction

One major gap in accountability has been the lack of soldier input on DPW (Department of Public Works) performance. For too long, there’s been no formal way for troops to share their experience with maintenance response, repairs, and customer service—yet these interactions directly impact quality of life in the barracks.

We believe part of DPW’s job is customer service—and now, you can finally rate that.

When reviewing a Cots (on-post barracks) experience in the app, you’ll now see an option to rate your DPW experience. Whether you had a smooth process or waited weeks for a work order to be addressed, your feedback helps build a clearer picture of what’s working and what’s not—installation by installation.

New Feature: Installation Sentiment

We’ve added Installation Sentiment to Hots&Cots! This new feature summarizes the top trends from the latest 100 reviews at Army installations—highlighting what’s working and what’s not.

🔍 Note: Sentiment analysis is currently only available for Army installations due to higher review volume.

Top Highlights (Hots):

  • Quality meals with good variety

  • Friendly and helpful staff

  • Clean, well-maintained DFACs

Top Pain Points:

  • Undercooked or limited food options

  • DFAC closures and limited hours

  • Leadership and accountability issues

This gives users and leaders quick insight into recurring themes—helping drive real improvements. Check it out on any Army installation page in the app!

Support

Hots&Cots is 100% user-funded, meaning that everything we do relies on the support of our community. If you find value in what we’re doing and want to help continue improving the lives of service members, you can support us in a couple of ways 

  • Leave a Review: Your feedback in the app store helps us grow and reach more people. iOS - Android

  • Buy Rob a Coffee: Contributions go directly to supporting our work. You can show your support here: buy Rob a coffee.

  • Merchandise: Did you know Hots&Cots has shirts, stickers & more? Check it out over at shop.hotscots.app

Thank you for helping us make a difference, one review (or coffee) at a time!

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