Southwest Asia --
It has a life of
its own, complete with shirts soaked in sweat, the constant clanging of metal
and occasional grunts. These sights and sounds are what resonate throughout the
fitness center.
It is a platform
dedicated to preparing Airmen for the physical challenges of the military and
only one of several support functions in which the Services career field
oversees.
“We want to
ensure everyone’s physically ready and fit to fight by providing the best
service possible to our customers,” said Staff Sgt. Atiana, special events
coordinator.
Airmen have a
range of exercise choices to pick from.
The gym offers
its members conventional workout equipment as well as various sports and
fitness classes. Altogether, there are 13 options to choose from.
“We have
programs like our intramural sports and special events that boost morale, as
well as weight and cardio rooms so they can work on and maintain their fitness
levels, which is very important because everyone wants to be mission ready,”
said Atiana.
Airmen running
the gym are qualified to operate every piece of equipment and also provide
guidance on best practices.
“The fitness
center staff all go through a fitness fundamentals course, so we are able to
train patrons on how to use the equipment properly,” said Airman First Class
Josue, fitness specialist.
According to
Atiana the gym is open and manned by staff 24/7, allowing its visitors to
utilize the facility at any time. This is a feature she says is unique because
most fitness centers don’t have around the clock staff available to assist
customers.
“This is a great
place, it gives me something to do that’s healthy and I love it,” said Staff
Sgt. Brady, heating ventilation and air conditioning craftsman.
Airmen can
benefit from exercise in numerous ways, and in some cases, it leads to better
job performance.
Brady, who works
in civil engineering, said he benefits from the weight training he does on a
daily basis.
“Being in CE, we
do a lot of heavy lifting, and my strength training helps me do the job,” said
Brady. “Whenever we get new guys in from tech school that aren’t in the habit
of exercising, I encourage them to pick it up because it carries over into what
we do.”
Whether it’s
strength training, cardio, or sports the fitness center offers an exceptional
blend of opportunities to help Airmen prepare physically for the challenges
ahead.
(Editor’s note: Due to safety and
security reasons, last names and unit designators were removed.)