An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

380AEW Article

Airmen pumped over new fitness center

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Eric Peterson
  • 380th Air Expeditionary Wing
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  380th Air Expeditionary Wing Airmen celebrated the grand opening of the new fitness center on base at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia Aug. 9, 2014.

To mark the official opening, 380th AEW Vice Commander Col. C. Jeffrey Cooper cut the ceremonial ribbon placed at the fitness center entrance and declared the exercise facility open for business.

"This is a phenomenal place here," said Col. Cooper. "It's really cool to be able to open this and move from the expeditionary to the enduring mission. It's a great place for our folks to come in and work out 24 hours a day. It's a fantastic facility and fantastic equipment and two great basketball courts, so it's just outstanding."

The 20,000 square foot facility includes 159 new pieces of exercise equipment valued at nearly $500,000 which includes 18 treadmills, 17 elliptical trainers, and eight exercise bicycles.

The gym's first level features weight-lifting equipment, a fitness room and two full-sized basketball courts. The treadmills, elliptical trainers, stepping machines and exercise bicycles are conveniently located in a separate area above the main floor.

380th AEW Airmen provided 400 hours of volunteer time to move and set up the new equipment to get the fitness center ready for the opening day celebration.

Fitness center staff members were quick to point out the advantages of having a state-of-the-art facility available to Airmen in the deployed environment.

"A deployment I feel is the best time when you can get in shape," said Staff Sgt. Michael Jordan, a fitness center personal trainer. "When you are deployed there are no excuses that you have to not get into shape, especially if you have a fitness center to get you to where you want to be."

Shortly after the opening celebration Airmen could already be seen spending their free time running on treadmills and spotting for each other as they lifted weights.

380th AEW leadership looks forward to seeing all wing members receive the benefits of an active physical fitness program the new center will provide.

"I'm just really excited that we're able to do this for FSS (Force Support Squadron), that we're able to get this great facility and I know it's going to be well-used so I'm looking forward to being over here myself," said Col. Cooper.