Hots&Cots: The App Giving Military a Voice
For young service members preparing for their first PCS, finding honest information about living conditions can feel impossible. Barracks and dining facilities remain some of the least transparent aspects of military life, leaving junior enlisted personnel without a clear picture of what to expect.
Army veteran and software developer Rob Evans knows this challenge firsthand. During his 12 years of service, he saw how poor living conditions could impact morale and readiness. After transitioning out of the Army, Rob noticed a gap—there was no reliable way for service members to share their real experiences about where they lived and ate. That realization, combined with a 2023 Government Accountability Office report exposing serious housing problems, inspired him to create Hots and Cots, an app designed to shine a light on quality-of-life issues for troops.
GUEST BIO: WHO IS ROB EVANS?
Army Veteran Turned Innovator. Rob Evans served 12 years in the U.S. Army before transitioning into a career in software development. Drawing on both his technical skills and lived experience, he founded Hots and Cots to give service members a safe, anonymous space to share reviews of military housing and dining facilities. What began as a simple idea has now grown into a movement for accountability, collecting more than a thousand reviews and catching the attention of military leadership, including the Secretary of the Army.
🔑 Key Takeaways:
A Platform for Truth: Service members use Hots and Cots to share honest reviews about barracks and dining facilities, often reporting issues like mold, broken HVAC systems, and poor food options.
Anonymity Builds Trust: The app’s anonymous posting system protects users from retaliation, encouraging more people to speak up about real problems.
Driving Real Change: Installation commanders have acted directly on negative reviews, fixing long-standing issues within days.
Leadership Engagement: A new leadership dashboard allows vetted military leaders to see reviews and respond, creating dialogue between troops and command while protecting anonymity.
Beyond the App: Rob sees Hots and Cots not just as a tech tool but as a bridge—one that connects service members with leaders who can actually improve their quality of life.
WATCH FULL EPISODE HERE
Rob’s mission goes beyond technology. He believes that taking care of service members requires more than equipment and training; it also means making sure they have safe housing and healthy food. His work shows how innovation, combined with accountability, can transform the daily lives of those who serve.
📲 Ready to see conditions at installations across the country or share your own experience? Download Hots and Cots today and join the effort to improve life for America’s troops.
Hots&Cots App: https://www.hotscots.app/
