WASHINGTON — The top Marine leader “won’t apologize” for the years of underinvestment in the Marine Corps’ barracks even though he has made improving those living facilities a top priority now that he is in charge.

Years of spending more on weapons systems than on quality of life was one reason, the Marine Corps’ budget chief said.

The Marine Corps recently completed its service-wide barracks inspection. Now it can finally get after the problems that have plagued barracks for decades.

The inspection took place between February and March, a quick time frame for a herculean task that involved looking at hundreds of barracks buildings and roughly 60,000 rooms around the world.

The service will focus on the individual Marine's ability to learn rather than cramming instruction into their heads, whether they understand it or not.