CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — Anxiously wondering if their collective hotplates and hard liquor might be found, the Marines of 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion stood outside of their rooms at 0500 waiting for the barracks health and comfort inspection to begin.

“It's important that we surprise the Marines with one of these [inspections] every once in a while,” said Gunnery Sgt. Phillip Hallweather donning a respirator and hazmat suit. "Their safety is our highest priority.

To reinforce his belief that health and comfort inspections were a necessary part of barracks life the Company, he cited his discovery of nine beers that he found in the room of Lance Cpl. Kevin Burke, a Marine who had been electrocuted earlier in the week.

“According to Marine Corps barracks regulations, only six beers per person of legal drinking age are permitted in a room,” he said. “That’s three too many.”

Hallweather was, however, unable to cite the specific regulation on how many live, sparking wires should be e…