Recreation gets new location

Published May 19, 2011
By Tech. Sgt. Emily F. Alley
451st AEW Public Affairs

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Several offices from the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing relocated starting Monday, May 9 and Kandahar Airfield. By Thursday, May 12 the move was complete.

The wing's testing office, lodging, personnel support for contingency operations and Military Wellness and Recreation were among the relocated offices. MWR gained significant space by moving into a former operations building. Offices were converted into game rooms, reading rooms and phone call rooms.

"The main thing is, it's more space," said Staff Sgt. Michael Safko, recreation center noncommissioned officer in charge. "Before, everyone was crammed into one room. Ping pong balls would be hitting people trying to Skype."

The most popular areas are the video chat room, where Airmen have relative privacy to call home, and the new pool table, he said.

"Someone told me that when he comes in here, it doesn't even feel like he's deployed," Safko said.

The new location will better serve Airmen, who are gradually relocating on the airfield. It also is more convenient for transient personnel, who sleep in tents located around the new MWR building. The location is about a five minute walk from the previous area, said Senior Master Sgt. Douglas Mills, supervisor of the 451st AEW force support flight.

During the 72-hour move last week, Mills worked with several other wing entities. They moved furniture and removed walls from the new building. Civil engineers, for example, plan to help install chairs for a new movie-watching area.

After the Airmen take time to relax in the new MWR, they may be more refreshed and ready to get back to their mission.