New fitness center opens within Camp Cunningham

Published Jan. 27, 2009
By Staff Sgt. Jason Lake
455th Air Expeditionary Wing

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan -- The Camp Cunningham fitness center has a new home with more workout equipment.

Airmen from 455th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron and 455th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron recently opened a new K-span fitness center behind the 455th EFSS tent - replacing a pair of workout tents across the street.

"The [K-span] has more room, more equipment and better lighting," explained Tech. Sgt. Mark Waltz, NCO-in-charge of the fitness center deployed here from the 419th Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

Sergeant Waltz said the new fitness center has all of the equipment from the old cardio and weight tents plus more than $165,000 worth of new equipment.

Some of the new equipment added includes: three treadmills, four stair steppers, four hammer strength machines, two curl benches and 25 exercise mats for various exercises. The new elliptical, stair stepper and treadmill machines also have attachments for customers to plug in their iPods while working out, and plans are underway to install eight flat screen televisions to help customers stay on track with their workouts.

"We've already noticed that more people are using the workout equipment than in the past," said Sergeant Waltz.

Master Sgt. Bob Heim, 455th ECES emergency management superintendent from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, tried out the facility Sunday morning.

"I love it," he said shortly after completing a set of lateral pull downs. "This is one of the best facilities I've seen in my 10-plus deployments to the desert."

While the new facility is opened for business, Sergeant Waltz said there is still a little work left before the fitness center is fully operational. Customers who visit the facility during the late night or early morning hours will notice there is no heating system installed yet.

"The RED HORSE Squadron is installing the heating and air conditioning system this week," said Sergeant Waltz.

Lt. Col. Joel Jones, 455th EFSS commander deployed here from Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, said the fitness center project is part of an ongoing effort by senior leadership to improve the quality of life for Airmen assigned to Bagram Air Field.

"This project is going to drastically improve the quality and availability of the fitness programs here at Camp Cunningham and Bagram Air Field," he said. "Even if you're not a frequent customer of the fitness facilities, I invite you to come by and take a look around."