Remodeled community center improves morale activities for deployed Airmen, Soldiers

Published Aug. 6, 2011
By 1st Lt Gina McKeen
380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

Southwest Asia -- The staff of the Chapman Activity Center at the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing is in the final stages of a remodeling project that will provide a more relaxing atmosphere for deployed Airmen and Soldiers, and will give folks more morale and welfare opportunities, services officials said.

"We want Airmen and Soldiers to know this is their facility, and that everything we do, we do to ensure they have the best possible equipment and the best possible facility to come to and relax," said Master Sgt. Julie Smith, the Recreation Flight superintendent for the 380th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron.

The renovations, which took four months to plan, are scheduled to be completed by mid-August, officials for the 380th EFSS said.

To save money and time, the staff of the CAC, as it is known here, did most of the upgrades themselves.

"We've re-carpeted seven rooms, painted every wall in the facility, received new furniture and equipment and totally redone the first floor," said Smith, deployed here from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. "This is all self-help minus the linoleum flooring and the new customer service window downstairs. All the paint, all of the carpeting, everything that's been done here has all been done by the center staff and some volunteers from the Army who came to help."

The FSS staff also purchased more than $20,000-worth of new equipment. There are brand new ping pong and foosball tables, six new 46-inch televisions with gaming systems attached; three additional TVs in the recreation room upstairs for people who want to bring their personal gaming systems to play; a computer lab for gaming with 20 computers; a new state-of-the art bingo machine and an upgraded movie viewing room with a Blu-ray projector and brand new couches.

Doing the project themselves also allowed the center to remain open during the entire renovation. Everything in the center is up and running except the upgraded movie room, which is awaiting installation of the surround sound system.

"Through it all, the CAC staff never missed a beat," Smith added. "Not only were they giving everything they had to ensure this place was attended to cosmetically, they were also running programs and tournaments and ensuring the customers were still given the opportunity to relax and participate in recreation events."

Even though the staff members worked hard to make the changes, they emphasized that it was for their fellow Airmen and Soldiers.

"I definitely want our customers to know this remodel is going to make it more convenient for them to get supplies and to purchase things," said Senior Airman Mike Berish, a services journeyman at the CAC, who is deployed here from the 141st Air Refueling Wing at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. "Upstairs, we've made a better working environment for everyone. And, overall, it's just a better place for people to relax and enjoy themselves."

With the help of civil engineering Airmen, the team created a quiet room downstairs where people can watch movies and has opened up the recreation room to give folks more room to play pool, games and just hang out.

"Billeting is 24/7 quiet time. This gives folks an opportunity to get out of the day rooms in their billets and be able to unwind and let loose without affecting anyone else's sleep patterns," said Capt Angel Adams, the Recreation Flight chief for the 380th EFSS. "We wanted the CAC to be somewhere people could come and enjoy themselves, and a place where they want to be."

The changes were based on customer feedback from Airmen and Soldiers here and from the staff members themselves.

"We take into account what our folks say and what our feedback is; and it if it is something we can really change we try to," Adams said. "We use non-appropriated funds money for these improvements, which is the Airmen's money, so we make sure it goes back as much as possible to the Airmen."

The renovations also included other recreation facilities that are physically separated from the CAC--the staff updated the flooring in the learning resource center and updated the music room on the stage. Personnel can sign out the key at the front desk of the CAC and use the music equipment in the room to practice and play the instruments. There is a keyboard, a drum set, guitars, an electric bass and amplifiers.

And, there are more renovations to come. Their next big project will be the outdoor bar area called the Thirsty Camel.

"Our goal is to make it efficient and a better bar for folks to enjoy," Smith said. "We're hoping within our commander's tenure at [this base] that they'll be able to take care of that project."

While the changes are designed to promote relaxation and fun, the FSS staff asks folks to remember to respect the space.

"Take care of the equipment. It's yours but it's also everyone else's, so make it available for everyone to have the opportunity and just be respectful of it," Adams said.

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